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Donate- Fruits that are typically eaten raw:
No loss in quality when cooked: Fruits which are typically eaten raw, but are equally good also when cooked, which means that their quality and taste do not diminish when they are cooked, and they retain their natural flavor, then the blessing remains “Haeitz.” This applies even if majority of people consume the fruit raw without cooking.
Loss in quality when cooked: However, if fruits taste better when they are raw and lose their flavor when cooked, then the blessing changes to “Shehakol.” This shift occurs because cooking alters their taste and quality significantly, making them less enjoyable compared to their raw state. Therefore, the blessing reflects the diminished state of the fruit’s flavor after cooking.
- Fruits and vegetables that are better when eaten cooked than raw:[2]
If majority eat it cooked: Those fruits and vegetables that most people cook to enhance their taste being that they taste better cooked than raw, are classified as Ha’adama or Haeitz when cooked, and Shehakol when consumed raw.
- Examples of foods eaten cooked and not raw include:
- Potatoes [Ha’adama when consumed cooked, and Shehakol when raw]
- Turnips [Ha’adama when consumed cooked, and Shehakol when raw]
- Beets [Ha’adama when consumed cooked, and Shehakol when raw]
- Eggplants [Ha’adama when consumed cooked, and Shehakol when raw]
- Carrots:[3] In previous times, raw carrots were not eaten raw and hence were classified as Shehakol.[4] However, since it is now common for people to consume raw carrots, their blessing has reverted to Ha’adama.[5]
- Lettuce:[6] In the past, raw lettuce was considered Shehakol and only became Ha’adama when pickled or oiled. Today, all lettuce is classified as Ha’adama.
If majority eat it raw:[7] If most people eat a vegetable raw, its blessing is Ha’adama, even if it tastes better cooked. This applies even if they only eat the fruit or vegetable raw together with bread.
- Onions:[8] Raw onions are Ha’adama because they are commonly eaten raw in salads or breads. Cooked onions are Shehakol since cooking diminishes their taste and consequently their Bracha. See Halacha 16H for the fall details of this subject.
| Food | Raw Blessing | Cooked Blessing | Notes |
| Fruits typically eaten raw (no loss when cooked) | Haeitz | Haeitz | Quality/taste do not diminish when cooked |
| Fruits typically eaten raw (loss when cooked) | Haeitz | Shehakol | Lose flavor when cooked |
| Potatoes | Shehakol | Ha’adama | Eaten cooked, not raw |
| Turnips | Shehakol | Ha’adama | Eaten cooked, not raw |
| Beets | Shehakol | Ha’adama | Eaten cooked, not raw |
| Eggplants | Shehakol | Ha’adama | Eaten cooked, not raw |
| Carrots (past) | Shehakol | Ha’adama | Raw not common in past |
| Carrots (present) | Ha’adama | Ha’adama | Now commonly eaten raw |
| Lettuce (past) | Shehakol | Ha’adama (when pickled/oiled) | Raw lettuce was Shehakol in past |
| Lettuce (present) | Ha’adama | Ha’adama | All lettuce now Ha’adama |
| Onions | Ha’adama | Shehakol | Raw onions commonly eaten, cooked lose taste |
[1] Seder Birchas Hanehnin 6:10-15; Luach 10:22; Admur 202:16; Michaber 202:12; Tosafus Brachos 38b; Ketzos Hashulchan 51:1;
[2] Seder 6:11; Ketzos Hashulchan 51:2; See Ketzos Hashulchan 51:4 [Eating raw legumes]; Ketzos Hashulchan 51:5 [The blessing on roses is Ha’adama]
[3] Background: According to the Shulchan Aruch Admur, raw carrots are classified as Shehakol because historically they were not eaten raw. [Seder 6:11] However, since it is now common for people to consume raw carrots, their blessing has reverted to Ha’adama. [Igros Moshe 1:66].
[4] Seder 6:11
[5] Igros Moshe 1:66
[6] Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:1
[7] Seder 6:12; Ketzos Hashulchan 51:3
[8] Seder 6:12; 205:2-4
