Bishul Akum Food Groups

Q. Are all foods subject to the gezeira of bishul Akum?

A. Two groups of foods may be eaten even if cooked by an aino Yehudi:

• Food that can be eaten in a raw state is not prohibited when cooked by an aino Yehudi. For example, bishul Akum does not apply to baked apples. Since raw apples are edible, baking the apple is not viewed as a significant improvement, and Chazal did not include such a food in the prohibition of bishul Akum.
• Food that is not fit to be served at a royal dinner or an eloquent affair is not subject to bishul Akum. Here too, the cooking is not significant because the food is not a prestigious item. As an example, the Rambam (Hilchos Ma’achalos Assuros 17:17) writes that toasted grains are not subject to bishul Akum (even if the grain is not eaten raw), since toasted grains are not served at fancy dinners.

____________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.