What does it mean when someone says.." Is that Kosher? " or I see Kosher salt in a recipe. "?

Question

I am a Christian raised in the mid-west and I really never have heard an explanation.

Answer 1

In Jewish law, "kosher" means fit and proper. Kosher foods are those that an observant Jew will eat, as mandated in the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. This rules out pork and shellfish, which are not kosher by definition. Kosher meats such as beef, lamb and poultry must be slaughtered in a very specific way under the supervision of a rabbi, and all the blood must be drained out. Salting raw meat is one way to drain out the blood. "Kosher salt" is a grade of salt approved for this purpose. In kosher cooking, meat and dairy foods are never mixed in any way, and separate sets of meat and dairy utensils are used. There are a whole set of additional rules during the festival of Passover, when leavened breads are forbidden.

Answer 2

I am a Christian also, but I was very fortunate to be exposed to several Jewish persons. one was orothodox. Kosher food basically means that someone who is Jewish can comsume it. We are surrounded by "Kosher" food. if you will go to your cabinet, I bet you have Kosher food in it. don't believe!? If you have a can of Pringles you have Kosher. it is indentified by a U with a circle around it. M & M's are also Kosher. Nestle Toll House chips are also Kosher. Here is another tidbit, If you go to a "Jewish" Pizza place, you will NOT find a meat and cheese pizza, because Jewish persons who eat Kosher can't mix Meats and Diary. A little more detail is that A Rabbi or a Rabbinical authority has to cerified a food Kosher. There is alot more to Kosher food, but that is the basics. If you want more info try this website. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher#Ritual_purity_and_holiness. I hope this is helpful. If you do a search on "Kosher" you will also find ALOT of information. Take care

Answer 3

Kosher means food that meets the Jewish guidelines for food outlined in the Torah. To be kosher, a meat must come from an animal under certain guidelines. For example, for a fish to be kosher it must have both fins and scales (catfish aren't kosher, neither are shellfish like shrimp). The food must also be killed and prepared a certain way. Cows are a kosher animal, but not all beef is kosher.

I assume kosher salt would be chemical-free.

Answer 4

I believe Kosher food is specific food cooked under very strict guidelines...I know you aren't supposed to cook Kosher and non-Kosher food together.