Summer 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow cookers and hot plates are the workhorses of many kosher kitchens as they enable the Sabbath-observant hostess to serve piping hot dishes to her family and guests to enhance the Shabbos seuda<\/em>. In recognition of their importance in a Jewish home, it behooves us to review the halachos involving these appliances about which many users might not be aware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article will try to clarify the potential issues and how to address them in a practical way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two basic types of electric slow cookers: an insert type (often referred to as a Crockpot<\/em>\u00ae), in which a stoneware vessel sits inside a heated base; and a flatbed type, in which a metal pot sits atop a griddle base. Halachic issues involving their use include hatmana, shehiya<\/em> and chazara. <\/em>These will be explained below. (There are some more expensive models equipped with variable thermostats which make their usage on Shabbos more complicated; these are not addressed in this article.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chazal forbade the wrapping of hot food on Shabbos to preserve its heat. They also forbade placing wrapped food on a heat source even before Shabbos \u2013 even if the wrapping was also done before Shabbos<\/em> \u2013 or if the wrapping itself adds heat to the food. This halacha is called hatmana b\u2019davar hamosif hevel<\/em>.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt\u201dl<\/em> is famous for his opinion that an insert-type slow cooker is by definition a situation of hatmana b\u2019davar hamosif hevel<\/em>, since the pot is completely inserted in a base which houses the heating coils.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Other opinions disagree, based on a Rama who states that hatmana<\/em> (wrapping) only occurs when the food is covered on all sides and the top.[3]<\/a> When the lid of the slow cooker isn\u2019t covered, according to most opinions it is not considered hatmana<\/em>, and an insert-type slow cooker may be used on Shabbos.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n One who wishes to be stringent and follow the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman should place something (e.g., balled up sheets of aluminum foil) under the pot to slightly lift the sides so that it is no longer completely submerged within the base. Using a slow cooker in this way will not be considered hatmana<\/em> according to most opinions.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mishna in Shabbos teaches us that one is forbidden to leave an uncooked item on the fire on Shabbos lest he might come to stoke the fire and hasten the cooking process.[6]<\/a> This concept applies to any food being cooked on any heat source, which includes a slow cooker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way to permit the above situation is to cover the heat source that is under the pot, thereby creating a heker<\/em>, a distinctive difference which would stop a person from stoking the fire. If the heat source is covered with a blech, food may be left on a flame.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some contemporary opinions hold that covering a fire only works when the covering diminishes the heat at least slightly, but if there is no minimization of the heat through the blech, that will not satisfy the rabbinic necessity for it.[8]<\/a> In the case of a slow cooker, placing a blech (e.g., a sheet of aluminum foil) in the small space between the crock and the base not only does not diminish the heat, but may in fact increase<\/em> it by insulating the pot, and thereby trapping the heat. Thus, according to this opinion, the use of a blech inside an insert slow cooker will not resolve the issue of shehiya.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Other opinions hold that the main function of a blech is to make a heker<\/em>, and that doing so allows one to leave a pot on a fire even if it does not diminish the heat.[9]<\/a> According to this view, one could create a blech simply by placing foil between the pot and the base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another option to satisfy the need for a blech and to avoid the above dispute is by covering the knob on the front of the slow cooker. This eitzah<\/em> is a matter of dispute by poskim<\/em>: whether the takana<\/em> (rabbinic law) to place a blech must be over the actual fire or over the spot where one would actually \u201cstoke the coals\u201d \u2013 which, in modern times, is the knob. This view \u2013 that it is sufficient to cover the knobs \u2013 is that of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler zt\u201dl<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to his talmid<\/em>, STAR\u2011K Rabbinical Administrator Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit\u201da<\/em>, one may follow Rav Aharon\u2019s opinion, especially in the case of an insert-type slow cooker in which it is questionable if a regular blech works as explained above. Still, it is preferable, whenever feasible, to cover both<\/em> the fire and the controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chazal forbade one who removes a pot from the fire to place it back on the fire (constituting an act of chazara<\/em>), unless certain requirements are met. One of these is the necessity of a blech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if one relies on the above ruling of Rav Aharon to satisfy the need for a blech, we must discuss if he intended to be lenient with covering only the knob\/control with regard to shehiya (<\/em>as discussed above) or even to allow chazara <\/em>(returning a pot to the fire on Shabbos).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A very brief explanation of this question is as follows. There are two reasons mentioned for the rabbinical prohibition of chazara<\/em>:[10]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Does covering the knob correct the second issue of chazara<\/em>, which is that it appears to be cooking? Maybe it\u2019s only corrected when the fire is altered slightly? Or is a fire whose controls are altered by being covered also not appear as cooking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is brought down that the Chazon Ish held that covering the knob only helps for leaving a pot (shehiya)<\/em> but does not help for returning it (chazara<\/em>).[11]<\/a> In the sefer<\/em> Kovetz HaMishor<\/em>, however, it states clearly that Rav Aharon held that covering the knobs works for chazara<\/em> as well, and this is the understanding of Rav Heinemann \u2013 that Rav Aharon intended to be lenient even for chazara<\/em>.[12]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To conclude, one can rely on the ruling of Rav Aharon if necessary on this point as well \u2013 to allow chazara<\/em> with just the knobs of the slow cooker covered \u2013 provided one adheres to all the other halachos<\/em> of chazara<\/em>: i.e., the food is fully cooked, the food is still warm, there was an intention to return, and one never let go of the vessel.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As with slow cookers, there are different types of electric hot plates and warming trays: a simple plug-in type with a single setting that cannot be adjusted versus others that offer variable temperature settings with adjustable temperature controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although simpler than an insert-type slow cooker, a hot plate \u2013 popularly referred to as a \u201cplata<\/em>\u201d \u2013 still raises halachic questions regarding shehiya<\/em> and chazara<\/em> on Shabbos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A warming tray that has adjustable temperature controls unquestionably needs a blech for the same reason cited above by an insert-type slow cooker: Chazal were worried that one might want to \u201cstoke the flame\u201d \u2013 that is, to adjust the temperature. For a one-setting hot plate, a blech would not be necessary for shehiya<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rav Moshe Feinstein zt\u201dl<\/em> has a teshuva<\/em> in which he writes that one may do chazara<\/em> on a single-setting hot plate (or any heat surface) that is made specifically to keep food warm or to re-heat food without placing a blech. He also permits one to take a fully cooked, dry item directly from the fridge on Shabbos and place it on such a surface (i.e., without the need for a blech).[14]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The rationale for this view is based on what was explained earlier regarding chazara<\/em>, which has two reasons for its prohibition: shema yechateh<\/em> and michzi k\u2019mevashel<\/em>; on such a surface there is no concern about \u201cstoking the fire\u201d because there is no control at all, and there is no concern about the appearance of cooking because, in general, people do not cook on a hot plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contemporary poskim<\/em> point out, however, that Rav Moshe\u2019s teshuva<\/em> \u2013 which allows one to do chazara<\/em> without a blech and even to put a cold item directly on a hot plate \u2013 only applies in the case of an appliance on which it is not possible to cook at all.[15]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once cooking (i.e., heating to 120\u00b0) on this surface is a possibility \u2013 regardless of how long it may take \u2013 we don\u2019t differentiate between this appliance and any others that enable one to cook. Whether a hot plate can or cannot be used for cooking will vary according to different appliance models, but the rule stays the same: if it is possible to cook on the surface (even if it would take a while), one can only return food to it if it has a blech, keeping in mind all the other rules of chazara<\/em> cited above. If cooking is not possible on this surface, then both opinions agree that Rav Moshe would allow chazara<\/em> without a blech, and even to place a cold, dry and fully cooked item on it for the reasoning explained above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [1]<\/a> \u05e9\u05d5”\u05e2 \u05d0\u05d5”\u05d7 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0”\u05d6 \u05e1\u05e2\u05d9’ \u05d0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [2]<\/a> \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e8\u05d7\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d1\u05ea \u05e2\u05de’ \u05ea\u05e7\u05de”\u05d3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [3]<\/a> \u05e9\u05d5”\u05e2 \u05e9\u05dd \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0\u05d2 \u05e1\u05d5”\u05e1 \u05d0 \u05d5\u05de”\u05d1 \u05e9\u05dd \u05e1”\u05e7 \u05de\u05d7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [4]<\/a> \u05e2\u05d9’ \u05e9\u05d5”\u05ea \u05e9\u05d1\u05d8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d7”\u05d8 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e0”\u05d1 \u05d5\u05e9\u05d5”\u05ea \u05e2\u05de\u05e7 \u05d4\u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d7”\u05d3 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05d9”\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1’, \u05d5\u05db\u05df \u05d1\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d5\u05e6\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05e9\u05d1\u05ea \u05e2\u05de’ \u05ea\u05e7\u05d9”\u05d8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [5]<\/a> \u05e7\u05d5\u05d1\u05e5 \u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05de\u05e8\u05df \u05e8’ \u05d0\u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d6\u05e6”\u05dc \u05d7”\u05d2 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05de”\u05d2 \u05d5\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d5\u05e6\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05e9\u05d1\u05ea \u05e2\u05de’ \u05ea\u05e7\u05d9”\u05d6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [6]<\/a> \u05de\u05e9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05ea \u05d3\u05e3 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05e2”\u05d1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [7]<\/a> \u05e9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d1\u05e9\u05d5”\u05e2 \u05e9\u05dd \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0”\u05d2 \u05e1”\u05d0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [8]<\/a> \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df \u05d4\u05de\u05d7\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e9\u05dd \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0”\u05d2 \u05e1”\u05d0 \u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05d8 \u05d7\u05d5\u05de\u05dd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [9]<\/a> \u05e9\u05de\u05e2\u05ea\u05d9 \u05de\u05d0\u05d1\u05d9 \u05de\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d9\u05d8”\u05d0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [10]<\/a> \u05e2\u05d9’ \u05de”\u05d1 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0”\u05d2 \u05e1”\u05e7 \u05dc”\u05d6 \u05d5\u05d1\u05e9\u05e2\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc”\u05d6 \u05e9\u05dd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [11]<\/a> \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9 \u05d7”\u05d6 \u05e2\u05de’ \u05e7\u05de”\u05d1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [12]<\/a> \u05e7\u05d5\u05d1\u05e5 \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05de\u05d9\u05e9\u05d5\u05e8 (\u05e2\u05dc \u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d1\u05ea) \u05e2\u05de’ \u05db”\u05d3 (\u05dc\u05d9\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05d5\u05d3 \u05ea\u05e9\u05e1”\u05d7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n [13]<\/a> \u05e9\u05d5”\u05e2 \u05e1\u05d9’ \u05e8\u05e0”\u05d2 \u05e1\u05e2\u05d9’ \u05d1.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSlow Cookers<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Hatmana <\/em>\u2013 Insulating Food on a Fire on Shabbos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Shehiya<\/em> \u2013 Leaving an Uncooked Food on a Fire on Shabbos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Chazara<\/em>: Returning a Cooked Food to a Fire on Shabbos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Hot Plates or Warming Trays<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Shehiya<\/em>: Is a Blech Required to Leave Uncooked Food on a Hot Plate Over Shabbos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Chazara<\/em>: Can Cooked Food be Returned to a Hot Plate on Shabbos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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