Consumer Q&A: Electric Donut Maker

Q

We have an electric donut maker that makes donuts without frying them in oil. It works like a waffle maker — you pour batter in, but it shapes it like donuts.

Our non-Jewish housekeeper turned it on and made the donuts. May we still eat the donuts? Does the donut maker need to be kashered?

A

The donuts may not be eaten, and the donut maker must be kashered.

Donuts made in this manner are categorized as pas and are therefore subject to the laws of pas akum (not bishul akum).

Although the laws of pas are more lenient than those of bishul in the sense that pas palter is permitted, that leniency does not apply here because this was a homemade product prepared for your family, and not a commercial bakery item. Therefore, if the entire process was done by a  non-Jew without any Jewish involvement, the donuts are considered pas akum and may not be eaten.

Additionally, since the donuts are categorized as pas, the question of whether they are oleh al shulchan melachim may not be relevant, as that criterion is generally understood to apply only to bishul akum and not to pas akum.

Since the donut maker was used to prepare these forbidden donuts, the machine itself must be kashered – we follow the stricter opinion brough in Shulchan Oruch.

The proper method of kashering would be libun gamur, since the donuts are considered a dry food cooked directly on metal without a liquid medium. Simply turning the machine to its highest setting would not suffice, since it would not reach the temperatures required for libun gamur, which are at a minimum 800°F or higher. Rather, after heating the machine fully, one would need to use a small torch on both the upper and lower metal surfaces until they reach approximately 800–900°F.

It should be noted that kashering in this manner can easily damage or even ruin the machine. Great care must therefore be taken when attempting to do so, and it is not recommended for someone who lacks experience with this type of kashering.

If there is concern that the machine may be damaged, one should consult their personal Rav, as there may be additional factors that could be taken into account and potentially provide grounds for leniency.