A Sandwich Maker of Unknown Kashrut Status That Has Not Been Used in Over a Year

April 11th, 2021|Kashrut, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Canada

A sandwich maker hasn’t been used in over a year and the owner doesn’t remember if it was milkhig or fleishig or for anything at all!

  1. Can he rely on the sevara of the Chacham Tzvi/Maharsham and assume there’s no ta’am at all and not kasher it and then use it for whichever he wishes, since I imagine kashering it would require a blow torch and ruin it?
  2. If he can kasher it without a blow torch, how?

ANSWER

  1. On the one hand, it is not serious hefsed at all. On the other hand, we are talking about heter, not issur. And