Hello Rav,
Q. At work they make microwave popcorn (that has a hechtsher) in the non-kosher communal microwave. It is sealed in its bag the whole time it is cooking. Is this permissible to eat it terms of being cooked in the microwave? Additionally, would it be a bishul akum concern or would popcorn be a food that does not fall into that issue because its not "fit for a kings table"?
thanks so much!
A. On question 322 in regards to using a non-kosher microwave (in prison) Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a suggested to double wrap it if possible, if in need one layer suffices.
It is hard to conceive that eating popcorn should be a pressing need, so a double bag should be used.
On question 1157 in regards to microwave cooking being included in bishul akum we wrote: "Poskim also disagree. Minchas Chein (1 p. 177) maintains that according to Horav Moshe zt”l food cooked by a Gentile in a microwave oven is considered bishul akum. Shevet Halevi (8:185), Shraga Hameir 6: 52: 3) and Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l (Shvus Yitzchak vol. 6 page 61) assert a similar stringent opinion,
Other Poskim are lenient The arguments for leniency are that when one cooks with a microwave he is not cooking by fire and that microwave technology was not available at the time when Chazal promulgated the Bishul Akum decree and thus was not included in the proscription. Moreover, most food cooked in a microwave oven is not suitable to be served at a king’s table or a state dinner.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in case of need such as when caring for the elderly and the ill, one may be lenient."
However, the Rov's opinion is that popcorn is not usually served in our countries at state dinners and is therefore not bishul akum.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
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