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Pesach
Koshering oven for Pesach:[1]
From the letter of the law, an oven requires Libun Chamur.[2] If one’s oven does not have a self clean cycle, it is very difficult to accomplish this. One cannot do Libun Chamur through using a blow torch, as the oven can break in the process.[3] One is thus to buy a Pesach oven or alternatively Kasher it in the following way:
- Clean the oven well using a Chametz killing agent such as bleach or oven stain remover.
- Wait 24 hours prior to Kashering.
- Turn the oven on for a period of at least one hour to its highest temperature or blow torch the oven from the inside.
- After the Kashering process is complete, one should cover the walls and floors with aluminum foil.
Self cleaning oven: An oven with self cleaning mode reaches a temperature of 900° F and is equivalent to Libun Chamur. An oven with a “Continuous cleaning” cycle is not equivalent to Libun Chamur, and hence the above-mentioned method must be used. |
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[1] Admur 461:1; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:10
[2] The reason: As the Chametz at times falls onto the floor of the oven and the oven walls receive Chametz taste directly without liquid [Admur ibid] and we are initially stringent to follow minority usage. [Admur 451:27] Now, although we rule that two pots which touch each other do not transfer taste without liquid [Admur 451:67] perhaps we suspect that liquid may spill onto while cooking and make everything prohibited according to our custom to prohibit the food even if the pot is not be Ben Yomo.
[3] The heating elements are very delicate and can burn due to the heat of the blow torch. [Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid footnote 39]
Meat to Dairy & Vice Versa
Koshering oven from dairy to meat or vice versa:[1]
If the oven is cleaned and Koshered beforehand, then one may bake dairy in the meat oven.[2] The cleaning can be accomplished by washing and scrubbing it clean and then turning on the oven to a hot temperature, having it burn out any leftover residue.[3] The Koshering can be accomplished through turning on the self-clean cycle[4] [if available], or waiting 24 hours [from the cleaning[5]] and turning on the oven for a period of at least a half hour to its highest temperature. Some Poskim[6] write that one is to also place a pot of water inside and have its steam Kosher the oven. If the above is done, the dairy food may be baked in the oven even uncovered. This Koshering option is even initially valid.[7] Those who plan to use this option upon purchasing an oven, should initially purchase an oven with a Teflon coating rather than enamel or porcelain.[8] The above option of cleaning and Koshering is only valid for a classic baking oven, however a small toaster oven with interior coils is very difficult to clean and is not Kasherable, and hence cannot be used for both dairy and meat foods.[9]
[1] See Maharsham 3:208; Chelkas Yaakov 2:136; Minchas Yitzchak 5:20; Igros Moshe Y.D .1:40; Yabia Omer 5:7; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:430; Koveitz Mibeis Levi 3:21; Hakashrus 1:43
[2] Admur 494:16
[3] Kinyan Torah 1:24
[4] Hakashrus 1:44; An oven with self cleaning mode reaches a temperature of 900° F and is thus equivalent to Libun Chamur. This helps to perform Libun Chamor to itself, as well as to all Kosherable utensils that are placed in it while on a self-cleaning cycle. An oven with a “Continuous cleaning” cycle does not reach this level of heat and is not equivalent to Libun Chamur.
[5] As if one turns on the oven to Kosher it while there is still residue inside, then it reabsorbs the taste of the residue. See Hakashrus 1 footnote 94. Vetzaruch Iyun.
[6] Teshuvos Vehanhagos ibid; Minchas Yitzchak ibid
[7] See Admur 494:16
[8] Hakashrus ibid as some Poskim say the latter materials are non-Kosherable.
[9] Hakashrus 1:45
Kashering Treif Oven
- Question: [Friday, 25th Tamuz, 5780]
We bought a new home with an already installed oven. How do we Kasher the Treif oven?
Answer:
An oven that has a self-clean cycle may be Koshered using self-clean, which is equivalent to Libun Chamor. If self-clean is not available, then it would be a Hiddur to purchase a new oven and have it installed, being that ideally it requires Libun Chamur to be Koshered, which is not really feasible by an oven. Nonetheless, you may choose even initially to do the following steps to Kosher it if you do not desire to purchase a new one:
- Get rid of all the oven racks/inserts and purchase new ones
- Clean the oven wall using bleach or oven stain remover and turn on the oven to burn any leftover residue that may remain.
- Wait 24 hours prior to Kashering.
- Turn the oven on for a period of about an hour to its highest temperature or blow torch the oven from the inside. Some Poskim write that one is to also place a pot of water inside and have its steam Kosher the oven.
Sources: See Admur 461:1; Admur 451:27; Maharsham 3:208; Chelkas Yaakov 2:136; Minchas Yitzchak 5:20; Igros Moshe Y.D .1:40; Yabia Omer 5:7; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:430; Koveitz Mibeis Levi 3:21; Piskeiy Teshuvos 451:2; Hakashrus 1:42; here: https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/oven-koshering/
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