In order to claim the status of a kosher bakery, any bakery needs to first gain rabbinic certification. Legitimate kosher certification signifies that the establishment meets kosher standards, not only regarding the ingredients used in bakery items but in the standards of hygiene kept as well. This commitment to high standards is precisely the reason why kosher bakeries are so popular with everyone, not just Jews.

One of the important aspects of a kosher bakery is that all items should be certified pareve, which is the Hebrew term for neutral. A pareve item will not contain either meat or dairy products. If they are dairy, this should be clearly stated and those items should not come in to contact with pareve items. Meat products are in another category altogether, and also need to be kept separate.

Kosher Bakeries are Popular

Many kosher bakeries demonstrate a commitment to high standards in the goods they produce, and not just in their hygiene and kosher standards. Jewish cuisine has a long history of excellence and many common items that are now sold in bakeries throughout the United States originated in the Jewish community. Just think about bagels, knishes and kugel. If, by chance, you don't know what these are, then perhaps it's time you discovered what you're missing!

Another fact that you need to know in order to ascertain that you're buying from a truly kosher bakery is that kosher bakeries should use yoshon flour. This type of flour, to put it simply, satisfies the kosher requirements that wheat used for food should not be "new." New wheat is termed chodosh and is not suitable for kosher baked goods. Goods baked from chodosh flour only become permissible after the second day of Passover.