How Long Does Sushi Last?

History of Sushi: Before we get to the question of how long does Sushi last, there is a rich history worth exploring. Sushi, a favorite Japanese cuisine, has become extremely popular in the U.S. in recent years and consists of raw fish and cooked vinegared rice. The origin of sushi began in Southeast Asia, but todays version was created by Hanaya Yohei (1799-1858) as a form of fast food to be eaten soon after purchase with ones hands.

The first appearance of Sushi in America was in 1953, served at the Japanese Embassy in Washington. Sashimi, a Japanese delicacy, is fresh fish served sliced very thin without the vinegar rice that defines sushi.

So, now you know the history... How long does Sushi Last? Sushi, as it is prepared with fresh fish, is intended to be eaten within 24 hours of preparation.

When properly stored in the refrigerator, fresh Sushi and Sashimi last for the time periods indicated in the table below:

How Long Does Sushi Last?

Sushi Expiration Date

After Preparation
Sushi lasts for 24 Hours
Sashimi lasts for 24 Hours
Poke lasts for 24 Hours

Because sushi and sashimi are consumed raw, the bacteria may grow and become dangerous if left out. Thus, regardless of any dates, you should NOT eat sushi or sashimi beyond their 24 hour expiration. Some sushi is prepared with cooked fish, such as the California roll which uses cooked crab meat, the Philadelphia roll which uses smoked salmon and the tempura shrimp roll which uses deep fried shrimp. If the seafood is cooked, it can be eaten for a day or two beyond the 24 hours, but the quality decreases quickly with each day mostly due to the rice losing moisture and becoming hard.

How to tell if Sushi is bad, rotten or spoiled?


Basically if it smells at all like fish, it is too old to consume raw... remember, 24 hours.


How to store Sushi to extend its shelf life?

Pack the sushi tightly together and wrap in plastic wrap before placing into an airtight container in the refrigerator. Same thing for sashimi, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then in an airtight container in the fridge. Proper storage for sushi and sashimi is extremely important.

If making sushi at home, you need to begin with the freshest sushi grade fish - nothing normally found in a grocery store. The fish must be frozen for at least 24 hours to kill parasites that might still be on the fish. Once the fish is properly thawed you want to eat it raw within 24 hours or the risk of bacteria will become great. Also, be sure to enforce a very strict 4 hour rule once the fish is at room temperature (if it sits out for 4 hours, you must then cook the fish or toss it out).


Interesting facts about Sushi:

  • Since it is meant to be consumed fresh, it's difficult if you don't live on an island so a visit to a reputable sushi bar where you can watch them make it is a great place to get it fresh. Yet sushi rolls with cooked fish can be amazing homemade, check our blog post on how to make sushi for instructions on making rolls.
  • How long is Sushi good for when prepared in a dish?

    How long does sushi last? That depends. How long does fish last? In general, it is one of the quickest expiring ingredients in a dish but lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

    What are our shelf life resources?


    *An important note about expiration dates...
