6. Stirring a pot of hot food and removing its content:[1]

A. Not fully cooked-May not remove the food while hot:

A pan and pot [of food] which were removed in a hot state from on the fire, if their [content] is not completely cooked one may not remove food with a spoon [See Q&A] being that by doing so one mixes and [helps further the cooking which thus] contains [the] cooking [prohibition] as explained above [in Halacha 10]. [It goes without saying that it is forbidden to mix the food.[2] See Q&A]

 

B. Fully cooked:

If its [content is] fully cooked it is permitted to stir it[3] after taking it off the fire.[4] [However if the food is on the fire, then it is forbidden to do even remove food from it.[5]] [See Q&A]

Other Opinions: There are opinions[6] who are strict regarding [even taking food out[7] of] a pot [of hot food] in all cases [even if the food is fully cooked and off the fire].[8] [Thus according to this opinion one must pour the food out from the Keli Rishon into a different pot.[9]]

The Final Ruling:[10] The main Halachic opinion is like the first opinion [that if the food is fully cooked and off the fire it may be stirred], and one who wants to be stringent should [only] do so regarding actually stirring [the food]. [See Q&A] However regarding taking out the [food] with a spoon one should not be stringent at all if [the food] is fully cooked and is not on the fire. [See Q&A]

Summary: Stirring food that is in a Keli Rishon and is Yad Soledes:[11] Is permitted if all the food in the pot is fully cooked and has been removed from the fire. One who wishes to be stringent to refrain from mixing it even in such a case may do so. When the food is on the fire it is forbidden to be mixed in all cases. Summary: Removing food from a Keli Rishon pot of food that is Yad Soledes:[12] Is forbidden if any of the food is not yet fully cooked. If it is all fully cooked, it is allowed so long as the pot is off the fire[13].   Q&A On Uncooked Foods: Must one suspect that perhaps his food is not fully cooked and therefore not remove food from it until it is placed in a Keli Sheiyni? No. One may follow his normal estimation of time that it takes to cook the food, and if this time has passed then he may assume that it is fully cooked.   What should one do if he already removed the food from the fire and then realized that it is not yet fully cooked?[14] One may not return the pot to the flame or remove the food from it with a spoon. Thus he must either simply wait until the food cools below Yad Soledes and then remove the food from it, or pour the food directly from the pot [without using any utensil] into a second pot[15] and then from that second pot he may remove the content with a spoon.[16] May one remove uncooked food from a hot Keli Sheiyni?[17] Yes [see previous answer] May one remove uncooked food with a fork?[18] If the food desired to be removed is submerged within the food that is in the pot, then it is forbidden according to all. If the food is on the surface of the food in the pot and thus one will not be causing any movement in the food in the pot by removing the food on the surface, the Ketzos Hashulchan[19] rules that nevertheless it is forbidden due to that this may lead one to forget and come to remove food that is submerged. However, Rav Farkash disputes this ruling and holds that in such a scenario it is permitted. If some of the food in the pot is fully cooked, may the fully cooked foods be removed from the pot? No. As doing so will still stir the pot and cause the non-fully cooked food to be cooked faster. May one stir uncooked food that is in a Keli Sheiyni?[20] Yes, with exception to if the food contains a sharp liquid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, in which case it is subject to debate.   Q&A on Cooked food that is on the fire May one stir cooked Yad Soledes water that is on the fire?[21] Some Poskim[22] rule the prohibition of Meigis does not apply to water that is on the fire and it is hence permitted to remove the water and mix it. Other Poskim[23] rule the prohibition of Meigis applies even to water and it is hence forbidden to mix water while it is on the fire. Practically one is to be stringent not to mix the water.[24]   May one remove water from a pot of water that is on the fire?[25] If the water is fully cooked [Yad Soledes] one may do so even using a spoon, as there are opinions which hold that it is allowed to even mix water while it is on the fire. However, if the water is not yet fully cooked it is forbidden to remove any water from it as doing so will hasten its cooking being that there is now less water in the pot. May one stir a food that is on the fire if it has no liquid, such as a piece of Kugel?[26] No. Due to doubt one is to act with regards to mixing solids just like as with liquids.[27] May one remove a piece of Kugel from the pot that is on the fire? Seemingly, based on the above answer, one may not do so.   If the pot has been moved off the fire but is still on the blech may it be mixed or have food taken out from it?[28] If the food is found in an area cannot cook the food, which means that it is unable to bring the food to Yad Soledes, then it is considered to no longer be on the fire. If the area on the Blech is hot enough to cook the food, which is defined as the ability to heat it to Yad Soledes, then it is considered on the fire.[29] Some Poskim[30] are lenient even if it is on such an area so long as it is not very near the fire.    May one tilt the pot while on the Blech and then remove food? This matter requires further analysis.   If the pot of fully cooked food is too heavy to remove from the fire how is one to remove food from it?[31] In such a case one may move the pot to an area of the blech that is not hot enough to heat the food to Yad Soledes if it were to be cold. If this too is not possible there are Poskim[32] which even allow one to remove the food very gently with a spoon taking much care to avoid movement within the pot. Others[33] dispute this ruling and rule it is always forbidden to remove the food from on the fire.   May one pour water of a Keli Rishon onto a pot of cooked food that is on the fire?[34] Yes.[35]  However, it is proper to pour the water in slowly as opposed to a forceful splash.[36] Nevertheless there are opinions which are stringent in this. May one pour water of a Keli Rishon onto a pot of cooked food that is off the fire?[37] According to all opinions this is allowed. When allowed to remove food may one remove food from even the bottom of the pot?[38] Yes this is allowed despite the fact that doing so will consequently mix some of the food in the pot.

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[1] 318:30; Michaber 318:18

[2] M”B 318:114

[3] Admur ibid; Michaber 318:18

[4] Only permitted off the fire: Admur ibid; Kol Bo 31; M”A 318:42; Elya Raba; M”B 318:114; Implication of Michaber here; Igros Moshe 4:74-9

The reason: Some explain this to be due a Rabbinical decree that it appears like one is cooking. [Mamar Mordechai 318:20; Sabbos Kehalacha p. 218] Others explain this is due to a decree that one may come to do so to a food that is not fully cooked. [Tiferes Shmuel 15 brought in Igros Moshe 4:74-9] Others [Kol Bo] explain this to be a Biblical form of cooking, being that they hold that any act which contains “Darkei Habishul” contains the Biblical cooking prohibition. The majority of opinions however hold that it is only Rabbinical, and they are puzzled by those who write that it is Biblical.

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to remove food from the fire if the food is fully cooked. [implication of Beis Yosef brought in M”B 318:113] Some Poskim rule one may be lenient like this opinion in a time of need. [Chazon Ish 37:14; Minchas Yitzchak 5:127]

[5] Admur ibid in his concluding words “However regarding taking out the [food] with a spoon one should not be stringent at all if [the food] is fully cooked and is not on the fire.” M”B ibid in name of Elya Raba

[6] Rama 318:18; Mahariv

[7] M”B 318:117

[8] The reason: Although there is no prohibition of cooking an already cooked food, nevertheless this is done as am extra form of distance so one does not come to mix an uncooked food. [Taz 318:23]

[9] M”B 318:117

[10] Admur ibid; Taz 318:23; M”A 318:44 regarding lentils; M”B 318:117

^[11] Admur 318:30

^[12] Admur 318:30

^[13] Thus, one who wishes to remove food from a pot and then have the remainder remain on the fire must first remove the pot from the fire and then take the food out. [Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 228]

^[14] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 219

^[15] As we only find that removing with a spoon or the like was prohibited. The reason for this is because when pouring out the content it leaves the status of a Keli Rishon.

^[16] As we do not find that mixing is prohibited in a Keli Sheiyni.

^[17] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 220

^[18] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 223

[19] Admur 124:10

^[20] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 220

^[21] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 224; Piskeiy Teshuvos 318:26

[22] Avnei Nezer 59

[23] Ketzos Hashulchan 124:10

[24] Shabbos Kehalacha ibid

^[25] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 224 and 228

^[26] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 225

^[27] The Peri Megadim 253 A”A 32 leaves this question in doubt and thus one should be stringent.

^[28] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 226

^[29] Ketzos Hashulchan 124 footnote 10

[30] Igros Moshe 4:74-11 rules that only if it is actually on the fire or very near the fire, which is an area that it can cook, is it forbidden and so understands Piskeiy Teshuvos 318:26. However see Shabbos Kehalacha ibid which understands also the Igros Moshe to rule that in an area that it can heat the food to Yad Soledes it is forbidden. Vetzaruch Iyun.

^[31] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 229; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 318:26

[32] Chazon Ish 37:14; Minchas Yitzchak 5:127; Az Nidbaru 5:13

[33] Igros Moshe 4:74-9

^[34] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 222-223; See also Piskeiy Teshuvos 253:24; SSH”K 1:16

^[35] So rules Ketzos Hashulchan 124 footnote 10 based on Admur 253 which omits the ruling of the Michaber 253:4, and based on Admur 253 Kuntrus Achron 11.

Other Opinions: The Michaber 253:4 rules one must protest against those that add water to food that is on the fire to prevent it from burning. The Taz and M”A there explain the reason to be because perhaps one of them is not Yad Soledes. However, the Kol Bo explains the reason is because this is considered Meigis and is Biblically forbidden. Admur omitted this entire ruling of the Michaber and hence he certainly does not hold of this ruling of the Kol Bo. [Ketzos Hashulchan ibid]

^[36] So rules Rav SZ”A in SSH”K 1 footnote 42

^[37] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 2220-221

^[38] Igros Moshe ; Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 1 p. 219

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