Choosing the Right Nori Sheets: A Beginner’s Guide

Jun, 27 , 25 Oishii Kit Admin

If sushi rice is the heart of a roll, nori is the stylish jacket holding everything together. Crisp, subtly briny and ever-so-slightly toasty, a good sheet of seaweed can take home-made sushi from “decent” to “wow, did you make this?”. The trouble is, walk into any Asian supermarket (or scroll online) and you’ll find gold grade, silver grade, half sheets, seasoned, unseasoned, Korean gim… it gets baffling, fast.

Below is a relaxed guide to decoding nori labels, picking the right sheet for your sushi kit, and keeping it crisp until roll-time.

Why quality matters

Low-grade nori is thin, papery and often tastes like, well… fish food. Top-grade sheets are thicker, deep green-black, and almost melt into the rice. They bring a clean umami hit without overpowering fillings. Pay a little extra and you’ll taste (and feel) the difference the moment you bite.

Nori grades explained

Japanese producers sort sheets by colour, thickness and hole-count. You’ll usually see three main export grades:

Grade	What it looks like	Best for
Gold / A	Dark green-black, glossy, virtually zero holes	Show-piece rolls, inside-out rolls (uramaki)
Silver / B	Medium green, a few pinholes	Everyday maki, onigiri wraps
Green / C	Pale green, visible holes, brittle	Snack strips, practice rolls

Tip: If the pack doesn’t specify a grade, hold a sheet to the light. The fewer holes and the darker the colour, the better.

Seasoned vs roasted vs raw

Yaki Nori (roasted) – Most common. Sheets are toasted after drying, giving that nutty aroma. Ideal for rolling straight from the packet.
Ajitsuke Nori (seasoned) – Lightly brushed with soy and mirin, then re-toasted. Great for topping bowls, but the stickiness can mess with rolling.
Unroasted nori – Rarely sold in the West; must be toasted over a flame before use. Fun party trick, but unnecessary faff for beginners.

Stick with yaki nori for hassle-free rolls.

Full sheet, half sheet or pre-cut strips?

Full sheet (approx. 19 × 21 cm) – Standard for maki and uramaki rolls. Simply cut in half if you fancy smaller hosomaki.
Half sheet – Handy for California rolls; saves time with scissors.
Snack strips – Flavoured and seasoned; more snack than sushi.

If you’re stocking kits, full sheets offer the most flexibility. A quick snip gives you any size, and the off-cuts make tasty miso-soup toppings.

How to store nori so it stays crisp

Air-tight is everything – Once opened, pop sheets in a zip-lock with a sachet of silica gel (borrow one from a vitamins bottle).
Cool, dark cupboard – Light and humidity bleach nori and turn it limp.
Quick toast fix – Lost crispness? Wave a sheet over a low gas flame for 2–3 seconds per side. It springs back to life—just don’t set it alight.

Spotting stale seaweed (so you know when to bin it)

Colour fades to a dusty olive.
Smell becomes fishy rather than fresh ocean.
Sheet bends rather than snaps.
Tiny white spots (salt bloom) appear on the surface.

Life’s too short for chewy nori—replace it and thank yourself later.

Where to buy good nori in the UK

Shop	What to look for	Price range
Japan Centre (online & London)	“Gold Grade Yaki Nori” 50-sheet pack	£7–£9
Asian supermarkets (Wing Yip, Hoo Hing)	Any pack marked “Ariake” or “Gold”	£5–£8
Major supermarkets	Clearspring or Sushi Chef full sheets	£3–£4 (10 sheets)

Buying in bulk for your Oishii Starter Kit? Go for 50-sheet gold-grade packs, then portion into sealed 10-sheet sleeves to keep costs low and freshness high.

Quick FAQs

Can I use Korean gim instead of nori?
Technically yes, but gim is pre-oiled and salted—tasty for snacking, too greasy for tight rolls.

What if I’m making inside-out rolls?
Choose gold grade; the sheet will hold rice on the outside without tearing.

Is nori healthy?
Absolutely. It’s high in iodine and B-vitamins, low in calories, and naturally gluten-free.

Takeaway (pun intended)

Choose roasted, gold-grade yaki nori, stash it air-tight, and you’ll never curse a tearing sheet again. Ready to put that knowledge to work? Our Oishii Kits Starter Sushi Kit includes premium full sheets, a bamboo mat and a fool-proof rolling guide—everything you need to wrap like a pro.

Until next roll, keep it crisp.

← Older Post Newer Post →