Laws of Blessings (Adv.)
Crash Course in Jewish Blessings
9 min read
8 min read
Altering the state of bread can sometimes "downgrade" the bracha from Hamotzee to Mezonot.
In the previous class we learned about the bracha Hamotzee, and when it applies to Pat Haba'ah B'Kisnin – pastries and the like that resemble bread. Today we will discuss situations when bread loses its regular bracha of Hamotzee.
The bracha on bread is Hamotzee. This is true whether you're eating an entire loaf of bread, or even a tiny piece of bread the size of a crumb. The bracha does not change based on the size of the bread being eaten.1
Although Hamotzee is said on any piece of bread no matter what the size, this is only true when the bread remains in its original form. Sometimes, altering the state of bread can reduce its special, elevated status, causing the bracha to "downgrade" from Hamotzee to Mezonot.
There are two main instances where the bracha on bread is Mezonot:
We will now explain these two situations and their parameters.
Let's learn a new Hebrew term that comes up a lot in the laws of brachot: kezayit. This literally means "like an olive" – i.e. the volume of a Talmudic olive, which is approximately 30 cc or one liquid ounce. About half of a middle piece of rye bread constitutes a kezayit.2
When bread is 1) broken into pieces smaller than a kezayit, and 2) mixed with other ingredients,3 if the pieces are no longer recognizable as bread. Generally, the bread loses its taste from being immersed in the other ingredients, and the bracha becomes Mezonot.4
This is true even if the small pieces of "bread" are subsequently joined together and made into one food that is larger than a kezayit.5 For example:
If pieces of bread smaller than a kezayit are cooked (or deep-fried, which is the equivalent of cooking),6 the result is no longer considered bread and the bracha will be Mezonot.7 This is true even if the cooked pieces of bread are still recognizable as bread. The very fact that they are cooked is what affects the change in their status. Furthermore, even if the broken pieces of bread are joined back together and amount to a kezayit, the bracha is still Mezonot.8
A perfect example is matzah balls (kneidelach). These are made by rolling matzah meal into balls and then cooking them. The bracha is Mezonot.9
In both of the above cases where altering bread changes its bracha to Mezonot, the new product is not even considered Pat Haba'ah B'Kisnin. Therefore, even when eaten in large quantities or as a meal, the bracha is still Mezonot, and never Hamotzee.10
Cooking bread or changing its appearance by mixing it with other ingredients only affects its bracha when the pieces are smaller than a kezayit. Pieces of bread that are larger than a kezayit are still considered bread even after being cooked or altered. Their bracha remains Hamotzee.11
It is only cooking a bread that changes its status, but not baking. If bread or matzah is ground up into small pieces, made into dough and baked, it gets the regular rules of food made from flour:
Is frying considered like cooking or baking? We can identify three types of frying:
1) Deep-frying. When a food is completely immersed in oil, it is considered as being "cooked," and the bracha is Mezonot.14 Classic examples are donuts and egg rolls. In this case, even if you'd eat a meals' worth (Kiday Seudah), the bracha would still be Mezonot, as with all cooked grain foods (like pasta).
2) Light frying: Food that is prepared in a frying pan with a minimal amount of oil (just enough to prevent burning), it is considered "baked," and the bracha is Hamotzee.15 A good example is French toast: If it is made with large pieces, the bracha is Hamotzee; if it is made with pieces smaller than a kezayit, the bracha is Mezonot, due to the added sugar, oil and eggs.
3) In-between case: When enough oil is used to affect the taste or color of the food,16 but not enough to deep-fry, it is unclear if such a procedure is considered cooking or baking. Therefore, when pieces of bread smaller than a kezayit are fried, it is unclear whether their bracha remains Hamotzee or if it becomes Mezonot. It is therefore recommended to eat such foods only in the course of a bread meal, since Hamotzee on actual bread certainly covers the fried bread-pieces.17
At this point in the course, we have concluded the basic rules of Mezonot and Hamotzee. Before moving on, let's quickly review the principles that we've studied in the last four classes.
Class #9: Introduction to Mezonot
Mezonot is said on products of wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rye, and rice.
The bracha on these products is Mezonot, when they are made into a satiating dish.
The bracha on raw flour (e.g. cake batter) is Shehakol.
Class #10: Three Mezonot Categories
There are three categories of baked goods:
Class #11: The Mezonot Meal
Most products made from cooked or deep-fried dough are Mezonot. There are some exceptions.
After saying Mezonot on Pat Haba'ah B'Kisnin, and you then decide to have a meal's worth, you would say a new bracha of Hamotzee only if a meals-worth remains.
Class #12: Non-Hamotzee Bread
When small pieces of bread (less than a kezayit) are either mixed with other ingredients or cooked, the bracha is no longer Hamotzee.
These altered bread-pieces are Mezonot even when eaten as a meal.
Deep-frying is the equivalent of cooking. Pan-frying with a minimal amount of oil is considered baking. Pan-frying with a medium amount of oil is unclear.
This concludes class #12 on Hilchot Brachot. In the coming lessons we'll learn about things that require a bracha even when consumed during the course of a bread meal.