1. Poskim disagree whether cooking a raw food in a microwave violates a Torah prohibition because it is a normal method of heating today (R. Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe O.C. 3:52), or just a rabbinic one, since a microwave heats up food particles via waves rather than fire (R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Minchat Shlomo 1:12). Either way, it is normally forbidden to use a microwave, since turning it on involves using electricity, which is forbidden (to be discussed in more detail at some point in the future). Nevertheless, the issue may be relevant in very specific instances, such as whether it is preferable to use it to prepare food in cases of potentially life-threatening illness or whether one may ask a non-Jew to use a microwave in certain cases (which might be more lenient if the bishul is defined as rabbinic in nature). Such questions should be discussed with one’s halachic authority.

2. We mentioned yesterday that the melachah of bishul applies only to cooking or baking with fire (or derivatives of fire). However, the prohibition does not include cooking directly in the sun. Accordingly, it is permitted to take a raw egg and place it in the sun, even if the sun is so hot that the egg will get cooked. The reason is that this is not considered a normal method of cooking and was not forbidden, even on a rabbinic level (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 318:3)

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.