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In Judaism, Hagalah is a method of making utensils suitable for use with kosher food by immersing utensils in boiling water.
Contents
Source in the Torah
This concept is derived from a verse in Parshat Matot that states:
Only the gold, the silver, the copper, the iron, the tin, and the lead; whatever is used in fire you shall pass through fire and then it will be clean; it must, however, [also] be cleansed with sprinkling water, and whatever is not used in fire you shall pass through water.
Kasherable materials
Utensils made from any type of metal, stone, wood, bone, leather, or natural rubber may be kashered by hagalah. Earthenware, china, porcelain, glassware and paper utensils cannot be kashered by hagalah. Any utensil which may get ruined during the hagalah process may not be kashered, out of concern that its owner will not kosher the utensil properly out of concern for damaging it.
Process
Prior to immersion in the boiling water, the object must be cleaned thoroughly and left unused for a period of 24 hours. All surfaces of the item are then placed into a pot of water that is on the heat source and at a rolling boil.