Kitniyos
143. What are kitniyos?
Kitniyos are certain vegetables that may not be eaten on Pesach according to Ashkenazic custom. The most common ones are alfalfa, aniseed, beans, buckwheat, caraway, chickpeas, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, flax, lentils, maize, millet, mustard, peas, peanuts, poppy seeds, rice, sesame, soy, sunflower seeds, and tofu. (See question 145 for a list of
kitniyos derivatives.)
144. Why do Ashkenazim not eat kitniyos on Pesach?
Although they can never become chometz, the Ashkenazic rabbis enacted a prohibition not to eat kitniyos for the following reasons:
Kernels of grain occasionally become mixed with kitniyos and if overlooked would cause the mixture to become chometz.
Some kitniyos can be ground into flour and baked to produce bread. This could lead to confusion between grain-bread and kitniyos-bread.
Poor quality grains sometimes look like kitniyos and could be used in error.
145. May kitniyos derivatives be eaten?
No. Common examples are bamba, cornflakes, corn flour, corn oil, dextrose, glucose, lecithin, mustard, peanut butter, peanut oil, popcorn, sorbitol, soy oil, starch, and tehina. Margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressing are usually made from kitniyos and must have a hechsher for Pesach.
146. May cottonseed oil be used?
In chutz la'aretz the custom is to use cottonseed oil.
In Eretz Yisroel there are different customs and the local custom should be followed.
147. May kitniyos be eaten in exceptional circumstances?
A person who is sick or has a limited diet may eat kitniyos on Pesach since it is not chometz. Similarly, a child may be fed baby formula or cereal made from kitniyos. These items should have a reliable hechsher for Pesach.
148. If kitniyos must be used, should any types be avoided?
Yes. If possible, rice, millet, and buckwheat should be avoided since they are very similar to grains.
149. Are separate utensils needed when preparing kitniyos?
The custom is to use separate utensils for kitniyos. They may be washed in the Pesach sink.
150. May one cook kitniyos on the stove?
Yes, but care should be taken that the food does not splash or spill onto other pots and pans, or into other food.
151. What if such splashing does occur?
If a food of kitniyos splashes onto the stove or onto other pots and pans, it is sufficient to wipe it off.
If it splashes into other food, it should be removed if possible. If it has become completely mixed into the other food, it becomes nullified and the mixture may be eaten.
152. May an Ashkenazi eat at the house of a Sephardi on Pesach if no kitniyos are served, but the pots have been used to cook kitniyos?
Yes. This is permitted even if the pots were used for kitniyos within the last twenty-four hours.
153. May kitniyos be eaten on erev Pesach?
The custom is not to eat kitniyos from the time that chometz may not be eaten. In times of need, one may be lenient all day if the food has a reliable hechsher for Pesach.
154. Do kitniyos have to be sold before Pesach?
No. Since they are not chometz they do not need to be sold. However, kitniyos products that are not supervised for Pesach should be sold, since they contain other ingredients making them questionable chometz. (A good example is cornflakes that often contain malt, which is chometz.)
155. Do kitniyos have to be put away?
Pure kitniyos do not need to be put away, since they may be given to animals during Pesach (see question 140), and in exceptional circumstances to children and sick people (see question 147). However, kitniyos products that are not supervised for Pesach should be put away with chometz to be sold, since they may not be used during Pesach.
156. May unsupervised kitniyos products be stored in the fridge during Pesach?
Yes. They should be wrapped up and labelled to ensure that they are not accidentally eaten. (See also question 78.)
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