What Is a Kosher Meal?
A Kosher meal is a meal prepared and served in accordance with Jewish law. Jewish dietary laws are spelled out in the Torah. According to the 2000 National Jewish Population Survey, 21 percent of all Jewish Americans reported that they keep Kosher at home.
Permitted Foods
Some foods are permitted under Jewish law and some foods are not. Of mammals, only those that have cloven hooves and chew their cud are allowed. This includes cattle, deer and sheep. Pork is not permitted. Fish are allowed but shellfish is not permitted. Some birds are allowed and some are not.
Kosher Slaughtering
Those animals that are allowed must be slaughtered in a certain way. They must not have died a natural death and must not have been killed by other animals. All blood must be removed from the meat before it is eaten.
Meat and Dairy
Beef or poultry and dairy products are not permitted to be eaten together. Eggs and dairy products can be eaten together.
Grape Products
Grape products such as wine and grape juice are only permitted when they have been made by Jews; however, whole grapes that have been picked or packaged by non-Jews are allowed.
Utensils
Separate pots and utensils must be used for preparing meat and dairy foods. Separate dishes must be used for serving meat and dairy foods. Pots, utensils and dishes used for meat and dairy foods cannot be washed in the same sink. Jews who keep Kosher usually use separate dishpans for washing meat utensils and dairy utensils rather than having two separate sinks in their kitchens.
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