Bishul Akum - Beans (Continued)

Q. We wrote in a previous Halacha Yomis that beans are not subject to bishul Akum because they are not a fancy food and are not “oleh al shulchan melachim.” Isn’t this contradicted by the fact that beans are sometimes used as components in fancy foods?

A. Rav Belsky zt”l explained that food items are not considered oleh al Shulchan melachim just because they are ingredients in fancy dishes. For example, cornflakes can be used to batter chicken, and battered chicken is oleh al shulchan melachim. Nonetheless, cornflakes are a breakfast cereal and are not “oleh al shulchan melachim.” By the same token, one would not serve a bowl of beans to a distinguished guest, even though beans may be added to a bowl of soup or rice. When determining which foods are oleh al shulchan melachim, we look at the food when it is served on its own, not as a secondary ingredient.

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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.