Warming Frozen Broth

Q. A previous Halacha Yomis explained that congealed fat is considered a dry food and not a liquid for purposes of reheating on Shabbos, even though it will melt when heated. Would the same apply to cubes of frozen broth? Can I heat frozen broth on top of my cholent pot, since the broth was initially in a solid form?

A. The Pri Megadim (AA 318:41) writes that there is a fundamental difference between congealed fat and frozen soup. Congealed fat is classified as a food, whereas frozen water or soup is treated as a liquid. (Presumably, the reason for this distinction is that congealed fat is solid at room temperature, while frozen liquids are free flowing at room temperature.) Although both items were previously liquid and are now solid, we apply the rule of “ain bishul achar bishul bidavar yavesh” (the prohibition of cooking does not apply to previously cooked foods) for congealed fat. On the other hand, a frozen liquid is still considered a liquid and therefore we say yesh bishul achar bishul bidavar lach (the prohibition of cooking applies to reheating previously cooked liquids).

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.