Making Grape-Seed Oil

May grape seeds that were left over from a non-kosher wine production be used to make kosher grape seed oil, or must they be dried out first?

The Chasam Sofer (Teshuvos Yoreh De’ah 117) was asked whether one may purchase grape seed oil from a non-Jew. Although the seeds underwent a sorting/cleaning process to ensure that only seeds are put into the press, they were not washed and dried as required. Nonetheless, Chasam Sofer writes that the oil is permitted. He explains that the oil is pure and does not have even a hint of the aroma from wine. This proves that no wine is present in the oil. This is either because the process of pressing the oil only allows oil to exit the seed and the absorbed wine is trapped behind, or because the wine that mixes with oil is converted into oil as well. Either way, the oil is permitted.

The Chelkas Yaakov (Y.D. 50) and Rav Ovadya Yosef (Yebiah Omer Y.D. 7:11) both agree with the ruling of Chasam Sofer, albeit based on a slightly different line of reasoning.

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.