Making sushi is an impossible feat for both experienced home cooks and beginners, but you may not want to go through the stress of preparing the rice and shaping the roll correctly right before entertaining guests. While it’s easier to prepare most dishes in advance, how much time do you actually have between making sushi and eating it?

If you’re making some California rolls for yourself, you might not care if they end up looking a little crooked. But if you’re having guests over, you’ll probably want plenty of time to make them look perfect. Unfortunately, celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto doesn’t think you should take forever to do that. According to Morimoto, who is participating in Flavors of the Open presented by Dobel Tequila, the most important tip for making homemade sushi is to prepare the dishes as quickly as possible. “Sushi tastes best fresh,” he explains. Still, Morimoto says there’s some leeway if you can’t make it right before serving. “You can store sushi in the refrigerator, but it should be consumed within 24 hours,” he explains. “After 24 hours, the flavor and texture can deteriorate.”

The breakdown of texture isn’t the only reason you shouldn’t make homemade sushi too far in advance. Since you’re working with raw foods, you don’t want to leave them out for too long. Morimoto says they can be stored in the fridge; however, if you want to keep your sushi in the fridge, you should get it there as soon as possible. Leaving raw foods at room temperature for up to two hours runs the risk of bacterial growth, which can lead to food poisoning. To store the sushi, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container in the back of the fridge or in the coldest place, as it should be stored at 0 to 3 degrees Celsius.

Sushi that is stored properly and eaten within 24 hours should still be good. However, it’s worth keeping an eye out for signs of spoilage. Slime can be the most obvious sign that your sushi has gone bad, as can a pungent smell. You should also observe the appearance of the sushi; if the color has faded, this is an indication that it has spoiled.

Although sushi tastes best fresh, there are still ways to make day-old sushi look like new. Reheat it in the microwave alongside a cup of cold water to re-moisten the rice, fish, and vegetables inside the rolls. While it won’t be perfect, it will definitely taste fresher and lose the bland flavor that comes from storing it in the fridge.