How to eat kosher food

Video: Kosher: The Basics / What is Kosher?

Content

Steps
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Eating kosher food is a staple of Judaism. Although strictness in this regard depends on many factors, some Jews do not follow these norms, but more strict Jews consume kosher food. Although many foods are inherently kosher, they are mixed with other foods during processing. Therefore, those who consume kosher food rely on the heckscher symbols, that is, the special aspects of preparing and packaging kosher food. If you are a beginner and want to learn the basics, this article will help you get started.

Steps

1 Contact an Orthodox rabbi and ask him how to consume kosher food. He will be able to answer all your questions.
2 Buy food with the sign hecksher on the package. A detailed list can be found in the dedicated section, but remember that not everyone finds these signs convincing enough, so you should ask an Orthodox rabbi for advice in your particular case.
3 Remember that cooking and eating meat and dairy products at the same time is not permitted. These types of food can be consumed individually or in different dishes. Most Jews traditionally wait 3-6 hours before they can eat meat if they have eaten dairy products before. After eating some cheeses, you need to wait 6 hours.
4 Remember that there are three categories of kosher food:
- Dairy (dairy products)
- Meat (beef, chicken, game, etc.)
- Parev ("neutral" food, such as vegetables or fruits, which should not be mixed with dairy products or meat). Parev usually refers to kosher food if you don't mix it with other foods, or if you don't mix dairy products with meat.
5 Remember, not all meats are kosher. Some animals have solid hooves and eat their young; only these types of meat are kosher (pigs do not belong to this category). Insects are not kosher food. Only fish with fins and skeletons are kosher (meaning that crayfish are not kosher food).
6 Even if an animal is kosher, it must be killed (shekht) and salted correctly. Meat and game must be cooked properly, but this is not the case for fish. If the meat or chicken is not kosher, it has not been killed and cooked properly without following the shekhita regulations.
7 Remember that some dense leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, are difficult to check for insects, so you should check these vegetables carefully. Some people use light boxes to inspect these vegetables.
8 You must understand that wine, grape juice, and other types of grape drinks (such as certain types of vinegar) must be made by a Jew in order to be considered kosher food. They must be cooked under supervision.
9 Some people think that regular eggs (chicken) are kosher food. But if they contain specks of blood, they are not. Such spots are rare, but all eggs should be checked.
- If the eggs are broken before eating, they should be examined. Pour the egg into a bowl to check for blood stains. A clean glass bowl is best for this because it is transparent.
- If an egg is cooked unpeeled, an odd number of eggs must be cooked, at least 3. Since blood stains are rare, it can be assumed that most eggs do not have such stains, so all eggs are kosher food.
- Eggs are a steamed food and can be eaten with dairy products or meat.
10 Dine only in kosher restaurants under the special supervision of an Orthodox rabbi (called mashgiyak). The restaurant must have a special sign. If you don't see a sign like this, don't be afraid to ask about it! Stay away from regular restaurants as they can mix kosher food with other types of food.
- There are several smartphone apps you can download to get detailed information about kosher restaurants. This will help you find the right restaurant in an unfamiliar area or out of town.

Tips

There are also non-dairy alternatives such as margarine that can be consumed with meat.
You can buy a kosher cookbook and even modify your regular recipes to make them kosher.
You can also become a vegetarian. Since most kosher laws are about meat, it will be easier for you to follow them if you don't eat meat. But if you like meat, remember that it must be kosher.
There are many good books, magazines and websites to help you get detailed information on kosher food.
In stores that cater to more than just kosher customers, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between regular foods and kosher foods. Or if you are abroad and cannot find the types of food you need, you can find the information you need on the internet. Try OU and Star-K sites, as well as travel guides like YeahThatsKosher.com, and KosherStarbucks.com and KCheese.com.
Certain types of products sold in packs do not require a heckscher mark. This includes regular flour, white noodles, tomato paste (but not canned tomatoes), common spices, olive oil, dry beans, dry pearl barley, dry rice, and dry quinoa. This also includes canned fruits (other than those containing cherries), frozen fruits, frozen vegetables, shelled nuts, regular milk (but not milk powder and cream), eggs, and bottled water.

Warnings

Kosher meat usually contains a lot of baking soda, so try not to add salt when cooking it.
The kosher industry is a complex business. Check out the Orthodox community's website at www.ou.org for changes to your favorite foods.
There is a myth that "vegetarian" food is kosher. But this is far from true. Kosher and vegetarian food are two different types of food. The kosher diet permits the consumption of meat, while the vegetarian diet prohibits meat dishes.
Just because a particular type of food is kosher doesn't mean you should eat it. There are many types of foods that contain baking soda, fat, and cholesterol (such as egg yolks). Fortunately, there are plenty of wholesome kosher foods available as well.
Many foods that are not considered kosher require strict supervision. This includes packaged vegetables, chopped and peeled vegetables, canned vegetables, dried fruits, raisins, apple juice and gravy, all types of nectar, fruit juice blends, most oils and condiments.
Any food that is berry or vanilla flavored cannot be considered kosher as it contains beaver streak or castoreum. This substance is not listed in the ingredients, but is called "natural flavor".
Maple syrups must be hacked as the equipment used to make them is usually greased with lard.
Cream and milk powder must also have a heckscher mark, as they are made with the addition of gelatin.
This also applies to cheese, since renin of animal origin is used for its production.
Marshmallows must have a heckscher mark, since gelatin is added to it.
You cannot tell which food is kosher just by reading the ingredients list. Kosher and other types of ingredients may be named the same. Many types of food are produced on the same equipment, so they can be considered non-kosher. In addition, the equipment with which dried fruits or sliced vegetables are prepared can be greased or lard.
There is a myth that organic food and other wholesome foods on the market are kosher. Organic food and other wholesome foods may not be kosher and may not be good for you at all.
The word "kosher" on foods does not mean that the food is kosher. This is especially true for hot dogs and canned vegetables.
A fish fillet cannot be considered kosher if it does not have a heckscher mark on it. Many kosher and non-kosher fish look the same. There is fraud in this industry. You must make sure the fish has fins and skeletons to be considered kosher.
Plain K on food does not mean the food is kosher. Some products need to be tested. The letter K may be unreliable evidence. It is best to ask the rabbi.
Many foods and establishments can be made in a "kosher style." These foods are usually associated with the Jewish diet, but they are not under the proper supervision and control of the rabbi.