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COUNTERTOPS MUST EITHER be kashered or covered for Pesach.
Ensure that the countertop is smooth and clean prior to kashering. Any countertop with holes or scratches that may trap food particles cannot be kashered and should be covered instead. If covering, be sure to use a non-porous material that will not tear or come off easily during Pesach.
Before kashering, first scrub the countertop thoroughly. It must then remain unused for 24 hours, with no hot items placed on it, before proceeding with the kashering process.
The standard kashering procedure, known as “Irui Mayim Roischin” (pouring boiling water), requires a pot that is kosher for Pesach. If using a chometz pot, it should be left unused for 24 hours, then boiled and emptied before use. Heat a pot of water until boiling, then pour it onto the countertop. It’s essential to pour the boiling water over the entire area and maintain a continuous flow from the pot (using a teapot is ideal). For larger counters, you may kasher in sections, repeating the boiling and pouring process for each area.
Additionally, using an “Even Melubenes” (glowing stone) is preferable. Heat a stone until glowing hot, and after pouring the boiling water, use the stone to reheat the water on the counter. Ensure the stone covers the entire area. While the Shulchan Oruch mentions a stone, any device that achieves the same effect can be used, such as a clothing iron.
Countertop Material Guidelines
Below are two lists of different countertop materials, those that can be kashered and those that cannot. When kashering is not possible, the counters should be covered instead. When covering, use a non-porous material that will not easily rip or tear.
Can Be Kashered:
Quartzite, Corian, Marble (if smooth), Granite, Wood (if hard and smooth), Stainless Steel, Soapstone, Caesarstone (Quartz).
Cannot Be Kashered:
Formica/Laminate, Recycled Glass, Lava (glazed), Resin, Ceramic Tile, Neolith, Concrete, Porcelain, Enamel.
Note on Glass and Plastic/Resin Countertops: According to several Poskim, these countertops can be kashered by repeating the kashering process three times.
