How to Store Delivered Sushi and Leftover Sashimi Safely

Raw fish is one of the least forgiving foods to store. It starts warming the moment it leaves the restaurant, and a delivery bag keeps it insulated, not cold. The good news is that the rules are simple, and following them removes most of the risk.

The storage rules. Eat delivered sushi on arrival if you can. If not, refrigerate at 0°C to 4°C within 30 minutes. Keep raw fish sealed and below ready-to-eat food. Never defrost at room temperature, never refreeze thawed fish, and do not keep raw fish until the next day.

Why raw fish needs care

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety classifies sushi and sashimi as high-risk foods, because there is no heat treatment to kill germs or parasites before eating. It identifies 4°C to 60°C as the temperature danger zone in which bacteria multiply quickly. Germs linked to raw seafood include Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria, norovirus and hepatitis A and E.

When your delivery arrives

1. Check it. The food should feel cool and smell clean. Reject fish that is warm, slimy, dull or smells sour. 2. Eat the raw items first. Sashimi and nigiri should go before rolls and cooked items. 3. Refrigerate what you will not eat now, within thirty minutes, in a sealed container.

How to store it in the fridge

Keep the fridge at 0°C to 4°C. Store raw fish in a sealed container on a lower shelf, so juices cannot drip onto ready-to-eat food. Keep it away from cooked food and salad. Do not stack it on top of other items.

How long it keeps

Eat leftover raw sushi and sashimi the same day. Do not keep it overnight. Cooked items such as eel, tamago, cooked prawn and tempura rolls keep a little better, but still eat them within a day. Once raw fish has sat at room temperature for about two hours in total, throw it away.

Why leftover sushi tastes worse: sushi rice hardens in the fridge, because the starch sets when it gets cold. That is a quality issue, not a safety one — so do not be tempted to leave sushi on the counter to keep the rice soft. Chill it, and accept the firmer rice.

Freezing and defrosting

Do not freeze delivered sushi to eat later. Rice and fish both suffer, and the fish has already been handled. If you buy frozen sashimi-grade fish, defrost it in the fridge, never on the counter or in warm water, and eat it the same day. Never refreeze fish that has thawed.

Home freezers are not a parasite control. Suppliers use set freezing conditions, such as -20°C for seven days, that most home freezers cannot reliably hold. Buy fish that has already been treated by the supplier. See where to buy sashimi grade fish.

Can I cook leftover sashimi?

Yes — cooking thoroughly makes fish safe to eat later that day, and it is a good use for leftovers. Pan-fry salmon or tuna, or add fish to a hot rice dish or soup. Do not reheat raw sushi in the microwave to "freshen" it; either eat it cold the same day or cook it through.

Who should be extra careful

Pregnant women, young children, older adults, people who are immunocompromised and people with liver disease are advised to avoid raw seafood altogether. Choose cooked sushi instead. See sushi for pregnant women and kid friendly sushi without raw fish.

Wasabi, soy sauce and vinegar do not make fish safe. They do not kill parasites or bacteria. Only proper freezing by the supplier, good cold storage and prompt eating do. See is it safe to eat raw fish.

Ordering smarter to avoid leftovers

Order only what you will eat, from a restaurant close to you, in a format that travels well. Rice bowls and rolls hold up better than nigiri. Collecting is safer than delivery because the fish spends less time out of the fridge. See sushi delivery in Hong Kong, sushi takeaway near MTR stations and how much sushi to order per person.

Parties and platters

Bring platters out of the fridge just before serving, split them into two batches, and clear raw fish within about two hours. See the home sushi party plan and sushi platters for parties.

Common questions

Can I eat delivered sushi the next day?

No. Eat raw sushi and sashimi the same day it is made.

How long can sushi sit out?

As little as possible, and no more than about two hours in total.

Should I refrigerate sushi?

Yes, within thirty minutes if you are not eating it. The rice will harden, but it is safer.

Where can I read more?

See Japanese seafood sourcing and food safety and sushi delivery, takeaway and platters.

Compiled by our editorial team from Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety consumer advice and trade guidelines, US FDA parasite-destruction requirements as published in regulatory summaries, and published food-safety references, retrieved September 2026. This article is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell after eating raw seafood, seek medical attention.