The question was asked about a Hametz pot that was mistakenly used for Pesach cooking. Does one have to throw away the Pesach foods that was cooked in a Hametz pot?
This question actually came upon Chacham Ovadia Yoseph one day as he was walking home from the Yeshivah one day during Pesach. While walking home, Chacham Ovadia Yoseph came upon a lady crying at her doorway. The Chacham asked why she was crying, and the lady answered that she mistakenly had used a Hametz pot to cook food during Pesach. She was nervous, and afraid that her husband would be mad. Chacham Ovadia Yoseph then asked her which pot she used. The lady replied that she cooked in the pot that was used for noodles all year long. Chacham Ovadia Yoseph then said, ‘Mutar.’ Chacham Ovadia Yoseph told her that she would not have to discard the food, and that she can eat the food on Pesach that was mistakenly cooked in the Hametz pot. The lady did not understand and asked the Chacham to explain. Chacham Ovadia Yoseph explained that once the pot is not used for 24 hours it becomes Pagum (bitter, unsavory, unfit, spoiled), and Bediavad, food cooked for Pesach is allowed to be eaten even though it is a Hametz pot.
It must be clearly understood though, that one is not permitted to use Hametz pots on Pesach. Absolutely not! We are only talking about a case where there was a mistake, and a Hametz pot was used by accident.
The pot can be used based on the concept of ‘Noten Taam Lifgam’, which means that the flavor from the pots has no affect on the foods being cooked once 24 hours goes by. The pot of course must not have any food remnants in it and must be clean, but once 24 hours goes by, it is permissible, if one made a mistake and used a Hametz pot to cook for Pesach.
