Dishes and Utensils on Pesah

The prohibition of hametz on Pesah extends to the "contamination" of Passover food with hametz from dishes and utensils used the year around. Ideally, we ought to keep a complete set of utensils special for Pesah, but, because of the great expense involved in so doing, we may use some of our year-round utensils on Pesah after proper kashering:

1. Earthenware, crockery, porcelain, enamel, and china utensils used during the year may not be used for Pesah.

2. China which has not been used for at least twelve months may be used for Pesah after having been thoroughly washed.

3. Baking utensils, which have come into frequent contact with "absolute hametz" may not be used for Pesah.

4. Knives, forks, and spoons made entirely of metal may be used for Pesah after thorough cleaning and immersion in boiling water.

5. Metal pots and pans may be used for Pesah after thorough cleaning and immersion in boiling water. Whenever possible, the handles or other removable parts of the utensil should be taken off, and each part kashered separately. Indeed, some would say that, if the utensil cannot be completely taken apart, then it may not be kashered for Pesah use; the same principle applies to knives with glued-on handles. In any case, utensils which have small openings or crevices which cannot be cleaned properly may not be kashered for Pesah use.

6. Metal and glass parts of a mixer may be kashered by immersion in boiling water; plastic and rubber parts must be replaced.

7. A dishwasher should left unused for 24 hours, thoroughly cleaned and run through one cycle empty. A new tray should be used. According to some authorities, the dishwasher tray may be kashered with the dishwasher.

8. A frying pan may be kashered by cleaning and immersion in boiling water.

9. Most authorities hold that utensils of plastic or rubber, if used for hot foods during the year, may not be kashered for Pesah. Some authorities hold that plastics with high heat tolerance may be kashered as if they were metal. If used for cold foods only, plastic utensils may be used after thorough scouring.

10. Some authorities hold that a microwave oven may be kashered by boiling a container of water in it. Some hold that this is permitted only when the oven is made of stainless steel. Some hold that microwave ovens may not be kashered at all.

11. Countertops should be thoroughly cleaned. It is advisable to cover them with foil or plastic for Pesah

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