What is Kosher?

Answer:
Kosher (or sometimes kasher)

is a Hebrew word that means “proper,” “fit,” or “pure.” In common speech, it tends to refer to the strict dietary laws followed by some practitioners of Judaism. These dietary restrictions are based on but not identical to the guidance laid out in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible, First Testament or Old Testament). These laws are referred to as kashrut. Kosher is contrasted with treif, which means “torn” and refers to non-kosher or forbidden food.

Highlights of kosher cooking include eating only 1) land animals that both chew cud (ruminate) and have cloven hooves, 2) birds that are not birds of prey, and 3) fish that have scales. Mammalian and aviary meat are not served in the same meal with dairy products. It is not uncommon for households to have two sets of cookware to cook these two foods completely separately.

Animals must be dispatched or slaughtered in a special way so as to remove as much blood as possible, because eating blood is forbidden. The eating of certain parts of animals is also forbidden. Grape products produced by people who are not Jewish are not permissible.

As is obvious, kosher cooking requires a lot of care and certification, and by nature has significant spiritual and religious importance for people. There are certification systems that adherents may rely on to verify whether or not food products are kosher. Examples of these systems are Star-K, OK, and OU.