Pesach Faqs

Q. I saw a box of matzah labeled "18-minute matzah". I know that all matzah is made in less than 18 minutes so is that just a marketing gimmick?

A. You are correct that all Pesach matzah is in the oven within 18 minutes of when the water is added to the flour. The term "18-minute matzah" is used to describe machine made matzah where the equipment is stopped completely every 18 minutes so that it can be cleaned thoroughly. This ensures that that no dough remains behind which might become chametz. [Alternatively, it is the first batch made in the morning, which is to say that it is a batch made after the machinery was unused all night and freshly cleaned before this batch was made]. Most other machine-made matzah is made on equipment that produces matzah for hours at a time, with people keeping it clean while it is still operating, which is obviously not as effective. At a handmade matzah bakery, the process always stops every 18 minutes and there is a full cleaning, so handmade matzah is always "18 minute" matzah