The Sages instituted a waiting period between eating meat and dairy. This is due to the strong and lingering taste of meat that remains in the mouth for a long time, as well as the concern that pieces of meat may remain between the teeth and mix with dairy consumed afterward.
Length of the Waiting Period
Among the commentators and halachic authorities, there are various opinions regarding the required duration of the waiting period. In practice, the Shulchan Aruch rules in accordance with the early authorities who require a six-hour wait between eating meat and dairy.
In contrast, the Rema noted that in Ashkenazic lands, the custom was to wait one hour after eating meat before consuming dairy, provided that the meat meal was completed and a concluding blessing (beracha acharona) was recited. Based on this, Jews from the Netherlands adopted the custom of waiting one hour, while some—such as Jews from Germany—customarily waited three hours.
However, the Rema concluded by stating that “some are strict and wait six hours… and this is the proper practice,” which led to the widespread custom among Ashkenazim today to wait six hours between meat and dairy, as this is considered the proper conduct for anyone who values Torah observance.
Some authorities maintain that those who are strict to wait six hours do not require a full six hours. Rather, five and a half hours may suffice. Others are lenient and permit eating dairy as soon as the sixth hour begins—that is, after five hours have passed
Nachman Harris. Kosher Expert.
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