How to Make Meat Kosher
Kosher diets are primarily eaten for religious reasons. Kosher dietary rules involve the slaughtering and preparation of fish, animal and fowl. Kosher rules are overseen by rabbis or other people certified in kosher processes and Jewish laws. Most Kosher products are marked with a Kosher label. There are ways in which people can prepare meat at home and still stay within Kosher law.
History of Kosher Laws
Kashrut is a name for the set of Jewish laws which addresses how to prepare food and what is safe to eat or not eat. The word Kashrut, a Hebrew word, means “to prepare food correctly.” Food must be slaughtered, prepared and processed in certain ways to retain a Kosher label.
Kosher Laws
According to Kosher laws, certain animlals cannot be eaten by practicing Jews. Animals which are forbidden to be eaten are pigs, hares, badgers and camels. Animals that can be eaten must have cloven hooves and eat or chew it's own cud. Any animals that do not have these qualities are forbidden to be eaten. For water animals, anything with fins and scales are permitted (i.e. tuna, salmon and cod), whereas anything with shells are forbidden (i.e., lobsters, clams and shrimp).
How to Make Meat Kosher
The first step in making meat
kosher is to practice a ritual slaughter, or schochet, of the animal. Schochet is a
method in which a deep stroke is made across the animal's neck. The
blade must sharp and have no nicks or imperfections. The slaughter
must be done by a Jewish butcher trained in reliogous and Kosher
law.All blood must be removed from the
animal, because according to the Torah, consumption of blood is
forbidden.After removal of blood, the body
must be broiled or soaked 72 hours after the animal is slaughtered.The meat is salted after the body
is broiled or soaked.All blood vessels and the sciatic
nerve must be removed, as does fat that grows around any organs.Meat must be cooked in a pot that
is reserved for only meat (no other foods may be cooked in this
pot).Dairy cannot be eaten within three to six hours of eating meat.
- All utensils used to eat meat
should only be used for meat and cannot touch dairy products.