MXY Rice Ball Shaker Japanese Sushi Maker Mold Nigiri Sushi Making Kit Kitchen Tools for DIY Lunch with a Mini Rice Paddle (L-279)

My family loves rice. I walk into the Asian Market near my house (Yes, the name is actually Asian Market.) and the owner has my brand of rice up on the counter before I get through the door. Although I cook a lot of Asian meals for my family, I could never quite get the hang of rice balls and onigiri.Every so often, I would look up new recipes to try. I came close at times, but something did not work. I watched video tutorials ... a LOT of them.Then I looked at this product. I thought it would be a joke or not very good. I got distracted by life. I tried making rice balls again by hand. They sucked for some reason. I gave up.I would come back to this item came back the rice ball maker in my "saved in cart for later". Finally, I decided to take a gamble on it. I was tired of trying to roll rice balls for by hand (I have arthritis.) My daughter loves rice balls and Onigiri. I wanted to make them for her.I admit I was hesitant ... the whole process looks a bit sketchy and too easy ... put the rice in the shaker, shake it all up, nudge the ball out with the scoop (if necessary) ... and Hey Presto! a rice ball!No more hand squishing ...No more pressing it into the corner of a plastic sandwich bag to compress it ...I took a chance and I bought it. It was fairly well built (not flimsy) and the catch has held out well so far.And for the best part ... I was shocked ... It worked!The rice balls hold together (if you use a sticky rice). The rice balls are not as dense as if you pack them by hand - and they taste better. (My daughter says not so squished together and chewy, also.)The MXY Rice Ball Shaker is well worth the cost, well worth saving time and saves getting cramps/ pain in my hands. 5 stars.Summation: 5 StarsPros:1. It really is easy to use (fill with rice / mixture, shake, nudge out with spatula thingy, eat).2. Makes balls quickly. No time lapse needed to make it seem like it take no time at all.3. More solid than you would think. Well built.4. Lid snaps closed firmly. Has not broken with near daily use.5. Balls are less dense than made by hand (at least by my hand - I have arthritis - so that may mean something).Cons: (OK, I had to put something ... but don't let it deter you from buying ... so take each one with a grin, OK?)1. You will be making a lot of rice balls - so you will probably need to buy more rice.2. Works best with sticky rice. (I have tried it with Jasmine rice and it is OK, but the balls need to be packed a little bit more).3. You can't (or should not) put it in the dishwasher.4. There are only 3 rice ball molds. If there were more, one could make more rice balls at once!On types of rice:I am not an expert by any means. I usually use Sushi rice with my rice balls or onigiri.I have had great luck with Sushi rice.I have also tried Jasmine rice (it did not work as well and fell apart, but was edible).I have tried American rice (boxed - the kind with the guy's face on it and it was ... well it didn't work at all and was bland in the way some off brand corn flakes taste like old smelly cardboard - not the rice ball maker's fault!).So experiment! Have fun! Enjoy!

My daughter loves this convenient rice shaker. It is absolutely one of her favorite utensils. She uses it to make delicious delights! It is good a quality and pretty durable.

Rather than this product designed horizontally, vertical ones are better made. I ordered the horizontal product knowing that it would shake more comfortably, but it is more inconvenient. that closing part will break quickly. Making it by hand is actually easier and faster.

My son loves rice and now loves making his rice. So much easier for him to get a large quantity in his mouth and easier clean up for me.

As described.

I didn't like that it forms a pill shape that splits in 2 where the lid meets the cup part. I will buy triangle or square shaped rice shaper . This one let me down.

It broke my first time using it