I have a few questions about Bishul Yisroel.
• Does the OK require Bishul Yisroel on foods that are generally oleh al shulchan melachim (fit to be served at a king’s table), but the specific recipe is not (i.e. potato chips or French fries)?
• What if the food is oleh al shluchan melachim but requires further processing, like canned yams, which are edible out of the can but are usually cooked further before serving?
• Do you allow pilot lights for Bishul Yisroel l’chatchila?
• Do you require steaming to be done by a shomer Shabbos Jew?
The OK responds:
The OK requires Bishul Yisroel for French fries, but we will accept non-Bishul Yisroel potato chips in our restaurants. When the OK certifies potato chip production, we do require Bishul Yisroel.
If the product is edible straight from the can, we do require Bishul Yisroel.
Usually there is a mashgiach temidi for anything that is Bishul Yisroel, so we do allow pilot lights l’chatchila, but only in the fire or in very close proximity. The mashgiach’s job is to check the pilot lights every morning to make sure they are working and do not blow out easily. For restaurants or caterers that are for Sephardim, we require Bishul Yisroel according to the Beis Yosef and the mashgiach has to put the food on the fire himself.
The OK does not require steam cooking to be Bishul Yisroel.