PESACH 2004 - Kashering Utensils for Passover

As many more of us will likely wind up kashering utensils at home this year, I'm enclosing some specific instructions regarding this procedure. Please contact me with any questions you may have!

The particular method of kashering that's under discussion here is called Hag'alah. The underlying principle of Hag'alah is that by immersing an object in boiling water, we remove residual ogy (ta'am) of chametz that may yet be inside the material of the utensil.

Here are some important features of Hag'alah:

The pot and the water: It is preferable to use a "Pesach-dik" pot for the purposes of Hag'alah. (If none is available, please call me to discuss other options). The water should be boiling throughout the process. It is necessary to periodically allow the water to return to a boil.

Materials: Utensils made of metal or wood may be kashered via Hag'alah. Plastic, generally speaking may not.

Timing: Anything you kasher via Hag'alah, has to have been unused in the previous 24 hours.

Utensils: Hag'alah is effective on pots, silverware, kiddush cups, and the like. Frying pans, baking pans, and roasting pans cannot be kashered via Hag'alah.

Silverware: Items that are made of 2 pieces, (e.g. knives) are preferably not kashered for Pesach. When kashering all other silverware items, you can simply drop them individually into the Hag'alah pot (and through the boiling water). When the accumulated silverware is occupying about 1/3 of the pot, take it all out, rinse it in cold water, and continue with your remaining silverware.

Pots: Whenever possible, handles should be removed from pots before kashering. The handles should be put into the water separately. If the handles cannot be removed, extreme care should be used in cleaning the point where the pot and the handle meet. Many pots will be too big to be kashered even in your biggest pot. In these cases, there is an alternative method of Hag'alah. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil. While you are doing this, also heat a small object (e.g. a stone or metal implement) on an adjacent burner. When the water in the pot reaches boiling, place the heated object into the pot. This will cause the water to overflow, and will kasher the outside of the pot. (Be careful! It also might extinguish the flame)

Chag Kasher V'samayach!