The Help

Boiling soup, chopping vegetables, using the microwave… halachos of household help 

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

I have a new non-Jewish cleaning lady, and she used my microwave to heat up her nonkosher food. What do I do?

It depends on several factors: 1) If the food she warmed up in the microwave was completely wrapped or tightly covered, and nothing spilled from it, then the microwave remains kosher and nothing needs to be done. 2) If the food was heated while uncovered, then it depends if the food was solid and dry, e.g., a sandwich, or liquid, e.g., a soup. If it was dry, then the microwave needs to be scrubbed clean, and nothing further needs to be done (assuming that the dry food was placed on a paper or plastic plate and not directly on the glass turntable). 3) If the food was liquid, and it was heated to yad soledes bo temperatures (approx. 110ᴼF [43ᴼC] or higher), then the microwave will become nonkosher and may not be used unless it is kashered.

Kashering a microwave from nonkosher to kosher is halachically debatable. Some poskim permit kashering a microwave by first scrubbing it clean, waiting 24 hours, and then placing a utensil filled with water inside the microwave and heating it until the entire chamber is filled with thick steam. If food was placed [or spilled] directly on the turntable, then the turntable will require hagalah as well. Other poskim, however, question this procedure, and are wary of permitting kashering a microwave altogether. Some poskim rule that while it’s permitted to kasher a microwave, it may only be used for foods that will be covered while using the microwave.

My non-Jewish housekeeper often starts preparing the vegetables I’m planning to use before I get home from work. Is it a problem to have her work in the kitchen if I’m not home?

It’s not a problem for you to allow your housekeeper to cold prep vegetables in your kitchen, but it’s always a problem to allow a non-Jew access to your kitchen without some type of supervision or oversight (as she may easily confuse the dairy and meat sides of the kitchen and cause many other possible halachic issues). At the very least, you must make it clear to her what she may or may not do in your kitchen, and then follow that up by monitoring her actions to see if she understands what you told her and follows your directions. Often, there is a lack of communication that could result in serious halachic issues.

My cleaning lady works mornings when I’m at work, and then leaves as I get home. Is it a problem to have her alone in the house if she’s not touching our food? Are there any problems with the sealed meats and chickens I have in the freezer?

While the cleaning lady may not be touching your food, if she’s allowed access to the kitchen, she may make use of it for her own food or her coffee. As stated earlier, it is always a halachic concern to allow a non-Jew unsupervised and unmonitored access to your kosher kitchen.