Answer:
Ah, the one sink dilemma. Rest assured, you’re not alone. One sink is the norm in many kosher homes–especially in New York where small kitchens prevail. The best course of action is to have separate dish racks for meat and dairy. This allows one to soak say, just the meat dishes in the sink, without having to worry about any dairy lingering about. You don’t have to wait between washing the two sets of dishes, the way you do when eating meat and dairy. Just avoid mixing them together in the sink. Dishwashers are a bit more complicated. Many feel that a dishwasher should be used either for meat or dairy, but not both–even with washing the two sets of dishes separately. The best bet may be to use the automatic dishwasher for the type which has more dishes (often meat), and appoint a human dishwasher, let’s say the husband, to handle the other. (I’m just being nice). There are other opinions on the subject, as you might imagine. Suffice it to say, it’s a complex area of Jewish law, where blanket pronouncements are not the best way to go. Each kitchen and home is different, but hopefully these guidelines can help. At the very least, they’re food for thought.

–Rabbi Elie Weinstock