Bishul Akum - Beans & Peas

Q. As previously noted, one of the halachos of bishul Akum is that it only applies to important foods (oleh al shulchan melachim). Are beans and peas in the category of important foods?

A. The Rema (YD 113:1) writes that one may purchase roasted peas and beans from a nochri (provided that one knows that the equipment is kosher) because they are not “oleh al shulchan melachim.” The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 113:16) questions whether this ruling of the Rema applies specifically to roasted peas and beans, or does it include boiled peas and beans as well? The Aruch Hashulchan cites two opinions but he is inclined to not distinguish between cooked and roasted peas and beans.

Oleh al shulchan melachim is subject to change, as eating habits vary according to the mores of the times. For example, the Aruch Hashulchan writes that potatoes are a poor man’s food and are not oleh al shulchan melachim. Most contemporary poskim assume that this is no longer the case, and potatoes are currently oleh al shulchan melachim. Nonetheless, Rav Belsky zt”l ruled that the Aruch Hashulchan’s position regarding beans remains correct today. Both cooked and roasted beans and peas are not fancy foods and are not subject to bishul Akum.

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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.