Reheating Meat and Milk

Q. Does the prohibition of cooking meat and milk together also apply to reheating mixtures of meat and milk that were already cooked?

A. Regarding Hilchos Shabbos, there is a concept of “ain bishul achar bishul” (there is no Biblical prohibition to cook a food that was already cooked, though in some instances there are Rabbinic limitations. Do we apply this rule to the prohibition of cooking meat and milk? This is a matter of dispute.

Rav Yonasan Eybeschutz (Pleisi 87:13) and Rav Yaakov Emden (in his Siddur), are uncertain whether we compare the halachos of Shabbos to basar b’cholov.

The Pri Megadim (YD 105:2) and Rebbi Akiva Eiger (87:1) write that we apply the rule of “ain bishul achar bishul” to basar b’cholov. The Chelkas Yaakov (YD 15) writes that this is also the opinion of Rabbeinu Gershon and can be inferred from the Rambam.

On the other hand, the Shevus Yaakov (1:38) and Yad Efraim (87:3) maintain that the halachos of Shabbos are not comparable to those of basar b’cholov, and it is forbidden to cook or reheat milk and meat together, even if they were already cooked.

The Chelkas Yaakov writes that it is best to be machmir, but in cases of extreme necessity, one may rely on the Rishonim who are lenient.

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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.