Halacha: What Blessing Do You Say on Chicken?
Curious about the proper blessing for eating chicken—both before and after? Find all the information you need below, including an explanation of the necessary amount to eat.
- הידברות
- פורסם ח' חשון התשע"ז
#VALUE!
For chicken, you bless *shehakol* (the first blessing)
And at the end of the meal, you bless *borei nefashot* (the last blessing)
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The required amount to eat to be obligated for the last blessing (from "Halacha Yomit" based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l):
For anything a person eats, one must say a "first blessing" on it, such as the blessing "*shehakol*" or "*ha'etz*". Even if one eats only a small amount of that food, they must bless it, as long as they are eating it with the intention to eat. (However, if one's intention is merely to taste the food to adjust seasoning, they do not bless this consumption at all). Therefore, someone chewing flavored gum, even if they swallow very little, must still bless for the enjoyment of the gum's taste. Similarly, anyone about to drink something must bless it, even if they intend to drink just a single drop.
However, this applies primarily to the first blessing, but the last blessing is only said when one has eaten a "significant amount", which is the equivalent of an olive's size, approximately twenty-seven grams, and for drinks, the amount is a "revi'it", which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking must occur within the time frame that the consumption can be combined. For example, if someone eats an olive-sized piece of bread throughout an entire day, crumb by crumb, they certainly cannot say the *birkat hamazon* afterward. Instead, the consumption of the olive-sized piece must occur within the time frame of "eating a *pras*". There is a debate among the authorities about how long this is, with some saying it is five minutes and others about seven and a half minutes (and there are other opinions). Therefore, it is advisable, especially during Shabbat meals, to consume an olive-sized portion within four and a half minutes to satisfy all opinions.
Regarding the last blessing on drinks, one must drink a *revi'it* (eighty-one grams) all at once, as if there is a pause between sips, one does not say the last blessing. Therefore, someone eating soup with a spoon does not say a last blessing on it, as they have not drunk a *revi'it* all at once, and similarly, drinking hot coffee or tea does not warrant a last blessing because it cannot be drunk all at once.
