Modern Day Kitchen Appliances on Yom Tov
Question: Is there any difference between the gas stovetops of today and the ones used years ago?
Discussion: Indeed, there is. Years ago, people used simple gas cooktops. It was permitted to turn on the gas and use a lit match to start the fire (though it was necessary to light the match from a pre-existing flame and not by striking it, as mentioned above). Today, many stoves have automatic igniters, so that whenever the gas is turned on, the flame is automatically ignited. This is prohibited on Yom Tov for two reasons: First, because starting a new flame is prohibited; it is permitted only to transfer fire from an existing flame. Second, because the automatic igniter uses electricity, which is also prohibited on Yom Tov.
If one wishes to turn on the stove on Yom Tov itself (and transfer pre-existing fire to it), he may do so if he can deactivate or bypass the self-ignite.111 This can be done by simply unplugging the stove from the electricity before Yom Tov (the gas can usually be used even when the electricity is off).
Question: May one turn off or lower the flame on Yom Tov?
Discussion: Generally speaking, turning off a flame, or even lowering it,112 is considered mechabeh113 – and mechabeh is permitted only for the sake of food preparation.114 For example, if there is a pot of food on the stovetop which still requires cooking, and the flame is too high and may burn the food, one may lower the flame.115 Some Poskim116 say that this is true even if one could light another, smaller flame on a different burner. However, some Poskim117 say that, if possible, one should light a separate, smaller flame instead of lowering a pre-existing flame.
Question: I really like fresh bread on Yom Tov, but I do not want to deal with the mess of making bread. Can I set a bread maker on a timer to bake bread on Yom Tov?
Discussion: Although this is technically permitted, some Poskim maintain that it is not in the spirit of Yom Tov.118
Question: Can I cook food on the barbeque grill on Yom Tov?
Discussion: Cooking on a barbeque grill is actually more similar to the way of cooking in the times of the Gemara, and definitely permitted on Yom Tov. However, there are some Yom Tov restrictions that still apply.119
General Directives:
It is, of course, prohibited to strike a match or use a starter (even if it does not use electricity); fire must be obtained from a pre-existing flame (see above regarding the ways in which is permitted to light a match from a pre-existing flame).
It is permitted to extinguish a fire on Yom Tov if this is done in order for the food to cook properly. Therefore, it is of no concern that fats drip onto the coals and extinguish them a bit on contact. Similarly, if the heat is too high for cooking and one wishes to extinguish some of the fire in order for the food to cook at a lower temperature, doing so would be permitted.120 However, one is not allowed to extinguish the fire just because he is done cooking and no longer needs the flame.121
If one is using an electric grill, one must make sure that he is not automatically turning on the electricity at any point, as this would be prohibited on Yom Tov.
A charcoal grill:
One may use lighter fluid, or blow the kindling briquettes, in order to get them to burn better.
Sometimes the bag of coals has a special perforation for opening the bag, and one should not rip the bag at this perforation on Yom Tov.122
After the fire is extinguished, the ash that remains is mukzteh.123
When using coals, some people arrange them in the shape of a pyramid before lighting them. This should not be done on Yom Tov.124
A gas grill:
One may open the gas nozzle if it was closed, but one may not attach a new gas balloon.125
An electric grill:
One may put an electric grill on a timer and use it when it goes on.
111 Some newer stovetops are equipped with a safety valve that automatically turns off the gas when there is no flame. Turning on the flame, even from a pre-existing flame, creates some form of electricity. Poskim grapple with the use of such a stovetop on Yom Tov; see Yom Tov Kehilchaso, Simanim, 33; Oz Veorah VIII, page 14.
112 Based on Mishnah Berurah 514, note 16. See also Hilchos Chag Bechag 12:7.
113 See Meorei Eish Hashalem I, page 268; Tosefes Orah 15; Even Yisrael IX:62; Chut Shani, p. 119.
114 See Avnei Hamakom 284 regarding this restriction.
115 514:1.
116 Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim IV:103; Hilchos Chag Bechag, Yom Tov I:12, footnote 7, citing R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
117 Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 13:10; Yom Tov Kehilchaso 11:18. See also Hilchos Chag Bechag, Yom Tov I, pages 399-401.
118 See Piskei Teshuvos 502, footnote 27; Aliba Dehilchesa volume 92, page 67.
119 See Kuntreis Tzli Eish (Revach) for a brief overview of the halachos of a barbeque grill on Yom Tov.
120 In this case, making a new fire is almost always not practical, since it takes such a long time until a grill is ready for cooking.
121 Practically, this means that using a gas grill on Yom Tov would result in wasting a lot of gas.
122 See Orchos Shabbos 11:40.
123 Shulchan Aruch Chapter 498, Passage 15 and Mishnah Berurah, note 77 ad loc.
124 See Chapter 502, Passage 1.
125 See Chut Shani, p. 119. However, if one was using a gas grill, and the gas ran out before the food was finished cooking, he may attach another gas balloon on Yom Tov (based on Chapter 495, Passage 1 and Rema to Chapter 509, Passage 2). This is permitted even if it would be necessary to use a wrench.