Reheating on a Crock Pot

Q. I know I cannot rewarm cooked food on Shabbos on a stove top or in an oven because it has the appearance of cooking (michzi ki’mevashel), but I may warm dry cooked food on top of a crock pot because food is not typically cooked that way. May I rewarm a dry slice of meat or dry mashed potatoes on a crock pot, if the meat or potatoes were originally cooked with liquid?

A. In a previous Halacha Yomis, we noted that ain bishul achar bishul bidavar yavesh (the prohibition of cooking does not apply to dry cooked foods). Nonetheless, Ashkenazim follow the opinion of Rebbi Eliezer Mi’Metz who holds that it is forbidden to reheat a baked or roasted item by placing it in hot water on Shabbos. Since baking is a different form of food preparation than cooking in water, we say “yesh bishul achar afiya” (cooking occurs after baking), and this is prohibited. According to Rebbi Eliezer Mi’Metz, the converse is also true; boiled food should not be roasted on Shabbos because yesh afiya achar bishul (baking occurs after cooking). In fact, the Mishnah Berurah (318:41) writes that one may not rewarm boiled foods on top of the lid of a pot. However, the Chazon Ish (OC 37:14) partially disagrees. He maintains that roasting foods that were previously boiled would be prohibited only if the taste is significantly changed. Typically, cooked meat or potatoes that are heated on a crock pot will be dryer but will not acquire a roasted taste. Since there is no significant change in taste, this is permitted. Similarly, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Me’or HaShabbos vol. 2 21:5) ruled that one may warm doughnuts on Shabbos on top of a pot, even though they were initially boiled in oil, because the taste will remain the same. Which opinion should one follow? This should be discussed with your local Rabbi.

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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.