Non-kosher restaurant

Asked by Confused · December 18, 2003 · Kashrut

Question

Dear Rabbi, I am confused by a number of recent posts that seem to be sending different messages. In some, you have said NOT to order certain dishes in non-kosher restaurants because of concerns that treif stuff is being cooked in the same pot immediately before (for example, in your pesak about IHOP in which you instructed a questioner to find out what else is cooked in the same pans as the pancakes). In others, you state that it is OK to order pancakes. I am going to be in a situation soon where it will be difficult to find cooked kosher food. If I am able to negotiate the bishul akum issues, is it possible for me to order hard boiled eggs or pancakes in a restaurant, even though it is nearly certain that treif stuff has been cooked in the same pan within the past 24 hrs? Thanks

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

I am not worried about the Treif that was there, even less than 24 hours, because you can do Libun. This would be heating the frying pan, oven, grill, till it will certainly fry to oblivion any food taste or whatnot. In IHOP I said that I'm not ready to respond, but my initial concern is that the stuff is being cooked one after the next. This is often done with eggs, and if the guy before you has bacon or sausages in his eggs, you can end up tasting it. I don't know. I need to look into. AA