[Avodah] KASHRUS IN A HOTEL OR RENTAL HOUSE

[Prof. L. Levine]

The following is from

HALACHOS FOR THE SUMMER
by Rabbi Eidlitz

KASHRUS IN A HOTEL OR RENTAL HOUSE
1. Metal, glass etc. utensils that normally require Tevila can be used without Tevila if
owned by a non-Jew. Typically glasses in hotels and rental houses can be used
without Tevila unless the house is known to be owned by a Jew.
2. Cold, non-kosher, silverware owned by a non-Jew can be used for cold food that is
not sharp, i.e. a cold non-kosher spoon for kosher cold cereal, when plastic or kosher
utensils are not available.
3. For Shabbos we need to check if the property is enclosed in order to carry. At hotels
this often is not the case for the outside grounds. Inside the room and building one
can carry.
4. Buying cut up fruit in a supermarket or airport is fine as long it does not contain
anything that needs to be checked for insect infestation and is without added
flavoring.
5. Unflavored tea or coffee are fine in Kiosks, convenience stores, gas stations, etc.
6. Closed containers such as salt and sugar are fine in a rental house (if the owner
allows their use) but not open containers.
7. It is difficult to kasher a BBQ and better to use a disposable or portable one. If one
does need to be kashered, it must be cleaned well with something like Easy Off and
turned on for an hour to high. The grates that we put the food on directly need
further kashering by placing burning coals on them until they go out. Great care
must be used not to cause a fire or bend the metal rack. Often it is more practical to
buy and Tovel a new rack.
8. A self-clean oven can be turned on and used after the cycle ends. A non-self-clean
oven should be inspected to make sure it is clean, wait 24 hours from last use, turn
3. For Shabbos we need to check if the property is enclosed in order to carry. At hotels
this often is not the case for the outside grounds. Inside the room and building one
can carry.
4. Buying cut up fruit in a supermarket or airport is fine as long it does not contain
anything that needs to be checked for insect infestation and is without added
flavoring.
5. Unflavored tea or coffee are fine in Kiosks, convenience stores, gas stations, etc.
6. Closed containers such as salt and sugar are fine in a rental house (if the owner
allows their use) but not open containers.
7. It is difficult to kasher a BBQ and better to use a disposable or portable one. If one
does need to be kashered, it must be cleaned well with something like Easy Off and
turned on for an hour to high. The grates that we put the food on directly need
further kashering by placing burning coals on them until they go out. Great care
must be used not to cause a fire or bend the metal rack. Often it is more practical to
buy and Tovel a new rack.
8. A self-clean oven can be turned on and used after the cycle ends. A non-self-clean
oven should be inspected to make sure it is clean, wait 24 hours from last use, turn
on till red (usually about 3 minutes) and it is kashered. Gas should be turned on for
15 minutes with metal over it to reflect the heat down. A disposable aluminum pot
works well for this.
9. Countertops are fine to use, but very hot pots should be put on a towel etc. and not
directly on the countertop.
10. Cold cereal in a hotel continental breakfast often is kosher, but one needs to
determine the brand being served for it’s kosher status. Often the hotel personnel
are happy to bring out the boxes and show the Hechscher.
11. A waffle maker, popcorn popper, and other cooking utensils need to be considered
non-kosher even if at the moment they are using kosher oil and other ingredients.
12. Coffee or tea from Coffee Bean is ok if unflavored. Otherwise, their products are
likely to be not kosher. Starbucks is best from a drive thru or kiosk, but acceptable
from the large stores if there is no good alternative. The same is true with coffee
from restaurants. Starbucks flavors come from a bottle with clear indication of
kashrus that one can verify on the spot.

YL
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