By Rabbi Moshe Elefant

What are the steps necessary to allow a meat oven to be used for dairy, or a dairy oven to be used for meat?

There are two issues we need to address. First, residue from spills may have accumulated on the bottom of the oven. Second, we need to kasher the oven itself. If I want to bake uncovered dairy food in an oven previously used for meat, I must be concerned about any remaining residue, since the dairy food could contact it. However, this concern does not apply in the same way if the dairy food is sealed and covered. The first step is to thoroughly clean the oven. Inspect the bottom for any residue and use steel wool to remove any buildup. If only tiny bits remain, the kashering process will burn them away.

As for kashering the oven itself, most modern ovens have a porcelain or ceramic coating. According to many poskim, the oven should remain unused for 24 hours before kashering. This means it should not be used for meat during that period. Using the oven for pareve food during those 24 hours does not affect this requirement. After the 24-hour waiting period, turn the oven to 550 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it on for one hour. This process burns away any remaining residue and kashering concerns, allowing the oven to be used for uncovered dairy food.

WHAT BRACHA DO YOU SAY ON: NOODLES?

PASTA Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Pasta is made primarily from wheat flour, one of the five grains. EGG NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Egg noodles are made primarily from wheat flour. The eggs do not change the bracha. RAMEN NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Ramen noodles are made primarily from wheat flour, one of the five grains. RICE NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Borei Nefashot Reason: Rice is not one of the five grains, so the bracha acharonah is Borei Nefashot. ZUCCHINI NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Ha’adamah Bracha acharonah: Borei Nefashot Reason: Zucchini noodles are made from a vegetable. SPELT NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Spelt is one of the five grains.

SOBA NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Soba noodles are often made with both buckwheat and wheat flour. Since they contain wheat flour, the bracha is generally Mezonot.

BEAN NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Shehakol Bracha acharonah: Borei Nefashot Reason: Bean noodles are made from processed bean flour.

UDON NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Mezonot Bracha acharonah: Al Hamichya Reason: Udon noodles are made primarily from wheat flour, one of the five grains. SHIRATAKI NOODLES Bracha rishonah: Shehakol Bracha acharonah: Borei Nefashot Reason: Shirataki noodles are made from konjac flour, not grain.