Consumer Kosher Articles
What If Non-Aged Cheese Sits In My Fridge For A Long Time? OU Further Clarifies “Waiting After Aged Cheese”
It is the position of the OU’s poskim (halachic authorities) that one need only wait between eating aged cheese and meat if the cheese is of a variety that is intentionally aged in production, such as Parmesan (must be aged in production at least 10 months) and Emmental (much be aged in production at least […]
Kosher Catering At A Non-Kosher Venue: What’s Happening In The Kitchen
Plan on attending your cousin’s Bar Mitzvah party next week? Or your neighbor’s daughter’s wedding next month? As an increasing number of semachot are catered at non-kosher hotels, it is important for the kosher consumer to be aware of what takes place in hotel kitchens. Indeed, oftentimes guests enjoy a lavish smorgasbord (replete with roast […]
Why Would A Nondairy Product Have a D (For Dairy) Kosher Certification? Can It Be Eaten With Meat?
Among the many questions that come to us at the OU Kosher Hotline and Webbe Rebbe email service, one of the most frequently asked is, “(favorite product) bears an OU-D, but there does not seem to be any dairy ingredients in it. Is it really pareve?” To make a long story short, it depends on the […]
Is My Oven Kosher? Find Out How Steam, Aroma, And Other Factors Change Your Oven’s Status…
From the Talmudic kirah to our modern microwave, oven cooking requires specific kosher knowledge. Rabbi Yaakov Luban, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator of the OU Kosher Division, explains the halachos involved and provides a practical guideline.
What In The World Is Whey?: Whey And Its Kashrus Explained
Most people aren’t quite sure what whey is. We know that whey is used in some baked products, that it is a principal ingredient in many nutritional products, and that it has something to do with curds (whatever that means!). L’maaseh, what is whey, and are there any kashrus concerns? The short answer is that […]
OU KOSHER Prepares The Public For Pesach On A Grand And High-Tech Scale
At OU Kosher, “Preparing for Pesach” takes on a whole new meaning! This Pesach season, OU Kosher again distinguished itself among kashrus agencies by offering expanded consumer information and education across the media spectrum. From Ask OU Pesach shiurim, to the OU Kosher Pesach Webinar, to the OU Kashrus Hotline and Webbe Rebbe email service. […]
OU Kosher Answers Your Top Ten Pesach FAQs
OU Kosher presents the most frequently asked consumer questions to-date on the OU Kosher Hotline (212-613-8241). Questions may be submitted to kosherq@ou.org as well. The Passover questions were answered by Rabbi Tzvi Nussbaum, the voice of OU Kosher’s Consumer Hotline. The responses were reviewed by Rabbi Yaakov Luban, OU Kosher executive rabbinic coordinator. Rabbi Moshe Zywica, […]
May Non-Pesach Certified Milk Be Used If Bottled Before Pesach?
Chametz before Pesach is like any other issur in that it can be batel b’shishim. However, if pirurim (crumbs) of chametz b’en might remain in the food, even if those crumbs are batel chad b’trei, the chametz on Pesach will bechozer v’niyur. However, Rema (O.C. 447:4) writes that if the chametz is lach b’lach (either […]