Biur Chametz

From Halachipedia

How to do Biur Chametz

  1. The minhag is to burn Chametz (until it becomes coals or ashes) during the day, however, one fulfills the mitzvah by destroying the Chametz in any fashion. [1]
  2. One fulfills the mitzvah of destroying the Chametz by flushing it down the toilet. [2]
  3. If one puts Chametz in one’s private garbage bin one should either pour Ajax on the Chametz to make it totally inedible, or put it in the street and declare that it be ownerless in front of three people. [3]
  4. It’s preferable to burn the Chametz without dousing it in gasoline or lighter fluid so that one can destroy the Chametz with fire and not to make it inedible using any other means. [4]

When

  1. If one sold one’s Chametz one shouldn’t do Biur Chametz until after the Rabbi sells the Chametz to the goy which is usually done at the beginning of the 5th hour. [5]
  2. Some say that one should specifically burn it at the beginning of the fifth hour. [6]

References

  1. S”A and Rama 445:1, Mishna Brurah 445:1
  2. Piskei Teshuvot 445:4
  3. Piskei Teshuvot 445:7
  4. Halichot Shlomo 6:10, Piskei Teshuvot 445:1
  5. Rav Schachter on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 between minutes 28:30 and 30:15. See Rabbi Modechai Willig in Am Mordechai (Moadim) who defends the practice of those who burn it ealier.
  6. Piskei Teshuvot 445:3