Animals You Wouldn’t Believe Are Kosher

Close your eyes and think of kosher food. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Your bubbie’s brisket? Gefilte fish? A great bowl of matzah ball soup? 

Beyond the classics, you might picture the basics like grilled salmon or a beef burger. Very few are closing their eyes and seeing images of venison, bison, or giraffe. Yes, giraffe.

Kosher dietary laws are often misunderstood. Some assume kosher simply means “no pork.” Others believe it’s a short list of permitted foods or food that’s been blessed by a rabbi. 

In reality, the rules for what makes a kosher animal are fairly straightforward, and what qualifies as kosher is surprisingly expansive. At a very high level, the Torah outlines two primary criteria:

• Land animals must have split hooves and chew their cud.
• Fish must have fins and scales.
  

That’s it. Those two principles answer most of the internet’s most-searched kosher questions.

‍

The Familiar (and Frequently Googled)

Let’s start with the obvious.

Chicken is kosher. Duck is kosher. Lamb and goat are kosher. These animals meet the required criteria and are traditionally consumed in kosher communities.

Pork, however, is not kosher, even though pigs have split hooves. They don’t chew their cud, which disqualifies them. That’s why bacon (at least traditional pork bacon) isn’t kosher either.

Seafood is where confusion often seems to spike. Shrimp, lobster, crab, and all shellfish are not kosher. Neither are octopus or calamari. These sea creatures lack fins and scales, which automatically excludes them.

Camels are an interesting example of how precise the rules are. They chew their cud, but don’t have split hooves. One requirement without the other isn’t enough, therefore camels are not kosher.

The framework is simple. But once you start applying it more broadly, things get interesting.

‍

The Wild Game Surprise

Here’s where people tend to do a double take.

Deer meet both kosher requirements: they have split hooves and chew their cud. That means venison is technically kosher. Elk fall into the same category. Even bison and buffalo qualify under the same standards as cattle.

So why don’t you see venison or bison steaks on most kosher menus?

The answer isn’t about permission, it’s about practicality. Kosher slaughter (shechita) requires trained experts and supervision. Wild game is much more difficult to process according to those standards. The animal may qualify, but sourcing and preparation create logistical hurdles.

Still, from a purely technical standpoint, deer, elk, and bison are kosher animals.

And then there’s the animal that always sparks curiosity: the giraffe.

Giraffes chew their cud. They have split hooves. By definition, they qualify as kosher. While you won’t find giraffe on anyone’s dinner plate — for ethical, practical, and cultural reasons — it remains one of the most surprising examples of how broad kosher law can be.

One practical reason you won’t find giraffe on the menu: because of their long necks, shochets (those who perform shechita) don’t know where to cut the neck properly. 

‍

Fish: Simpler Than You Think

When it comes to fish, the rules are refreshingly clear: if it has fins and scales, it’s kosher.

That means cod is kosher. Tuna is kosher. Tilapia, flounder, grouper, red snapper, and dorado (mahi mahi) are all kosher fish, provided their scales are identifiable.

Catfish, however, are not kosher because they lack scales. Eel and monkfish are also not kosher for the same reason.

Swordfish and sturgeon are often brought up in conversation because they sit in a gray historical area. While there have been debates in the past, today they are generally treated as non-kosher by mainstream authorities.

And then there’s caviar. Caviar comes from fish eggs, or roe. If the fish itself is kosher, the roe can be kosher as well. The famous sturgeon-based varieties are typically not considered kosher today, but kosher caviar does exist — it just comes from different species.

Once you understand the fins-and-scales rule, most fish questions answer themselves.

‍

The Clear “No” Category

Some animals simply don’t meet the criteria.

Alligator doesn’t chew cud or have split hooves, so it’s not kosher. Neither are reptiles in general. And, as previously mentioned, shellfish of any kind are not kosher,  nor are octopus and calamari..

And despite how often people ask, pork and traditional bacon remain firmly off the kosher list.

‍

Why Some Kosher Animals Aren’t Common

One of the most interesting aspects of kosher law is the difference between what’s technically permitted and what’s commonly eaten.

An animal might meet every requirement and still be rare in practice. That’s because kosher food isn’t only about the animal itself — it’s also about proper slaughter, preparation, supervision, and longstanding communal tradition.

Deer may qualify. Bison may qualify. Even giraffe technically qualifies. But cultural norms, accessibility, and modern food systems shape what appears on the table.

Kosher law defines the boundaries. Real life determines the menu.

‍

The Big Takeaway

Kosher dietary laws are more logical and more expansive than many people assume.

Land animals must have split hooves and chew their cud. Fish must have fins and scales. If you remember those two rules, you can answer most questions instantly.

That’s why lamb and goat are kosher. That’s why cod and tuna are kosher. That’s why deer and bison can be kosher. And that’s why pork, shrimp, lobster, and shellfish are not.

The next time someone asks whether a certain animal is kosher, the answer might surprise you, especially once you know how simple the system really is.