Question 1

Why was sushi originally considered fast food?

Accepted Answer

In early 1800s Edo, now Tokyo, sushi was sold from street stalls called yatai to laborers and travelers. It was hand-pressed to order in seconds, eaten standing up with the fingers, and priced cheaply, functioning much like a hamburger stand does today.

Question 2

Was the first sushi made with raw fish?

Accepted Answer

No. The earliest sushi was fermented fish preserved in souring rice, and even the later Edo street sushi used fish that was marinated, salted, or lightly cooked. Because refrigeration did not exist, truly raw fish only became common in the twentieth century.

Question 3

What is narezushi and how is it different from modern sushi?

Accepted Answer

Narezushi was an ancient preservation method in which cleaned fish was packed in salt and rice and left to ferment for months. The sour rice was discarded and only the fish was eaten, making it the opposite of the fast, vinegar-seasoned sushi eaten today.

culinary-history

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