Technique: Cutting Cucumber for Sushi Rolls

For sushi, English cucumbers or hothouse cucumbers are normally used. They are the ones sold individually wrapped in a firm plastic. They are mild, have thin skin, and are essentially seedless. What’s more, you can cut them to the exact size of a sheet of nori – so you can have a continuous strip of cucumber for your sushi rolls.

1. Cut cucumber to the exact size of a sheet of nori – a little more than 4 inches.

2. Gently remove the seeds from the center with a spoon.

3. Slice lengthwise into strips about 3/8″ thick.

When buying English cucumbers make sure they are firm. Store them in your refrigerator, but be careful. They are very sensitive to temperature. If your refrigerator is too cold (say below 38), they may become soft.

Now you are ready to start rolling sushi!

Note: This article was originally published on 5/23/2009 and updated on 5/23/2020. We noticed it was pretty popular despite the lack of good pictures 🙂 Happy Cooking!