The term kosher refers to Jewish dietary laws that outline which foods are permissible to eat, how they should be prepared, and how they must be handled. These laws come from the Torah and are followed by those who observe kashrut (Jewish dietary law).
Here’s everything you need to know about the kosher diet, food categories, and key rules.
1️⃣ What Makes Food Kosher? 🥩🥛🐟
For a food to be kosher, it must meet three key criteria:
✅ 1. Only certain animals & seafood are permitted
✅ 2. Meat & dairy must be kept separate
✅ 3. Foods must be prepared under kosher supervision
Foods that meet these requirements are certified kosher and often have a kosher symbol (hechsher) on the packaging.
2️⃣ Kosher Food Categories 🍽️
Kosher food is divided into three main categories:
✔️ 1. Meat (Fleishig) 🥩
✅ Only certain land animals are kosher:
- Must have split hooves AND chew cud (e.g., cows, sheep, goats, deer)
- Pigs, rabbits, camels, and horses are NOT kosher
✅ Animals must be slaughtered in a specific kosher manner (shechita)
✅ No blood can be consumed
💡 Kosher Meat Tip: Meat must be salted and soaked to remove all blood before cooking.
✔️ 2. Dairy (Milchig) 🥛
✅ Only milk from kosher animals (cows, goats, sheep) is kosher
✅ Dairy & meat cannot be mixed (e.g., no cheeseburgers)
✅ Separate dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment must be used for dairy and meat
💡 Kosher Dairy Tip: After eating meat, you must wait a certain time (varies by tradition) before consuming dairy.
✔️ 3. Neutral (Pareve) 🍎
✅ Foods that are neither meat nor dairy are pareve (neutral)
✅ Examples: Fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, nuts, fish, and kosher-certified processed foods
✅ Can be eaten with either meat OR dairy
💡 Kosher Pareve Tip: If processed, pareve foods must not be cross-contaminated with dairy or meat.
3️⃣ Kosher Rules for Meat & Seafood 🍗🐟
✔️ Kosher Meat Rules 🥩
✅ Must be from kosher animals (e.g., cows, sheep, goats)
✅ Must be slaughtered & processed in a kosher way
✅ No blood or certain animal fats/organs can be eaten
✔️ Kosher Seafood Rules 🐟
✅ Only fish with fins and scales are kosher
✅ Examples of kosher fish: Salmon, tuna, cod, tilapia
🚫 Non-kosher seafood: Shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, oysters
💡 Kosher Seafood Tip: Shellfish and other non-scaled fish are NOT allowed.
4️⃣ Kosher Rules for Grains, Fruits & Vegetables 🌾🥦
✅ Fruits, vegetables, and grains are naturally kosher
✅ Must be free from insects (e.g., lettuce, berries need to be carefully checked)
✅ Bread must be certified kosher to ensure no dairy/meat contamination
💡 Kosher Produce Tip: Some Jewish traditions require certain grains to be supervised from harvest to baking (e.g., Pas Yisroel bread).
5️⃣ Kosher Food Preparation Rules 🍳
✅ Meat & dairy must be cooked and served separately
✅ Kosher kitchens have separate utensils, dishes, and cookware for meat & dairy
✅ Wines & grape-based products must be made under Jewish supervision to be kosher
💡 Kosher Kitchen Tip: Many homes have two sinks, two ovens, or separate counters to keep dairy and meat separate.
6️⃣ Kosher Food Certification 🏷️
To ensure a product is kosher, it should have a kosher certification symbol (hechsher) from a kosher authority.
✅ Common Kosher Symbols:
- OU (Orthodox Union)
- OK (OK Kosher Certification)
- Star-K (Kosher Certification Agency)
- KOF-K
💡 Look for these symbols on packaged foods to confirm they are kosher!
7️⃣ Kosher for Passover (Pesach) 🍽️
During Passover (Pesach), additional kosher restrictions apply:
🚫 No chametz (leavened grains like wheat, barley, rye)
✅ Only unleavened bread (matzah) and kosher-for-Passover foods are allowed
💡 Tip: Kosher-for-Passover foods will have a special certification (Kosher for Pesach).
🚀 Final Thoughts: What Kosher Means for Your Diet
The kosher diet is based on Jewish dietary laws that outline which foods are allowed, how they are prepared, and how they are eaten.
✅ Key Takeaways:
- Kosher animals must be properly slaughtered
- Meat & dairy cannot be mixed
- Only fish with fins & scales are kosher
- Packaged foods must have a kosher certification
💡 Whether for religious reasons or dietary preference, keeping kosher requires careful food selection and preparation.
