Adding Water to Cholent
Question: Is it permitted to add boiling water to a cholent which is completely cooked so that the cholent does not dry up or burn?
Discussion: It depends. If the heat source on which the cholent pot rests is not completely covered for Shabbos, then it is forbidden to add boiling water to the cholent. Thus it is forbidden to add boiling water to cholent in a crock-pot whose heating element is not properly covered,[1] to a cholent which is placed inside an oven, or to a cholent placed on a range without a blech.
If, however, the heat source is completely and properly covered, it is permitted to add boiling water to the cholent. The boiling water must be poured from either a plugged-in Shabbos urn or from a kettle which is placed on a blech, but not from water that has been stored in a thermos from erev Shabbos, even if the water is still piping hot. The preferred method for doing this is as follows:
Remove the lid of the cholent pot, lift up the pot[2] and hold it in the air or balance it partially on a surface, wait a moment or two to allow most of the hot steam to escape,[3] and then pour the boiling water directly from the urn or kettle into the pot. Put the cover back on the pot,[4] and then return the pot to the properly covered range, oven or crock pot.
Question: If it is impractical to lift (and hold) the cholent pot, is it permitted to pour boiling water directly from the urn or kettle into the pot while it is left sitting on the properly covered heat source?
Discussion: Yes. It is permitted to leave the cholent on a properly covered heat source and pour boiling water directly from the urn or kettle into the pot, provided[5] that the water is poured into the pot slowly and gently.[6]
Note: Adding water to the cholent using this method of allowing the pot to remain on the heat source does not obviate the necessity of properly covering the heat source. If the heat source is not properly covered, then water may not be added under any circumstances.
Question: When it is impractical to pour water directly from the urn or kettle into the pot, is it permitted to pour boiling water from the urn or kettle into a cup (or thermos) and then pour from the cup into the pot?
Discussion: This option is a subject of debate among the poskim – permitted by some[7] and frowned upon by others.[8] Certainly, when no other option is available, or if one is concerned about rendering his urn fleishig, one may rely on the lenient views.[9] A preferred alternative would be to insert a pareve ladle into the urn while it is on the fire, leave it in for several seconds, and then ladle the water into the pot.[10] This option is permitted l’chatchilah.[11]
Note: Water from a Shabbos urn often does not reach the boiling point of 212 degrees. When added to a boiling cholent, however, the water will get boiled — a violation of the prohibited Biblical Labor of Cooking according to some poskim.[12] To satisfy the more stringent opinion, one must ascertain that the temperature of the water in the urn reaches the boiling point before adding it to the cholent. At the very least, one must ascertain that the water temperature reached 175 degrees, or else the water may not be added.[13] [If, however, the water had previously reached 212 or 175 degrees, it is permissible to pour it into the cholent even though at the moment it has cooled off a bit.[14]]
[1] Simply placing a piece of aluminum foil over the heating element is not sufficient. The covering needs to be made from sturdy material or from several layers of aluminum foil which will remain in place; Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shemiras Shabbos k’Hilchasah 1, note *63).
[2] Pouring water into the pot will cause it to stir the cholent somewhat, and one should not stir even a fully cooked pot that is on the fire (see Mishnah Berurah 318:113). If the cholent is on a blech on the range, then it is permitted to shift the pot from the flame area to any other area of the blech which is hot; see Igros Moshe 4:61, 4:47-11; Orchos Shabbos 2:70, note 122.
[3] This is recommended in order to protect the urn or kettle from becoming fleishig from the steam which rises from the cholent.
[4] To satisfy the opinion of some poskim (Shevisas ha-Shabbos, Mevashel 26:81; Igros Moshe, O.C. 4:74-10) who prohibit covering a pot while it is on the heat source even if the food is completely cooked, and even if the heat source is properly covered. Other poskim are not concerned about this; see Ketzos ha-Shulchan (Badei ha-Shulchan 124:10); Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shulchan Shelomo 318:63-4); Rav S. Wosner (mi-Beis Levi 6); Tzitz Eliezer 7:15-4.
[5] To avoid stirring the cholent while pouring in the water (see footnote 2).
[6] Ketzos ha-Shulchan (Badei ha-Shulchan 243:10); Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shulchan Shelomo 318:62-2; 63-2); Rav Y.S. Elyashiv (Shevus Yitzchak, pg. 198). See Orchos Shabbos 1:98, note 196; 2, note 123.
[7] Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shemiras Shabbos k’Hilchasah 1, note 44).
[8] Minchas Yitzchak 6:20; 10:18; Shevet ha-Levi 3:93-2; Rav Y.S. Elyashiv (Shevus Yitzchak, pg. 204.)
[9] See Orchos Shabbos 2:60.
[10] The preference to avoid ladling out the contents of a pot while it is on the fire (due to the stirring it causes) does not pertain to boiling water; see Igros Moshe 4:74-14.
[11] Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shulchan Shlomo 253:12; 12-2).
[12] In the view of several poskim, it is Biblically forbidden to boil water on Shabbos even if the water is already at the temperature of yad soledes bo; see Shemiras Shabbos k'Hilchasah 1, note 15 and note 96. See also Minchas Yitzchak 10:28, Rav Y.S. Elyashiv (Shevus Yitzchak, pg. 142), and Shevet ha-Levi 7:42-3. Other poskim, however, hold that once the water temperature reaches yad soledes bo, “cooking” it further is no longer a violation of bishul; Igros Moshe, O.C. 4:74-1.
[13] 175 degrees is based on Igros Moshe, Y.D. 2:52.
[14] Igros Moshe, O.C. 4:74:1, 13; Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shemiras Shabbos k'Hilchasah 1, note 96); Shevet ha-Levi 7:42-3. “Cooled off a bit” means that it is hot enough that one who wants a hot drink would consider it hot.