1. The melacha of losh is very relevant to making certain kinds of food on Shabbat. Over the next number of posts, we will try to address many of the most common cases that arise based on the guidelines we have seen previously, beginning with tuna salad. Tuna salad that is made with large, distinct pieces of tuna is permissible to be made normally, since the pieces are not considered to be molded into one unit. (The 39 Melochos, p. 548) Tuna salad that is finely mashed is more problematic to make normally with mayonnaise on Shabbat, since the resulting product may constitute one thick mixture, which, as we have learned, is often prohibited to prepare on Shabbat.

2. One who wishes to make tuna on Shabbat should use one of the two permitted shinuim for mixing a thick mixture – criss-cross strokes or using one’s hand (“The Shabbos Kitchen,” p.162). Some poskim hold that one need not use any shinui for the pouring stage since both ingredients are solid, and the pouring alone does not cause the fusing of the ingredients (Orchot Shabbat 6:18). Others do require a shinui in the pouring, even in this case (Ohr L’tzion 2:32; Masoret Moshe). The same opinions apply to making other mixtures of solid food with mayonnaise. If mayonnaise is mixed together with a more liquid-like substance, such as salsa, it would not constitute losh since one is transforming a thicker mixture (mayonnaise) into a thinner one, as discussed in a previous post.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.