Pesach FAQs

Q. The cRc website says that induction stovetops cannot be kashered, but I see that others say that it can be kashered by pouring boiling water on the surface. Why is the cRc being so strict?

A. The surface of an induction stovetop is made of glass, and the Ashkenazic practice is that we do not kasher glass with hag'alah or irui kli rishon (i.e., any method that involves boiling water). We can kasher glass with high temperature heat that does not include water, and this is how we would direct someone to kasher a standard glass stovetop. That option does not exist for an induction stovetop since it does not have a traditional heating element and will not get hot during use.

We were shown another website which did allow kashering of induction stovetops with hot water, and the Rabbis behind that site told us that this is because they believe that we are only strict not to kasher glass when the glass was used on the fire (or with a kli rishon). However, if the only way the glass became non-kosher (or absorbed chametz) was with hot food being poured onto it (irui kli rishon), even Rema agrees that it can be kashered. Thus, since the induction stovetop only absorbs chametz (or non-kosher) when food spills onto it, that is a case where we can kasher glass. What is difficult to understand about this position is that one of the cases Rema (OC 451:26 as per Mishnah Berurah 451:159) records his strict ruling regarding glass is specifically a case of irui kli rishon. Since he rules that one cannot kasher that case (a glass-lined silver cup) the same should apply to the induction stovetop and it should not be suitable for kashering.

See our FAQ entitled "Induction Cooktop [Use]" for details on how to use your induction cooktop for Pesach