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Post by lovestocreate on Jul 9, 2014 6:56:30 GMT
I vaguely know of kosher food but have honestly never heard of such restrictions on what type of dishes are used or what pots and pans food is cooked in. Very interesting and I will have to do more reading into this! My uncle does not eat pork due to religious and cultural issues but other members of his household do. Food is all all served together and people pick and choose what they will eat so I've never really been aware of any other specific issues other than to just not eat the pork.
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Post by JoP on Jul 9, 2014 7:39:13 GMT
Thanks for all the information in this thread - it's been very interesting to read. That's why I ![:love:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/W4b_Om5roEadLiOzGo_l.jpg) The peas - you learn such useful things.
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nickit83
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Post by nickit83 on Jul 9, 2014 7:43:44 GMT
What is the reasoning behind the plastic plates and cutlery?
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anniebygaslight
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 9, 2014 8:16:35 GMT
What is the reasoning behind the plastic plates and cutlery? They won't have been tainted with non kosher food, which would render any other food served on them non kosher. Re an earlier comment about someone being anal about serving spoons. That is me. I don't want your couscous or pasta contaminating my gluten free salad and making me ill for days, thank you very much!
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nickit83
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Post by nickit83 on Jul 9, 2014 8:21:29 GMT
So even once items are washed they are no longer kosher. How interesting. I might need to research this a bit.
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wellway
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Post by wellway on Jul 9, 2014 10:53:17 GMT
I watched a programme once (ages ago, no idea what it was called). I vaguely remember it was about Jewish celebrations at hotels and such. One thing that stuck with me was that a couple of the sinks in the kitchen were lined with tin foil and dishes/cutlery etc could then be washed in those sinks. If that is the case and the gf is going to be long term maybe a set of dishes etc just for her might be a solution. Someone with more knowledge maybe able to confirm or deny my memory!
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grinningcat
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Post by grinningcat on Jul 9, 2014 11:11:07 GMT
Fascinating thread! I knew some of the things mentioned, but learned many new things. I feel more prepared should I have someone over who keeps kosher. Thanks so much for sharing all this information, it's so important to have some knowledge of these basic things.
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Post by elaine on Jul 9, 2014 11:44:43 GMT
I watched a programme once (ages ago, no idea what it was called). I vaguely remember it was about Jewish celebrations at hotels and such. One thing that stuck with me was that a couple of the sinks in the kitchen were lined with tin foil and dishes/cutlery etc could then be washed in those sinks. If that is the case and the gf is going to be long term maybe a set of dishes etc just for her might be a solution. Someone with more knowledge maybe able to confirm or deny my memory! It really would be easiest to use plastic/paper plates and utensils. Her dishwasher isn't kosher, and so anything washed in it would be non-kosher. Kosher kitchens have two sinks, one for washing meat dishes, one for dairy - yes, kosher kitchens have two sets of everything - dairy dishes, silverware, serving dishes, pots and pans and then a set of everything for use with meat. Most kosher kitchens also have two ovens and when possible two dishwashers. Lining a sink would be a huge pain, and you would have to be sure you didn't mix any non-kosher plates or silverware with the kosher ones you were washing. If the girlfriend is going to be a regular visitor, it probably would be best to have a talk and find out how strict she is, and what she would be comfortable with.
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Post by woodysbetty on Jul 9, 2014 11:52:15 GMT
Wow I learned a lot on this thread...I think it so nice of you to make her feel so welcome in your home!
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Jul 9, 2014 11:58:20 GMT
I watched a programme once (ages ago, no idea what it was called). I vaguely remember it was about Jewish celebrations at hotels and such. One thing that stuck with me was that a couple of the sinks in the kitchen were lined with tin foil and dishes/cutlery etc could then be washed in those sinks. If that is the case and the gf is going to be long term maybe a set of dishes etc just for her might be a solution. Someone with more knowledge maybe able to confirm or deny my memory! Hmmm, trying to think what you could have seen. If the sinks are metal there is a way to kosher them but I've not done it so not sure. You can put foil on a working surface to make it kosher. Kosher rules are VERY involved. Not only don't you eat milk and meat together, you need separate pots and pans and dishes and silverware for each. If one accidentaly misuses something on the wrong type of kosher food, there is a procedure to follow to make it kosher again. If you decide to start keeping kosher after you already have a non-kosher kitchen it can be done without buying anything new, but it involves working with your Rabbi and is long and complex. If she will be in your home regularly, you could get a pot and frying pan, some wooden spoons and a spatula for the exclusive use of kosher food, deciding whether it will be meat or dairy, and that way could make pasta,etc. You would wash in a tote not the sink as it has to be kept 100% separate. She would have to trust you so you would have to discuss with her what her needs are. Jewish delis are rarely kosher. If they are, everything in the deli will be kosher and there will be a certified observer in the kitchen to make sure they are in compliance at all times. all this being said, she may not be anywhere near the level of observation that I am describing and I'm scaring the op for no reason.
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Jul 9, 2014 12:09:08 GMT
Elaine, the kitchen you describe is ideal but not necessarily always available. Small kitchens rarely have two of everything. My brother and his wife do not. Their DW is meat so no dairy dishes ever go in it. I have no clue how it's done but they cook/bake both dairy and meat in the one oven, not at the same time of course. Wrapping in foil etc probably has something to do with it.
At the other extreme, I know someone who has two kitchens. The one on the first floor is dairy and used year round for 99 % of their meals. The one in the basement is meat and used for Passover. I recall her once making a meat meal during the year down there but as it's kosher for Passover and she wanted to keep it that way, she had to use all Passover condiments etc. She said it wasn't worth the effort, LOL.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Jul 9, 2014 12:10:36 GMT
It's so great that we have a broad spectrum of people here to share information like this! I always tell DH "the Peas know EVERYTHING!" ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by magentapea on Jul 9, 2014 12:21:32 GMT
I had no idea that keeping kosher was so involved. Thank you all for sharing this information. I find it interesting. I thought kosher just had to do with the way an animal was slaughtered, and had no idea that it extended to kitchen wares, appliances, and condiments.
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Post by ten&rose on Jul 9, 2014 12:37:06 GMT
Very interesting. The Temple my kids went to preschool at wasn't super strict. The main thing was no meat. However they let me bake challah at home for Shabbat and cupcakes for birthdays and I used my crock pot for a potluck with no issues. I would aSK her how strict she is.
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 9, 2014 13:46:14 GMT
So even once items are washed they are no longer kosher. How interesting. I might need to research this a bit. I have a friend who's a Conservative rabbi (and from Brazil, poor thing....she's in mourning today ) so I thought I was pretty aware of what constituted kosher since I've been to her house and to her synagogue for meals. But I learned about the washing thing when I hosted our book club right before Christmas. We always have snacks for book club and we decided to have a bigger than usual food set-up and have a mini holiday party. My friend brought something (I've forgotten what it was now) in a pan which we all ate. I was just about to take the pan to the kitchen to wash it out for her but fortunately she grabbed it in time. That's when I learned that even washing it in my sink would have made it become non-kosher.
She did some remodeling in her house and had the kitchen redone with two sinks, on opposite sides of the room. She's mostly cooks without meat (although she's not a vegetarian), so the sink that's least convenient to the cupboards and refrigerator is for meat.
It's all very interesting.
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Post by elaine on Jul 9, 2014 14:14:22 GMT
Elaine, the kitchen you describe is ideal but not necessarily always available. Small kitchens rarely have two of everything. My brother and his wife do not. Their DW is meat so no dairy dishes ever go in it. I have no clue how it's done but they cook/bake both dairy and meat in the one oven, not at the same time of course. Wrapping in foil etc probably has something to do with it. At the other extreme, I know someone who has two kitchens. The one on the first floor is dairy and used year round for 99 % of their meals. The one in the basement is meat and used for Passover. I recall her once making a meat meal during the year down there but as it's kosher for Passover and she wanted to keep it that way, she had to use all Passover condiments etc. She said it wasn't worth the effort, LOL. My sister has always had two of everything, but she lived in a Jewish apartment building in Manhatten when she first went kosher (we were raised Reform and I still am) and then moved to Israel where all of her kitchens were built that way, but that is more the norm there - she has lived in a few Lubavitcher neighborhoods. ![:smile:](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) As per your discussion about broccoli and berries, I've watched my sister actually pour out her spices onto a plate before using them to inspect them for bugs. Keeping a strict kosher home really can be a full time job.
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Post by LAM88 on Jul 9, 2014 14:37:41 GMT
As per your discussion about broccoli and berries, I've watched my sister actually pour out her spices onto a plate before using them to inspect them for bugs. Keeping a strict kosher home really can be a full time job. And rather expensive too it appears! I'm curious how an average person can even afford to keep strict kosher and have 2 of everything. I have a good-sized kitchen and have no idea where I would put another sink and oven and store another set of everything I use to eat and cook with.
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Post by BeckyTech on Jul 11, 2014 14:23:26 GMT
Elaine, the kitchen you describe is ideal but not necessarily always available. Small kitchens rarely have two of everything. My brother and his wife do not. Their DW is meat so no dairy dishes ever go in it. I have no clue how it's done but they cook/bake both dairy and meat in the one oven, not at the same time of course. Wrapping in foil etc probably has something to do with it. At the other extreme, I know someone who has two kitchens. The one on the first floor is dairy and used year round for 99 % of their meals. The one in the basement is meat and used for Passover. I recall her once making a meat meal during the year down there but as it's kosher for Passover and she wanted to keep it that way, she had to use all Passover condiments etc. She said it wasn't worth the effort, LOL. Does Passover require its own set of dishes even if you do keep kosher on a daily basis? That's kind of my impression from reading books. We have a couple of Jewish Deli's in town. One is more of a restaurant, the other is half deli half restaurant. The one that is half and half offers the following: They also offer "Whether you need Shabbat candles or a homemade Shabbat meal..." I'm not sure what heckshered is, I thought it was some type of kosher? I just kind of figured they might offer some kosher items in the deli part on a regular basis as well. Maybe I was assuming too much. Thanks for being so educational.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jul 11, 2014 14:52:58 GMT
Does Passover require its own set of dishes even if you do keep kosher on a daily basis? That's kind of my impression from reading books. . We have an extra set of dishes for Passover but my parents do not. Everyone follows the rules according to what works for them. We have the extra set of dishes because dh grew up that way. I said to him that if he wanted to use the extra set then I'm happy to - but that he had to bring them in from the garage, wash them for use, put away our every day dishes, and put it all back together at the end. Passover is such a time consuming holiday. I already clean our kitchen and cook a ton on Passover, I wasn't interested in more work. Well, I continue to do what I do but dh has only changed the dishes twice in the last 12 years of our marriage. My in laws won't eat here during Passover because of this. Do you think dh doesn't bring the dishes in on purpose ![:tongue:](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) . I swear, it's easy for dh to say he wants it a certain way by ask him for help and suddenly the rules change. I think that keeping her can be very time consuming for a Jewish woman.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 11, 2014 15:02:53 GMT
Summer fruits/vegetables for snacks.....melons, berries etc. Cheese if on the paper plates.....
Yes, son needs to be kicked for not telling you.
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Jul 11, 2014 15:07:15 GMT
I'm not sure what heckshered is, I thought it was some type of kosher? I just kind of figured they might offer some kosher items in the deli part on a regular basis as well. Maybe I was assuming too much. Thanks for being so educational. The Hecksher is just Yiddish for Kosher certification. For Passover you would need a replica of your kitchen with milk and meats pots, pans and dishes and all Kosher for Passover foods - all certified to have no flour. You can kosher your stuff for use for Passover but it is sooooo time consuming. Look at paigepea 's dh and all he has to do is bring in the dishes and wash them ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Q_m8lDOvc_3Le3r1GKdf.jpg) - imagine having to do that for everything you need. Most who observe to a strict degree keep a very pared down Passover kitchen with the bare minimum they need to get by, usually meat so they can make the Passover Seder Meal, and then use tons of disposables.
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Mystie
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Post by Mystie on Jul 11, 2014 15:41:41 GMT
I find this topic so fascinating. If you want to read a good book about keeping kosher, try Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir by Elizabeth Ehrlich. The author decides she wants to try to keep kosher and turns to her mother-in-law for guidance and inspiration. I loved it!
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Post by BuckeyeSandy on Jul 11, 2014 15:50:42 GMT
I thought I had bookmarked it when I asked the same question, we were hosting some Israeli visitors to the lab where my DH works. Some of them kept strict Kosher.
The Peas all gave me good advice and our guests were impress that I did so much to make it comfortable for them, and permissible to have a meal.
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Post by Sassy Sabrina SWZ on Jul 11, 2014 17:05:44 GMT
Mystie, I have that book and liked it a lot, too. Thanks for the reminder, because it has been sitting on my cookbook shelf for a long time, and I want to try some of the recipes.
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