Ask the Rabbi
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Food Preparation and Usage
- Cooking and Heating
Question
Dear Rabbi Shvat,
I have got an oven with a special Shabat mode, that works without the fans, lights etc. The oven is set on Shabat mode before Shabat and switches off automatically 25 hours later. I cover the racks with aluminium foil so that they look like a blech. The oven keeps the food much better than a blech because there is gentle heat all around the pots.
I put everything into the oven before Shabat and only take out what is needed. There is no need to re-heat any food.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Jessica
Answer
Thank you for your question and interest.
Firstly, please check in the manufacturer's booklet whether the “Shabbat mode” also neutralizes the thermostat. If the thermostat is neutralized, and you place the food inside before Shabbat, than you can open and close again and again, removing the food as desired throughout Shabbat. But if the thermostat is not neutralized, then many rabbis allow you to take out all of the food at one time, but in this case you can’t leave some of the food inside to be taken out later (for when one opens the oven and cold air comes in, it immediately activates the heating element to keep the temperature constant, and this is prohibited if you benefit from that heat regarding the food which you left inside the oven).
In addition, you should cover or tape the buttons or knobs which are used to activate the electricity of the oven, so that you don’t forget and by habit, accidentally change the settings.
With blessings to enjoy a beautiful and restful Shabbat!
Rabbi Ari Shvat

Cooking on Shabbat
Various Rabbis | Shevat 4, 5768

Coffee "Brewing" on Shabbat
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 12 Adar I 5763
Warm water on shabbat
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 19, 5770

Coffee "Brewing" on Shabbat
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 5, 5773

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Delaying aliya for career and studies
Adar II 25, 5771

Writing a Torah Scroll in English
Adar II 25, 5771

Fasting or giving Tzedaka on seeing Sefer Torah fallen
Shevat 7, 5771



