Q & A
Every Day Family Questions & Answers
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Page 3 - Keeping Kosher
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May a dishwasher be koshered?
- Most authorities permit koshering plastic with pouring boiling water (hagalah)
(Igros Moshe 2:92; Chelkas yaakov 2:160). - The ingredients of the cleaning agents include caustic substances that are deemed
to neutralize (be pogem) any absorption (blios) of prohibited items. - In addition, if not koshering would involve significant financial loss, It is even more
acceptable to kasher it. - To kasher the dishwasher, it must first be thoroughly cleaned.
1. During the cleaning make sure that the cleaning agent seeps into the cracks & crevices
& where water may not necessarily reach.
2. Then activate the dishwasher at maximum heat for a full cycle.
Can we cook on a BBQ that was used for non-kosher food
like a BBQ’s at parks & campsites?
Also, can an outdoor gas or charcoal grill be kashered?
- Since food is roasted directly on the grill, the grate must be heated until it glows (libun gomur)
to be properly kashered. This can be done either with a blowtorch (which should only be used by qualified & experienced individuals) or by sandwiching the grates between charcoal briquettes and setting them on fire. - In addition, if the grill has a hood, the empty gas grill cavity must be kashered by cleaning, closing the hood & setting it to the highest setting for one hour (libun kal). Alternatively,
one may replace the grates & kasheronly the grill cavity as explained above.
Can a BBQ be used for both meat and fish?
- The Gemora (Pesachim 76b) teaches that it is a sakana (danger) to eat fish & meat
together. - As it is extremely difficult to clean a grill, the same grill rack should not be used for meat & fish.
- Either the fish should be double wrapped in aluminum foil or separate grill racks should be used.
Is there a way to kosher a microwave oven in a hotel room?
- Several authorities have written that a microwave can be kashered by ensuring that it is completely clean, leaving it unused for 24 hours & then turning on the microwave with a
cup of water inside for several minutes (until an amount of water has evaporated). Note
that the tray on which food is placed would require hagala or a replacement with another tray. - The cup used for a meaty microwave should be meaty & for a milky microwave, milky. If the microwave is possibly treif (not kosher), a disposable cup should be used, which is discarded after the kashring procedure. If this procedure can't be done, the food can be heated if it is hermetically sealed by two covers.
- Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 92:8, 93:1 (Rema), 108.1 and commentaries; Peri
chadash 121:15, Pri Megadim, Mishbetzos Zahav (beginning of) 94; Mitvach Kehalachah, pp. 55-88; Hamitbach Hakasher p. 82-3: Techumin, Vol. 8, p. 21.
Is it possible to obtain hot, kosher meals on a cruise ship?
- The only practical option for hot meals on a non-kosher cruise ship is to eat certified pre-packaged meals that are double wrapped, such as those found on airplanes. These may be heated in any oven as long as the seals are intact & the package remains closed.
- There are other halachic concerns that arise on a cruise ship pertaining to Shabbas that have not been addressed here. Please ask your rabbi for guidance.
Is there a waiting time between eating something dairy
& then eating a meat meal?
- After eating dairy you must wash your mouth & eat bread or something else that
would clear your mouth of the remains of the dairy food you ate. Then no waiting
time is required and you may eat a meat meal. (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 89.2) - If you can't do the above, the custom (minhag) is that you should wait 30 minutes
before eating your meat meal.
Many yogurts contain less than 1 percent gelatin.
Since the gelatin is a small amount, can it be argued that the gelatin
is nullified (batel) & these yogurts are technically kosher?
- A gelatin is added to yogurt as a gelling agent.
- This means that gelatin gives body to the yogurt, so that it won't be loose & runny.
- Ingredients that change the consistency of a product in a significant way (davar Hama'amid)
are not nullified (batel). - As such, although the percentage of gelatin is very small, the regular rules of nullification
don't apply & these yogurts would be considered kosher. - Also, the gelatin is often first dissolved in a premix.
1. In the premix, the gelatin is often substantial & the premix is then combined into the
final batch.
2. In this case, the premix would be forbidden according to the rule of 'chaticha na'ases
neveila which means that there would have to be enough yogurt not only to nullify the
original amount of gelatin, but to nullify the entire premix as well
3. Since the ratio of the premix to the yogurt is generally greater than 1/60, the gelatin
won't be nullified (batel).
Can I drink coffee at a non-certified restaurant?
- There is a halachic concern about coffee prepared in non-kosher restaurants because the equipment used to prepare the coffee may be washed in a dish washer with non-kosher items.
- It is possible that even so, the coffee equipment may remain kosher. There are a number of variables which could impact the kosher status, such as, the introduction of soap, the temperature of the water, the method of washing (Kli rishon versus kli shaini), etc.
- Nonetheless, due to the uncertainty & ambiguity of each situation, as a general rule, it is
not recommended to consume coffee prepared in a non-kosher restaurant.
Is coffee from convenience stores, rest stops
& kiosks acceptable to purchase without certification?
- In contrast to the response given regarding coffee prepared in a non-certified restaurant, it is permissible to purchase a cup of unflavored coffee from a convenience store, rest stop or
kiosk. - This is because these types of establishments generally do not prepare non-kosher food, or, even if they do, dishes and utensils are washed by hand in a sink & not in a dishwasher.
I am planning a vacation to some foreign countries.
I drink regular milk so can I drink the milk in the countries I visit?
- It varies from country to country. Using regular milk is only permitted in countries which have well-enforced dairy regulations.
- In countries where such regulations are lacking or are poorly enforced, milk remains prohibited & requires on-site kosher supervision.
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Am I permitted to bake my challah in the oven
at the same time that I'm baking meat?
What about right after the meat comes out of the oven?
- If bread is baked in an oven with meat that contains liquid, the steam (zaiya) of the
gravy will be absorbed into the bread. - The bread will be considered meat (fleishig) & uness it is a small amount or baked in a
strange shape, the bread may not be consumed. - Based on the above, the Rama (Yoreh De'ah 97.1) rules that it is permissible to
consume meat (fleishig) Shabbas challas since they have a distinct shape & they are intended to be eaten on Shabbas. - If the meat was cooked without liquid, the bread is technically not meat (fleishig) & may
be eaten. Nonetheless, because the aroma (raicha) of the meat is absorbed by the bread,
in the first instance (lichatchila) the bread shouldn't be eaten with dairy. - In this instance, the Levush (Yoreh De-ah 97-3) writes that while the bread may be
consumed, nonetheless it is preferable not to bake bread in an oven at the same time
as meat, unless the pan is covered. - One may bake bread in an oven immediately after meat has been removed because there
is no longer an issue of aroma (raicha) or steam (zaiya) of meat. However, if one plans to
eat the bread with dairy foods, the oven should be cleaned thoroughly between uses to
avoid an issue of aroma (raicha).
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Every Day Family Questions & Answers
Page 1 - Family | Page 2 - Family | Page 2B - Family | Page 2C - Family
Page 3B - Family Kosher | Page 4B - Family - Kosher | Page 4 - Family-Medical
Page 5 - Family - Harsh Circumstances | Page 6 - Dire Circumstances
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Q & A Shabbas 1 | Q & A Shabbas 2 | Q & A Shabbas 3
Q & A Davening | Q & A Business 1 | Q & A Business 2
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