Pesach products
When buying Pesach products from a supervised or non-supervised establishment, make sure that all items bear a kosher l’Pesach hechsher.
APPROVED PRODUCTS FOR PESACH 2025
All matzah and matzah meal must bear a special kosher l’Pesach hechsher.
Candle Lighting from an Existing Flame
Please note that a candle needs to be lit before lighting Yom Tov candles that will last long enough so that the flame from this candle can be used to light candles on second night Yom Tov.
Egg Matzah on Pesach
Ashkenazim do not allow Matzah Ashira – Egg Matzah on Pesach except for the old and infirm.
Kitniyot
The term kitniyot refers to grains and legumes not consumed on Pesach according to the minhag of Ashkenazi Jews. Examples include beans, corn, peas, lentils, rice, mustard, peanuts, chick peas and other pod vegetables. Since there are many kosher l’Pesach products made for the Sephardi market which do contain kitniyot, it is important for Ashkenazim to check the labels carefully.
Quinoa
Some Kashrut Agencies in the USA allow it on Pesach, although many Israeli authorities consider it kitniyot. The Kashrut Authority of the London Beth Bin recommend that quinoa is not used on Pesach unless it is specifically needed for health reasons, in which case it should preferably be bought with a kosher l’Pesach hechsher. There are a number of varieties on sale in kosher shops.
Diet Drinks
Diet drinks are sweetened with aspartame, which is made from kitniyot shenishtanu – kitniyot which has gone through a significant chemical change. Although as a general rule, such a change alone is not relied upon as a reason to permit a non-kosher substance, some Kashrut Authorities are lenient in the case of kitniyot which is only a minhag (albeit a very ancient and important one). That is why the OU in America, as well as the Tel Aviv Rabbinate, give a hechsher to these drinks and do not deem them kitniyot in any way. Other authorities, such as Rav Landau in Israel, rule that we should be strict even in the case of kitniyot. For someone who wants to be machmir – strict, it is preferable to avoid.
Bottled water
All bottled, still and naturally carbonated water is permitted without a hechsher.
Artificially sparkling water may be carbonated with carbon dioxide from the brewing industry and should only be bought if bearing a kosher l’Pesach hechsher.
Eggs
The ink used to stamp eggs is made from two components; a colouring agent and a solvent. The colouring agent is purely synthetic and therefore does not present a problem. The solvents most commonly employed are isopropanol, which is not a problem for Pesach, or ethanol, which could potentially be derived from wheat and therefore be chametz. However, even if wheat derived ethanol was used, the solvent completely evaporates within a fraction of a second after applying the stamp and it is no longer part of the ink. In any case, we do not eat the shell.
Fruit and vegetables
Fresh, raw fruit and vegetables are permissible.
Pre-cut fresh fruit and vegetables are not approved due to the fact that Citric Acid (potentially of chametz origin) is commonly used to prevent discolouration.
Frozen fruit and vegetables
Unsupervised frozen fruit and vegetables are not permitted because factories may use ascorbic or citric acid as a processing aid, which is often derived from chametz sources.
Fish
It is always better where possible to purchase food for Pesach, including fish, which has been prepared under rabbinical supervision. However, if that is not possible, then it is permitted to buy frozen or fresh fish, provided some skin is still attached. It is advisable to rinse it thoroughly before use.
Tea and coffee
Herbal teas and decaffeinated coffee may contain actual chametz. The long standing custom in the UK and beyond is to buy all manufactured products with a kosher for Pesach label so as not to confuse ordinary tea with Earl Grey, regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee or other more sophisticated products which are problematic on Pesach.
Baby milk
Kosher l’Pesach baby formula is available from kosher shops. In cases where this cannot be used, see the KLBD Approved Product list. Separate utensils should be used as most baby milks, including kosher l’Pesach baby formula, contain kitniyot. Since feeding bottles normally come into contact with chametz, it is recommended to purchase new ones for Pesach.
Pets
Since we are not allowed to have chametz in our possession over Pesach, nor to derive benefit from it, we cannot feed pets on Pesach with foods containing chametz, nor can we keep such food in the house.
Many common brands of pet foods contain cereal and are therefore not suitable for Pesach. For general advice on suitable alternatives and to view the list of Pet Foods approved for Pesach by the KLBD.
Disposables
There is no issue with polystyrene, plastic and Chinet products, aluminium foil or foil containers. As paper plates and lids for foil containers usually contain starch which may be Chametz, some people prefer to avoid their use particularly with hot or wet food.
Detergents and Cosmetics
Cleaning agents such as bleach, laundry detergent and bath soap, as well as cosmetics, can be used as usual on Pesach, since these products are unfit to be eaten. Only supervised toothpaste should be used, as others contain ingredients which may be derived from wheat sources. Any waxed or unwaxed unflavoured dental floss is permitted.
Kashering
The simplest way to prepare work surfaces is to clean them thoroughly and cover them.
- Stainless-steel or granite sinks are kashered after thorough cleaning by pouring boiling water on them. Ideally the sink should also be lined or washing up bowls used in it.
- A self-cleaning oven must be cleaned of any actual Chametz and then put through the self-cleaning cycle to kasher it. Any interior parts made of rubber should be covered with aluminium foil.
- A conventional oven must be cleaned of any actual chametz or baked-on grease. The entire oven and its racks should be cleaned with oven cleaner. Every area onto which food may spill must be cleaned. The oven should then be heated on its highest setting for between 45 minutes and one hour. Once this is done, the oven is considered kashered. Ideally a separate set of oven racks should be used.
- A microwave oven should be cleaned thoroughly. Afterwards a bowl of water should be placed inside and boiled until steam fills the microwave. If chametz was placed directly on the rotating plate, the plate should either be replaced or covered with something that will separate between it and the Pesach dish being heated.
- Fridges and freezers should be cleaned thoroughly. All shelves and bins that are removable should be removed and washed. Some have the custom of lining the shelves with foil. However, since this is not halachically necessary and may inhibit air circulation, many do not require that the shelves be covered. Glass shelves may be covered with plastic covers although this is not halachically required.
- A stainless-steel dishwasher has many plastic parts that are inaccessible and cannot be cleaned properly. Therefore, according to some opinions they should not be kashered. However, others are of the opinion that a dishwasher can be koshered if it’s cleaned thoroughly (including the filter) and operated on a cycle with detergent while it is empty. Ideally, separate racks should be used.
- An urn needs to be cleaned on the outside (no need to worry about scale), fill up to maximum and bring water up to bubbling boiling. Empty of boiling water, and pour boiling water separately over tap and lid. If you ever warm up food (e.g. challah) on its lid, then also wrap the lid all the way round (underneath also) in silver foil.
- A hot plate needs to be cleaned, turn up to its maximum temperature (for about 30 minutes), then cover with aluminium foil. Care should be taken since covering with foil can damage some hot plates, and create a fire hazard, by reflecting heat back to the elements.
- For a standard electric ring or electric metal plate on which the pot rests, clean the hob and turn each ring on to full power for 45 minutes. There is no need to wait 24 hours first.
However, for electric rings that are embedded into a ceramic glass stove-top, kashering by heating them up will generally not suffice. Therefore, it’s recommended to use a dedicated Pesach stove as the other option is to cover the stove top with thick silver foil – but this may crack the glass surface.
However, if you know that you will be able to avoid spillage and the contact between stove top and pot will remain dry, you may make use of the stove after heating it for 45 minutes (as above).
The above is based on the guidance of the Kashrut Authority of the London Beth Din.