What Is Kosher Food?

Question

What Is Kosher Food?

Answer 1

Kosher food is Jewish food which is prepared in accordance to Kashrut. There are many segments of Kashrut. For example when it comes to slaughtering an animal, there are four strict rules;

The butcher should be well trained.

The animal should be free of any disease.

The slaughtering action should be prompt i.e. the carotid artery should be cut in one action with a sharp knife so as to minimize the suffering of the animal.

Blood should be allowed to completely flow out of the body.

Similarly, only those mammals can be consumed, which are cloven hoofed and cud-chewing. This leaves pig meat out of the equation.  The fish which can be used should have scales and fins, chicken, duck, goose, and turkey can be consumed when it comes to birds and so on.

There are special set of kitchen rules and that dairy and meat cannot be served together.  

 

Answer 2

 This is terminology which many people associate one which covers all types of Jewish foods. The reality is however different. Kosher food is only that food which has been prepared according to the Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut. Now the problem is that Kashrut is not a set of a few rules. Its envelope is huge and this results in different perceptions and beliefs. In short, what one set of Jew may consider may not be Kosher for another set of Jews.

There are however some universal nuances of Kashrut. For example, it clearly describes the type of mammals and fish which can be consumed, how the animals should be slaughtered, how the kitchens should be maintained etc.

Most of the Kashrut laws have been directly derived from Toorah, the Jewish Holy book.