Sushi is raw right? But do they smoke it briefly to kill parasites and such?

Question

The other night I had a horrible nightmare that I had intestinal parasites.

Then the next day my boyfriend brought me some delicious sushi, I ate the roll part, it had lobster in it, but not the fish and rice portions. If I knew it had been flash steamed or smoked I would have but the heebie jeebies from my dream did not allow me to.

I took zoology just last semester and we learned about them and they can be passed through fish so...

Answer 1

The lobster would be cooked, (shellfish cannot be eaten raw).  However most sushi that is uncooked is made from high quality cuts of fish.  You will only get parasites from dish which is not fresh, diseased in improperly stored.  

I assure you, if a sushi restaurant has any sort of reputation, they are only serving fresh raw meat.

Answer 2

Raw fish used in some sushi toppings and for sashimi is not cooked, but bear in mind that not any ol' fish can be used. All the ingredients used in good Japanese cuisine are absolutely fresh and of the best quality. You can't use the average raw fish you find in your supermarket, practically all of it would not be considered sashimi-grade.

As many others have commented, there's lots more kinds of toppings in sushi than raw fish. You can also get smoked fish. One person mentioned about raw crustaceans like lobster & prawn. Well, in some Japanese restaurants, the crustaceans are even fresher than raw, they're served live.

Shrimps swimming seconds ago in a tank are quickly peeled of their shells to become the ultimately fresh sushi topping. Live lobsters have their flesh extracted, sliced and replaced in the shell so quickly that the lobster is still alive & crawling when served up as sashimi. Live squid have their tubes sliced for sashimi, likewise for live octopus who get their tentacles chopped up.

Answer 3

Though not all sushi rolls contain raw fish, many do and sashimi is completely raw.  The fish is not cooked in any way.  It is purchased as fresh as possible from the fisheries and is a high quality.  Any good sushi chef will accept only the highest quality fish.  There will be no parasites.  That being said, everything contains some level of bacteria, but what is in the sushi will be very mild and will be easily handled by your bodies natural enzymes.  Fear not.  BTW, the shellfish you find in sushi is always cooked.

Answer 4

I'm sure if it is lobster, it was cooked. Sushi containing shellfish is throughly cooked. I can see someone wanting to eat raw fish...but raw, or only partially cooked shellfish? Yuck! Don't worry, I'm sure you are fine.

Answer 5

There's hundreds of diffrent types of sushi,some without fish at all,some all vegetables and rice. Or you can get salmon that is smoked or crawfish that is cooked and fried. Yum!!!

Answer 6

sushi means raw fish. but in the US u wont really get to eat too traditional...

the smoked salmon sushi is processed. and so is the cajun seared tuna....some restaurants may have some other processed fish.

there is strict control for everyone that prepares sushi. wasabi---the green horseradish is served with sushi to kill bacteria, also.

Answer 7

Most sushi is raw and is totally uncooked.  There are a few types that may be cooked, and that would probably be indicated on the menu.

However, the FDA's food code recommends freezing of fish used for raw consumption to accomplish what is called a parasite destruction guarantee, which is accomplished by 'freezing and storing seafood at -4°F (-20°C) or below for 7 days (total time), or freezing at -31°F (-35°C) or below until solid and storing at -31°F (-35°C) or below for 15 hours, or freezing at -31°F (-35°C) or below until solid and storing at -4°F (-20°C) or below for 24 hours' which is sufficient to kill parasites.

Answer 8

I have to disagree with a couple previous comments, the japanese DO eat raw shellfish- i have had it at japanese restaurants and its delicious. Raw lobster is considered a delicacy, but you wont find it rolled into rice, it will be shredded and placed back in the shell for presentation (because its so expensive). I have eaten raw ama ebi (sweet prawn) and raw scallop- which is to die for. OK there is a risk in possibly consuming parasites in ALOT of food- like a medium rare steak or even a pink roast beef. But if you go to a reputable restaurant that always serves fresh and good quality food, you will never have a problem. Personally I love sashimi and i think its very much worth the risk.

Answer 9

Sushi refers to the rice.  Although, the word "sushi" has come to mean a wide range of items.  If you have sushi with tuna or salmon, it is usually raw.  Good sushi from a quality source will be completely raw but also come from specific fish known for their quality.  c**p sushi that is frozen or steamed probably came from lower quality fish to begin with.

Sushi with any other seafood, particularly lobster, shrimp and crab - the seafood is cooked thoroughly.

Answer 10

Sashimi is the one with the fish, sometimes raw, in it. You can get sushi that doesn't have ANY fishy stuff in it.

There are fairly strict F.D.A. controls re food safety.

The Muse

Answer 11

SUSHI IS A STYLE IN WHICH THE FOOD IS SERVED (TYPICALLY OVER STICKY RICE) IT DOES NOT MEAN THE FOOD IS RAW MANY TYPES OF SUSHI ARE COOKED OR PAR COOKED