Pesach Cleaning and Kashring Guide

Questions? Be in touch with Rabbi Miriam on whatsapp or email

While there are many halachot to learn about preparing your home and kitchen for Pesach, this guide is meant to be a source of easy-to-access information that will hopefully ease your preparations.

In addition to not eating chametz, we also must remove chametz from our possession. The type of chametz we remove from our homes is "significant chametz" (like a whole pretzel or half a biscuit) and chametz that might come into contact with our food. Inedible or scattered crumbs found in locations that will not come into contact with our food do not have to be removed. This means most rooms in the home do not need to be cleaned specially for Pesach, but do check pockets, bags and anywhere that food may have been taken. 

Instead of cleaning the whole home, save your energy for the kitchen. Even so, in the instructions below, we’ll try to streamline kitchen kashering, and share hacks where they exist. 

Let's go! Put on your favorite Pesach playlist or put your headphones in to chat with a family member or friend while you get kashering.

Kasher l’Pesach food lists

• Pesach approved product lists: Rabbi Miriam’s, SKA, KLBD

In these guides, you will find products that don’t require special certification and other product lists by category. 

What You'll Need to Kasher Your Kitchen

• Boiling water (from a kettle or urn)

• Two metal pots (one large, one small) that have not been used for at least 24 hours

  • Boil the large pot, then boil the smaller pot inside it so the boiling water flows over the top -- both pots are now kosher for Pesach!

  • Use the large pot to kasher smaller pots, cutlery, and utensils

• Heavy-duty tinfoil (review the list below -- you may not need much!)

• Cleaning supplies, caustic or soap-based cleaner (e.g. CIF) & washing up liquid

Kitchen Appliances

Oven (Gas or Electric)

Clean the oven including racks to remove baked-on food or grease

If caustic cleaner was applied twice and stubborn spots remain, those spots may be disregarded. Then:

• Electric oven: Turn to highest setting for 40 minutes. Leave cleaned oven racks (and stovetop grates, if relevant) inside to kasher them at the same time

• Gas oven: Use the setting which keeps flame burning continuously for 40 minutes. Leave cleaned oven racks (and stovetop grates) inside

• Self-cleaning oven: The self-cleaning cycle cleans and kashers simultaneously -- but note it can cause fires. Alternatively, use the highest oven setting for 40 minutes

• Convection oven: Self-cleaning cycle suffices. Without that, spray entire oven including fan with oven cleaner, clean well, then run on highest setting for 40 minutes

Hob

• Gas hob: Cast iron or metal grates can be kashered with the oven after cleaning. Alternatively, overturn grates and run burner on highest setting for 10 minutes

• Gas hob surface / bases: Clean then pour boiling water over or cover with heavy-duty foil for Pesach. Alternatively just clean remaining area & do not eat anything that falls on the surface over Pesach.

• Glass / ceramic hob: Turn burners on until glowing. Clean remaining area; do not eat anything that falls on the surface over Pesach

• Induction hob: Clean well, then pour boiling water over the surface. If boiling water would damage it, clean thoroughly and do not eat anything that falls on the surface

• Electric hob: Clean, then turn burners to high heat and leave glowing for a few minutes

• Knobs: Clean. No further process needed

Grills

• Clean then heat to the highest temperature

• If you do not intend to use the grill drawer on Pesach, you may use the oven without kashering the grill -- provided the grill has been thoroughly cleaned

Microwave

• Clean thoroughly from all food residue - pay attention to the vent

• Remove glass turntable - use microwave without it over Pesach or replace it

• After 24 hours of non-use with hot chametz, place a glass of water inside and run for 5-7 minutes until filled with steam

• Repeat with the glass in a different spot

Metal / Stainless Steel Utensils

• Clean thoroughly, then do not use for 24 hours. 

• Immerse in a kosher-for-Pesach pot at a rolling boil (bring back to boil if it cools)

• Only one second in the hot water is required

• If a utensil doesn't fit in the pot, kasher it in parts - re-immerse with tongs in a different position

Sinks

• China or Porcelain sinks: Not kasherable. Keep a rack / mat on the bottom or use washing up bowls.

• Stainless Steel & Granite sinks: Kasher by pouring boiling water over every part, after 24 hours of non-use and thorough cleaning.

Work surfaces

For hard plastic, Corian, Granite, Marble, Stainless Steel, Stone:

Leave unused from hot chametz for 24 hours

• Clean thoroughly, then pour boiling water over them

• Certain steamers can also be used to kasher these surfaces
  

For other surfaces which cannot be kashered:

EITHER

• Cover surfaces

OR

• Clean well with a caustic / soap-based cleaner. These can be used on Pesach but hot food which spills on these surfaces should not be eaten on Pesach

  
  

Dishwasher

• Leave unused for 24 hours

• Make sure there are no cracks in the plastic lining of the racks

• Clean the inside and racks to remove any crumbs or adhering food

• Clean out the removable filter

• Run on the hottest setting using soap, with racks inside to kasher them simultaneously

BBQ 

• Clean the inside including racks and inside of the hood - no food particles should remain

• Turn on the BBQ to high with hood closed and run for 1 hour

• Kasher racks via self-cleaning oven cycle, or by covering grates with fresh coals and letting them burn out
  

Hot plates

• Clean thoroughly and heat to highest temperature for 40 minutes

Cutlery, Crockery & glassware

• Anything metal can be immersed in boiling water after 24 hours of non-use

• Glasses, glassware or any other utensil (like water bottles) only used for cold drinks or food during the year do not need to be kashered for Pesach - a good wash with a new sponge suffices. 

  
  

Other Rooms in Your Home

• Bedrooms / less-used areas: Check for "significant chametz" - things you would find over Pesach and consider edible (whole crackers, wrapped chocolates, etc.)

• Car / car seat: Check for significant chametz. Spray crumbs with cleaning solution if they might make their way back to your kitchen.

• Cabinets and cupboards containing food should be cleaned. They do not need to be kashered, lined, or covered. 

• Refrigerator and freezer shelves should be cleaned. They do not need to be kashered, lined, or covered.

• Coffee makers (brewed only unflavored pure coffee): No kashering necessary. If they’ve been used for flavoured coffee, or you suspect that chametz may have got in then clean thoroughly. Replace glass carafe where relevant. Kasher the filter where relevant. Run the machine with boiling water / steam. 

• Keurig and Nespresso: 1) Don't use for 24 hours. 2) Clean surfaces. 3) Run an unflavored pod through. 4) Machine is now kashered for plain unflavored coffee only 

• Chametz dishes / appliances: No need to remove from view unless you might accidentally use them

• Coat / clothing pockets: Check if you plan to wear them on Pesach

• Rubbish bins: Do not need to be cleaned. Any remaining chametz is invalidated with the bittul ceremony on the eve of Pesach

• Towels and tablecloths: Used with chametz during the year may be used on Pesach if laundered

• Toys: Only chametz children might eat on Pesach is a concern. Caked-on or embedded chametz need not be cleaned

Pregnancy and Babies

• Prenatal vitamins in pill form (not liquid or chewable, no flavored coating): May be taken on Pesach. Questions? Contact Rabbi Miriam

• Plastic bottles: May be kashered for Pesach

• High chairs: Clean well. Unless hot food has been placed on the tray, it doesn’t need a special kasher. 

• Formula: Most baby formulas are chametz-free but may contain kitniyot. Babies (even Ashkenazi!) are allowed kitniyot -- this is 100% fine for Pesach. No need to worry about washing kitniyot baby bottles with other utensils. Check ingredients to confirm no actual chametz.

Pets

• Pet food with kitniyot: Not a problem. Check Pesach guides for detailed lists.

• Pets may eat chametz, but you may not own chametz pet food or derive benefit from it. Contact Rabbi Miriam if you’d like to discuss. 

Medicines and Cosmetics

Medications

• All pill medications (with or without chametz) that are swallowed are permitted during Pesach.

• Vitamins / supplements: Check ingredients carefully. Those without chametz, or containing only kitniyot, may be consumed for a specific health need or nutritional deficiency.

• Liquid and chewable medications that may contain chametz: Use only under doctor's direction. Contact Rabbi Miriam with questions. 

Cosmetics

All are permitted for use on Pesach regardless of ingredients, as they are not edible

Processed Foods

Most processed foods require kosher for Pesach certification. Click here for full Pesach food guidance.