Freezing Leftovers on Shabbos

Q. At the end of the Friday night seuda, I often have leftover soup. I would like to store the leftovers in the freezer so it will stay fresh. Is this permitted?

A. The Minchas Yitzchak (8:24) discusses this question. He writes that if there is a shortage of room in the refrigerator and if one does not put it in the freezer the food will spoil or will not be as fresh, then one may put the soup in the freezer even though it will turn into a block of ice. Although many poskim write that it is not proper to make ice on Shabbos, however when there is a pressing need they are lenient. Protecting the soup that it does not spoil and become wasted, qualifies as a valid need. This is also not a concern of hachanah (preparing on Shabbos for after Shabbos). Putting soup in the freezer does not prepare it for use during the week, but rather it protects it from becoming spoiled. This is permitted to be done on Shabbos.

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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.