עברית
Holidays
Cooking on Electric Stovetops During Yom Tov
Question
Hello esteemed Rabbi, I wanted to inquire about cooking on electric stovetops during Yom Tov (using a Shabbat timer). Is this permitted? My question arises because of the indicator light on the stove that turns on and off according to the heat level (as well as when increasing or decreasing the heat). If this is prohibited, is there an alternative method of cooking on Yom Tov besides using a "chagaz" ((self-contained) heating element)? Thank you very much.
Answer
Greetings and blessings, It is permitted to use electric stovetops on Yom Tov with a Shabbat timer. In most stovetops, one may not decrease or increase the heat. There are stovetops where it is permitted to adjust the heat, depending on the type of stove. Stovetops that operate with a thermostat allow for changing the heat level; when the indicator light is on, it is permitted to increase the heat, and when the light is off, it is permitted to lower it. For stovetops that change the flame intensity, one must verify whether this changes an electrical circuit or merely increases the current flow. Blessings, Binyamin Shmueli
