Question:
I accidentally placed a hot buttered cheese sandwich, straight from the frying pan, onto a clean non-Ben Yomo meat plate. The sandwich was fried in butter and was still very hot at the time. Is the meat porcelain plate now considered treif?
Answer:
Yes, the meat plate is considered treif and requires kashering. You however may continue to eat the sandwich.
Explanation:
In halacha, when hot dairy food comes into direct contact with a meat utensil, the concern is that the utensil absorbs the ta’am (taste) of the dairy, rendering it non-kosher due to the prohibition of mixing meat and milk, and the application of Tatah Gavar also by vessels.
In this case, the sandwich was not only dairy but also hot and fried in butter — which gives it the status of either a kli rishon (a vessel directly on the fire) or irui kli rishon (pouring from such a vessel). Both of these statuses are considered sufficient to cause bliah (absorption) of taste into another utensil upon contact.
Since the meat plate came into direct contact with the hot dairy sandwich, it absorbed the taste of the cheese and butter, making it treif. The plate would need to be kashered properly — which is impractical if it is made of porcelain.
Sources: Michaber Y.D. 94:8; Admur 451:66; Shach 94:33; Peri Chadash 94:30; Lechem Hapanim 94:35; Beis Lechem Yehuda 94:30; P”M 94 S.D. 33; Aruch Hashulchan 94:34; Zivcheiy Tzedek 94:56; Kaf Hachaim 94:79; See regarding applying Tatah Gavar by vessels: Rama 105:3; Shach 105:10; 105:23; Issur Viheter; Rashba; Tosfos; Rashal in Perek Gid Hanashe 45, brought in Shach 105:10
