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How to Keep a Kosher Kitchen

Posted on July 29th, 2009 by Carmelia
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What is a kosher kitchen? A kosher kitchen stems from kashrut, the set of laws set out in the Torah. Kashrut outlines and discusses that types of food that are allowed to Jews, and what their requirements are. When a food type fulfills this requirement, it is considered kosher. As part of establishing kashrut at home, some families maintain a kosher kitchen. Although a bit challenging and complex, it’s not impossible to do. Here’s how.

  1. Meat (fleishig) and dairy (milchig) can never be mixed or served together. This means separate plates, pots and utensils should go with each one. This also means that you have to have separate cabinets, plates, silverware and placemats. Color coding or assigning different patterns to each one will be very helpful.
  2. The sink for the meat should be different for the sink for the dairy. Cooking ranges are the same. Avoid cooking meat and dairy at the same time.
  3. Divide your refrigerator to separate meat and dairy. If this is not possible, make sure that they are tightly sealed to prevent cross-contamination.
  4. Vegetables, grains and other food types that aren’t included in the first rule are called pareve. This means they can be served with other pareve or either meat or dairy.
  5. You cannot eat fish without scales and clearly defined fins, certain types of foul and animals that do not have cloven hooves.
  6. If your kitchen has not always been kosher and you need to convert, you may need to start replacing plates, food and cooking implements as well as rethinking of your kitchen’s layout.
  7. If you are converting your kitchen to a kosher kitchen, empty out the kitchen first and scrub it thoroughly. Ask a rabbi how to make current kitchen implements kosher (usually by scrubbing and boiling).
  8. When guests use your kitchen for the first time, explain to them how a kosher kitchen works.
  9. Should you have any hesitation or doubts whether something is kosher or following kashrut, consult your rabbi.

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