Kosher Food Guidelines
The word kosher means "fit or proper" according to kosher dietary law. Jewish law is used to determine which foods are considered kosher. Jewish followers are the most common consumers of kosher foods, however many people eat kosher food because they consider it more wholesome than traditional food.
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Meat
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Animals must have cloven hooves and chew cud to be considered kosher. Camels, rock badgers, rabbits and pigs are not kosher. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer and bison are kosher.
Seafood
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Seafood must come from animals with fins and scales. Lobsters, oysters, shrimp, clams and crabs are forbidden. Most fish are kosher, such as tuna, salmon and herring.
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Death
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Animals that die of natural causes or are killed by other animals are not kosher. The animals must be disease-free and there must be no flaws in the organs. Animals must be slaughtered with a quick, deep stroke across the neck with a sharp knife and exact precision to drain as much blood as possible.
Body parts
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Blood must be completely drained, broiled or soaked from the meat of animals to be kosher. The sciatic nerve and adjoining blood vessels are not kosher. The fat around vital organs and the liver is not kosher.
Fruits and Vegetables
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All fruits and vegetables are kosher unless bugs or worms are found on or inside the plant. Grapes from new vines may not be used for wine until after the fourth year. Every even year the vines must be left fallow, and no other fruits or vegetables may be grown between the vines. All winemaking equipment must be kosher. Only Sabbath-observant male Jews can produce the wine. No animal products may be used in the production of Kosher wine, and one percent of the wine must be discarded. For wine to be "meshuval", it must be brought to a boil. Only observant Jews are allowed to pour kosher wine unless it is meshuval.
Dairy and Meat
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Meat and dairy must be separated and cannot be eaten together, and milk and poultry may not be eaten together. Fish and other meats may not be cooked together. Fish and dairy, or diary and eggs may be eaten together . A pot that cooks meat products may not be used to cook dairy products. Kosher household should have two sets of pots and pans for the preparation of meat and dairy products. Kosher status is transmittable between food and utensil only in the presence of heat. When washing dishes with a dishwasher, dishes used for meats and dairy product must have separate racks in the dishwasher. You must wait between three and six hours after eating meat to eat dairy. After eating dairy, you must rise your mouth and consume a neutral food such as bread before consuming meat products.
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References
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