Yes—buying small portions of frozen fish intended for raw consumption can make homemade sushi economical. Bulk buying helps only if you can use the quantity and keep it properly frozen.

Here’s how I’d shop:

- **Check Japanese or other Asian supermarkets and specialist fishmongers.** Ask for frozen sashimi blocks, sometimes called *saku*, and compare prices per pound or kilogram.
- **Ask about offcuts intended for raw consumption.** Irregular pieces work well in chopped fillings and may cost less than neatly shaped blocks. Confirm their suitability for eating raw.
- **Contact seafood wholesalers that sell to the public.** Ask about minimum orders and individually frozen portions. Splitting a case with friends can make the quantity manageable.
- **Include delivery and waste in the price.** For example, a hypothetical $24-per-pound fish costs $6 for a four-ounce portion; a large online order may lose its advantage once shipping is included.

At the counter, ask: **“I’m making sushi and will eat this raw. Which fish do you supply for that, and what parasite controls have been used?”** A supplier should be able to explain the freezing treatment or applicable exemption. Minnesota’s agriculture department, for example, requires appropriate freezing documentation for certain fish sold as “sushi grade.” [Minnesota guidance](https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food-feed/consumer-advisory)

Ordinary frozen fish needs that same check. One FDA parasite-control schedule is **−4°F/−20°C or colder for seven days**; a freezer operating at 0°F/−18°C does not meet that schedule. Freezing also does not kill every harmful microorganism, so handling and refrigeration still matter. [FDA Food Code](https://www.fda.gov/files/2024-12-20-fodecode2022-print-0743.pdf), [FDA seafood guidance](https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely)

To stretch your budget, make rolls with a modest amount of raw fish alongside cucumber or avocado, and round out the meal with egg, cooked shrimp, or canned-tuna rolls. Buy rice and nori in quantities you’ll use. That makes a small purchase of suitable fish go much further.