A rice spoon, also known as a rice paddle or shamoji, is a wide, flat utensil used to mix and serve seasoned rice dishes, including sushi. Traditionally made from bamboo, it should be handled carefully and not made of metal to avoid unpleasant tastes.
A rice spoon is a spoon designed for mixing rice with seasonings; such spoons are an integral part of preparing sushi rice and other seasoned rice dishes. You may also hear a rice spoon referred to as a “rice paddle,” which is a more accurate reflection of its design, and in Japanese, this utensil is called a shamoji. Shops that stock sushi often carry spoonfuls of rice, and it’s sometimes included in sushi kits as well.
The design of a rice spoon is quite simple. The spoon is wide, flat, and wide, so it can be used to gently stir rice while mixing condiments such as vinegar. The design ensures that the toppings are distributed as evenly as possible without crushing the rice or breaking the grains. The rice spoon still needs to be handled carefully to keep the rice fluffy and well seasoned, and usually needs to be soaked in water regularly so it doesn’t stick to the rice.
In addition to being used to season rice, a rice spoon is also used to serve or measure out rice. In sushimaking, the rice spoon is used to transfer the rice onto a sheet or nori and to shape the rice before adding other ingredients and rolling the sushi. Rice spoons can also be used at the table to serve rice to guests. In China, rice spoons are sometimes used to shape rice for rice balls, dumplings, and other dishes, so cooks don’t have to handle the food directly.
Traditionally, rice spoons are made from wood, usually bamboo. The wood can be plain or lacquered, and sometimes the handle is decorated with Chinese or Japanese characters. It is also possible to find plastic and sometimes ceramic rice spoons. Metal, however, is not used, as metal can react with condiments, especially vinegar, resulting in a strange and often very unpleasant taste. Metal spoons can also damage wooden bowls traditionally used for seasoning rice.
Caring for a spoonful of rice is very simple. If the spoon is made of wood, it should be washed after use, ideally without soap, then dried and hung in a cool, dry place so it doesn’t crack, split, or get damaged by banging around in a utensil drawer. Plastic rice spoons can usually be put in the dishwasher or hand washed and dried on a rack, as can ceramic spoons.
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