How to Make Dishes Kosher

Reasons for needing to make plates, pots and pans kosher can include accidentally mixing dairy and meat on the same dish or placing non-kosher food on the dish. The rules regarding making dishes kosher vary depending on the material of the dish and what it's been used for. You can make most dishes kosher by boiling them (hag'alah). While these steps offer basic guidelines, you should consult a rabbi about your particular dishes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Clean each dish thoroughly, paying special attention to any cracks or crevices. Leave the dishes for 24 hours.

2. Fill a large pot with water and put it on the stove to boil. The pot must be big enough to hold the dish you want to make kosher and there must be enough water to completely cover the dish.

3. Wait until the water reaches a steady boil, then drop in the dish. Make sure it's completely submerged in the boiling water before the dish floats to the top or settles on the bottom of the pot.

4. Rinse the newly kosher dish under cold water to complete the process.

Tips & Warnings

• There are different beliefs as to whether you can make glass kosher. Some hold that you must boil glass like other dishes; some hold that you can simply soak them in water for 72 hours, changing the water every 24 and some people believe it's not possible to make glass kosher.
• You can't make earthenware, china, porcelain or pottery kosher. You must replace such dishes with new ones.