A Common Question. Based on the volume of calls that the STAR-K Kashrus Hotline (410-484-4110) 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 (http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-cooking-ovenshabbos.htm), 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. The truth is that there is no major difference between ovens and warming drawers.
A Serious Problem
What exactly is the problem? When one opens and oven or 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 or warming drawer door, one indirectly will cause the burner or electric element to turn on. This is gram havarah/indirectly causing a fire to be ignited which is prohibited on Shabbos.
Choosing the “Right” Oven or Warming Drawer
The best solution obviously is to get a STAR-K certified oven or warming drawer. (see www.star-k.org for a full list) Otherwise, most warming drawers are thermostatically controlled and would be usable according to the directions below. (Ovens can be more complicated with more features affected by opening and closing of the doors. If you think your oven or prospective oven may meet this criteria without actually being certified, please contact the STAR-K at 410-484-4110 for verification.)
However , If a warming drawer is not controlled by a thermostat one must check with the manufacturer to be sure that by opening the drawer he is not turning off the heating element. If there are multiple temperature settings, these controls must be covered on Shabbos like regular stovetop controls.
Solutions for Shabbos and Yom Tov
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 one does not have any interest in 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 have an interest in the oven going 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. Furthermore, 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.
[TLS via Star K]
Please correct to “not” be usable in the following sentence:
Otherwise, most warming drawers are thermostatically controlled and would be usable according to the directions below.
Alte Lakewooder: are you sure? I think it should say “only be usable” according to the directions below. The way I read the directions, they seem to cover that case (Ie: thermostatically controlled).
Actually, the missing word is “only”.
No, they “would” be usable according to the directions. Dehaynu, you can only open it once and take out all the food.
“If there are multiple temperature settings, these controls must be covered on Shabbos like regular stovetop controls.”
If the food is mevushal k’maichal ben d’rusai, why do you have to cover the controls for Shehiyah?
Or mevushal kol tzorchoi if you want to be machmir. You still shouldn’t have to cover the controls for shehiyah
I always thought that one could remove SOME of the food in an oven if one waits until the heating element is on before opening the door to the oven. That way you are not causing the fire to come on. Is that correct?