Overnight Oatmeal on Shabbos

Q. Is it permissible to make overnight oatmeal on Shabbos?

A. Overnight oatmeal refers to soaking rolled oats in cold water or milk and letting it sit overnight until it becomes somewhat soft. This is a completely cold process and involves no cooking. While there is no prohibition of bishul when preparing overnight oatmeal, there is nonetheless a concern of “losh” (kneading). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 321) prohibits preparing masses that clump together because it resembles losh, unless three changes (shinui) from the ordinary method are employed. With respect to overnight oatmeal, the following must be done:

• The mixture must not be thick, as It is forbidden to make thick mixtures on Shabbos. Only loose, pourable mixtures may be prepared on Shabbos.
• If one usually pours the oats into the bowl and then adds the cold water, the process must be reversed. The cold water is put in the bowl first and then the oats are added.
• Instead of stirring the oatmeal in the regular manner with a spoon, it must be stirred with the handle of the spoon.

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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.