Crock Pots and Hatmana
ANSWER: The restriction of hatmana applies when a pot is enclosed. Therefore, it is permissible to use a crock pot that sits on top of a flat heating element. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa, vol. 1, ch. 1:88, n. 255) questioned whether one may setup a crock pot for Shabbos that sits inside a circular heating element. Since the base envelops the majority of the pot, this may be considered hatmana, and it is forbidden to wrap a pot that is heated on a fire, even before Shabbos. Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa quotes Rav Elyashiv zt”l that one can avoid the issue by placing something under the pot (such as a ball of aluminum foil) to lift it slightly off the floor of the element. In this way, the base does not surround the bottom of the pot, and it will not be considered hatmana.
However, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe OC 4:74 hatmana #4) writes that there is no concern of hatmana unless the entire pot is enclosed, including the top. Many students of Rav Moshe said they heard from him that there is no concern of hatmana with a crock pot. An additional basis for leniency is that the Rema (OC 257:1) writes that me’ikar ha’din (strictly speaking), one may do hatmana if the intent is not to eat the food until the next day, though the Rema cautions against relying on this position on a regular basis. Many use the regular circular crock pots on Shabbos in accordance with Rav Moshe, yet some are strict and follow the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman.
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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.