14) COOKING MEAT IN A MILK POT [PART 2]

Although it is theoretically permitted to cook meat in a milk pot that was last used more than 24 hours ago[1], in practice the sages ruled against this. The reason is simple: If people get used to regularly cooking meat in a milk pot (last used more than 24 hours ago) - it could very easily lead to confusion with them mistakenly using a pot last used within 24 hours. This would clearly be forbidden as the TA’AM (taste) of the milk within the walls of the pot, is still active - and it is tantamount to cooking meat with actual milk. This scenario would be very likely to occur, since in the day to day running of a kitchen, one does not usually keep track of times when last the various pots were used.

However, if one did make a mistake and cooked meat in a milk pot that was last used more than 24 hours ago, the food would be permitted (but the pot would have to be kashered by boiling[2]).

A pot last used within 24 hours is known as a BEN YOMO.

A pot last used more than 24 hours ago is known as a SHE’AINO BEN YOMO.

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[1] Because the milk taste would have dissipated.

[2] See p 15.