15 Jul KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT

Can one barbecue fish at the same time
as meat on a grill?
In short, it is not recommended. The Gemara states
that cooking fish and meat together can be potentially
dangerous, so it is best to avoid doing so. If someone wishes to eat fish while
one is grilling steaks, burgers, or other meats, one should simply place a
piece of foil on the grill, put the fish on top of it, and use separate utensils—
do not flip the fish with the same spatula or tongs used for the meat. That
way, everyone can enjoy their meal as they prefer.

Now, let’s say the only grill
available is a fleishig one, and
it may still have some residue
from the last time the meat
was cooked. If one wishes
to cook fish on it and it is
difficult to clean thoroughly,
it is strongly recommended
to acquire a new grill top that
can be kept clean and pareve
for fish. Otherwise, if one

must use a grill that was previously used for meat, the fish should be cooked
wrapped in foil.

Is It Permissible to Cook on a BBQ Previously Used
for Non-Kosher Food, Such as at Parks or Campsites?
Can an outdoor gas or charcoal grill be kashered?
Since food is roasted directly on the
grill, the grates must be heated until
they glow (libun gamur) to properly
kasher them. This can be done either
with a blowtorch (which should only
be used by qualified and experienced
individuals) or by sandwiching the
grates between charcoal briquettes
and setting them on fire.
Additionally, if the grill has a hood,
the empty gas grill cavity must be kashered by thoroughly cleaning it,
closing the hood, and setting the grill to its highest setting for one hour
(libun kal). Alternatively, one may replace the grates and kasher only the grill
cavity as explained above.