During the times of the Bet HaMikdash, the Korban Pesah was eaten at the end of the meal on Pesah night on a full stomach.  Therefore, each year at the Pesah Seder, when we eat the Afikoman at the end of the meal, we should keep in mind that it is to commemorate the Korban Pesah that was eaten in the Bet HaMikdash.  The Afikoman is the bigger half of the middle matzah that was put aside during Yahatz.  Everyone present receives a k’zayit portion.

Manner of Eating the Afikoman: 

A. The matzah must be eaten on a full stomach and not while one is still hungry. 

B. However, it may not be eaten when one is too full and the matzah will be repulsive to him. 

C. The Afikoman should be eaten in approximately four minutes and not more than 7½ minutes. 

D. The Afikoman should not be eaten with any other foods (e.g., haroset). 

E. Special care should be taken to be sure that the Afikoman is not eaten after Hatzot midnight (11:56 p.m. EST or 12:56 a.m. Daylight Savings Time). If one inadvertently did not eat the Afikoman by midnight, he is still required to do so. 

F. The Afikoman should not be eaten in two different places, even in the same room. 

G. The Afikoman must be eaten while reclining.  Therefore, if one forgot to recline, he must eat another k’zayit (1 ounce) of matzah. 

H. If, however, he is too full and a second k’zayit (1 ounce) of matzah will be repulsive to him, he can rely on the matzah he ate previously. 

I. After eating the Afikoman, it is forbidden to eat anything else (except for the last two cups of wine). 

J. Although water may be drunk, one should be stringent and refrain from drinking any other beverages. 

K. On the second night, or after midnight, one may not eat, but may be lenient to drink other non-alcoholic beverages after the Afikoman. 

L. If one mistakenly ate after the Afikoman, one is required to eat an additional k’zayit of matzah. 

M. If one ate after eating the Afikoman and didn’t realize his mistake until after reciting Bircat HaMazon, he is not required to eat an additional k’zayit, and he may rely on the one he already ate.

One Who Forgot to Eat the Afikoman 

A. If one forgot to eat the Afikoman and remembers after saying hav lan v’nivrich (before Bircat HaMazon) or after washing mayim a’haronim, one must eat the Afikoman then without a berachah.

B. If he remembers after he began saying Bircat HaMazon, or after he completed Bircat HaMazon, but before he said Borei Pri Hagefen for the third cup of wine, he must wash his hands without saying Al Netilat Yadayim and eat the Afikoman. He must then repeat the Bircat HaMazon and drink the third cup of wine. 

C. If he remembers only after drinking the third cup of wine, he can then rely on the matzah that he ate with the meal (during Shulhan Orech) to fulfill his obligation of Afikoman. However, if one is strict to use matzah shmurah missha’at ketzirah, then he may only rely on the matzah, if it was shmurah missha’at ketzirah. 

D. However, if he didn’t eat any matzah with the meal and he only ate the required amounts during Motzie Matzah and Korech, then he must wash his hands again, without a berachah of Al Netilat Yadayim,* eat the Afikoman and recite Bircat HaMazon.  He does not have to drink an additional cup of wine that is drunk at the conclusion of Bircat HaMazon. However, if eating another k’zayit will be repulsive to him, then he may rely on the k’zayit that he ate for Motzie Matzah. 

E. If one has completed the entire Seder and then realizes that he did not eat the Afikoman, he washes his hands without a berachah,* and eats a k’zayit of matzah. Then he says Bircat HaMazon.  Additional cups of wine are not necessary.

* However, if he practices the custom of eating two K’zaytim, then he should wash with a berachah, if his hands are not clean.