Based on the volume of calls that the STAR-K Kashrus Hotline has received about warming drawers, it appears that many consumers are unaware of how to properly use a warming drawer on Shabbos. As mentioned on the STAR-K website, one may not put food into a warming drawer on Shabbos. Apparently, the term “warming drawer”, a misnomer, is misleading consumers into thinking that they can warm up their food in it on Shabbos.
What exactly is the problem? When one opens the warming drawer, one is letting cool air into the drawer. A thermostat will sense the loss of heat and make up for this loss by turning the heating element back on. Similarly when one opens the oven door, one indirectly will cause the burner or electric element to turn on. This is gram havarah which is prohibited.
If one leaves food in a warming drawer or oven and wishes to open either of them one time to remove all of the contents, this may be done. This is because normally one does not want the element or burner to go back on if the oven or warming drawer is empty. However if one leaves food in the oven after the door or warming drawer has been opened, they obviously want the oven to go back on. This is prohibited. It follows therefore that if one accidentally opens the oven door or warming drawer, they must remove all remaining food. Therefore, the oven door or warming drawer cannot be opened to check on the food. If the door or drawer was accidentally opened and closed and no food was removed, the food is still permitted to be eaten provided that it was completely cooked before Shabbos.
In conclusion, it is crucial to understand that the same halachos that apply to using an oven on Shabbos, apply to warming drawers. Just like you wouldn’t put food into an oven to warm up on Shabbos, you cannot put food in a warming drawer on Shabbos. And, similarly, as with ovens, you must also cover your warming drawer controls if you are leaving it on over Shabbos, and not change the setting.
(Margie Pensak – YWN)
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12 Responses
I don’t believe that this article appropriately surveys the various opinions related to the use of warming drawers on Shabbos. There are important Poskim who allow the use of warming drawers. Moreover, the halacha regarding opening an oven on Shabbos is not as clear cut as presented – while the Star-K is of the opinion recorded in the article, other Poskim disagree. Additionally, there are various types of warming drawers that reach different temperatures, which is an additional factor not considered by the author. It should probably be clarified that the above is the Star-K opinion only.
Wouldn’t it be best to have one that operated on a timer, and set the timer to turn the device off when it was needed (typically about 60 minutes after one’s shul usually finishes daven on Shabbos morning). Using a “warming drawer” designed by goyim for a totally different application is inherently a problem.
Warming drawer is a misnomer.
SHABBOS MODE IS A BIGGER MISNOMER!
#1
When you disagree with a halachic psak on a website you should be prepared to name names.
Frankly I’ve never heard a different opinion on this matter. Its pashut that it is no different than an oven!
Star-K is very familiar with this topic as they are the ones that created the “Shabbos oven”.
This article is completely wrong.
It is assur because it is bishul, irrespective of if you cause the element to turn on and off or not.
1.they do not say you can’t use a warming drawer they say it has the same halachos as an oven.
2. The fact that the burner goes back on and it is an issue is because it is bishul…which is why you can open but have to take ALL THe food out.
So please leave your personal uneducated psaks to yourselves. This was written and stated obviously by the stark anyone who wants to ask another opinion can do so but will likely get the same answer.
Popa, there is an issue with turning on electricity on shabbos. The writer is referring to a situation where Its mitztameik vra lo etc. Especially here that the oven doesn’t get hot enough to bake. There is still the issue with turning on the oven. This is the issue the article is discussing.
Now, this issue pertains to refrigerators alike. Now I know many litvishe are against this. Is this the iissue tgis article is discussing? A fridge also has a thermostat which feels the warm air in this case enter the fridge and turns on the compressor.
If this is the issue, I think there are many poskim that do permit this. I won’t name any so everyone does their own homework and asks there respective posek rather than rely on my word.
Joe,
A fridge is not as bad as an oven since the oven has a doraysa fire.
One nice thing about warming drawers is that they don’t have (or need) a light, since one gets enough light from the kitchen itself to see the contents when the drawer is opened. That’s one less Shabbos/Yom Tov issue to worry about.
Koshervyosher,
You are correct according to many poskim. Yet there are others which consider electricity eish as well. Now this fridge is obviously not bishul,,,, however from the turning on and off the elements (which happen by opening the oven, the same happens by a fridge.
Bottom line, ask your posek.
The issue is not bishul, or opheh. The problem is the same as that of an oven. Hatmana, insulating. Bottom line, ask your Rav for guidance, and follow it carefully.
So, where are the diploma-ed engineers from the infamous Star-K on this fiasco. Ask your Rav for guidance and he might tell you never to turn this gizmo on again. People, there are things called ‘plataz’ and there are explicit Halachot written out and shiurim given on what can and what cannot go onto a plata. Since 95% of the readers here are Ashkenazim, you are presented with quite a number of problems dealing with bishul here. Is the unit run by gas or electric so you have to be concerned that there will be temperature changes that will take place when putting items that have been stored in the refrigerator over night as there is liquid in them, on them and around them. Cooked vegetable absorb liquids and exude them when warmed. Carry on people.