Pesach Prep Made Easier: Join the Q&A WhatsApp Group!

It’s time to start thinking about Pesach. But preparing for Pesach doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Every year, we hear people say,

‘Pesach prep is so stressful!’

It really doesn’t have to be. Many people assume they need to buy expensive, certified Kosher for Pesach (KLP) products or deep-clean their entire house from top to bottom. The truth? Pesach prep can be much simpler, easier, and more cost-effective than you think.

That’s why Rabbi Miriam’s Pesach Q&A WhatsApp group is here - to cut through the confusion, share practical halachic guidance, and make Pesach easier for everyone. This is the perfect space to:

✅ Get your Pesach questions answered

✅ Learn practical and reliable halachic guidance

✅ Cut through the confusion and reduce Pesach stress

Already, some great questions have come up in the group this year. Here are some highlights:

QUESTION: "Please could you send us a list of all the products that don’t need a KLP hechsher?" - Jenny

ANSWER: "My teacher Rabbi Jeff Fox rules that "single ingredient" foods do not need a KLP hescher - this means: oil, sugar, salt, milk, yoghurt, butter, pure ground spices, plain nuts/ground nuts and dried fruit without additives. Feel free to ask about specific ingredients.

As an added precaution, I would recommend buying these products before Pesach, because the laws of bittul (nullification) work up until erev Pesach. On Pesach itself we say that chametz in any amount, however tiny, is forbidden. So I'd be stricter buying these things on Pesach. We usually fill our freezer with regular milk before Pesach for example."

This led to a follow-up question:

QUESTION: "Presumably they should be unopened or is that not necessary (e.g. if grape juice has only been poured out of the bottle and nothing has gone into it)?"

ANSWER: "In terms of the open grape juice question, I see no issue using a bottle of opened grape juice. I would be more cautious using something opened which I know has been poured into a hot saucepan (like oil, salt or spices) and could have absorbed flavour from the steam."

Here's a summary of some of the other questions that have been asked and the answers provided:

Specific Food Questions

✅ Lactose-free milk & yoghurt – these are all fine for Pesach if the only ingredients are milk and lactase enzyme. Rabbi Miriam advises to buy these before Pesach and freeze them.

✅ Nut butters – If made from just nuts and salt, they may be permitted. However, some poskim (halachic authorities) are stricter. Peanuts are also considered kitniyot by most Ashkenazim.

✅ Cream cheese – SKA approves Longley Farm plain cream cheese for Pesach.

❌ Maple syrup – Even 100% maple syrup may contain additives or undergo processing that makes it unsuitable for Pesach.

✅ Frozen fruit – Fine as long as there are no additives.

✅ Cocoa powder – Pure cocoa powder is fine.

Kitchen & Appliance Specific Questions

✅ Coffee machines – If only pure coffee and water have been used, no need to clean. If flavoured pods have been used, clean thoroughly, using steam or boiling water if possible.

✅ 100% coffee & coffee pods – Fine for Pesach.

✅ Dishwashers – Can be kashered for Pesach. On plastic parts in a dishwasher - it's pretty mainstream now in the orthodox world to kasher hard plastic with hagala - boiling water or steam. Dishwashers steam as part of their cycle so they are considered fine by my teachers.

✅Hot plates – Can be kashered. Clean with soap-based product, get it to the highest heat and then leave on for 60 minutes. No need to cover. ✅Microwaves – Can be kashered. "Water takes about 1.5 mins to boil in mine, but they might all be different so basically wait until yours is filled with steam, then leave for a few mins".

CLEANING TIP

Rabbi Miriam reminded us all that:

"Dust is not chametz, and Pesach cleaning doesn't need to be spring cleaning."

But did you know that not all crumbs count as chametz?

Scattered small crumbs far away from cooking areas are not significant and would be nullified with your declaration erev Pesach, so there's no need to do a special cleaning in rooms where food doesn't usually go. Certainly, look for half-eaten biscuits that kids (or grown-ups) have left around. And certainly give your kitchen a great clean. But no need to go all out for scattered crumbs elsewhere.

Finally, for those who haven't yet seen it, Sephardic Kashrut Authority (SKA) has published a list for this year, which also lists many single-ingredient products and fun extras. Here's the link to download: https://www.ska.org.uk/files/55-1-1.pdf

(NB: Ashkenazi? Watch out as there's a lot of kitniyot on the list!)

Want to Make Pesach Easier? Join the Group!

Still have questions? Want practical, sensible answers without the stress?

Join the Pesach Q&A WhatsApp group - a space where every question is welcome, there’s no such thing as a silly question, and Rabbi Miriam provides clear, thoughtful answers.

🔗 Join the group now!

Let's make this Pesach easier, together! 💙