DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 886 KB)
Peeling Garlic, Onions, Bananas, Hard Boiled Eggs, Oranges, Grapefruits, Mango, Apples, Cucumbers, Carrots, Chicken with Skin on Shabbat

The Rema (321) rules that one may only peel onions and garlic immediately prior to the meal. Since the peel is inedible, removing it presents an issue of Borer. Although generally, the good must be removed from the bad, in this case it is permissible to remove the waste prior to the meal, since there is no other way to access the food inside. Peeling under such conditions constitutes "Derech Achila"-the normal way to eat. However, a woman may not peel the onion or garlic on Shabbat morning in preparation for lunch which will take place after one half hour.

Similarly, bananas may only be peeled immediately prior to consumption or the meal. Therefore, a woman may not prepare a fruit salad with bananas early Shabbat morning for lunch. The same is true regarding peeling hard boiled eggs and citrus fruit. However, peeling fruits, such as mangos and apples, in which some of the flesh of the fruit is also removed with the peel, does not constitute Borer, since Ochel (food) is also removed from the Ochel.

The Poskim discuss whether one may peel carrots and cucumbers, as their peel is edible. Some hold that Borer does not apply, and they may be peeled in advance of the meal. Nevertheless, it is preferable to peel them immediately prior to the meal, since, in any event, he is rejecting the edible peel, and therefore it has a status of P’solet (waste).

Hacham Ovadia, in Hazon Ovadia, only permits pulling skin off the chicken during the meal. Even though he is removing the P’solet from the Ochel, it is permitted, since that is "Derech Achila"-there is no other way to access the food.

It is incumbent on whoever prepares the food on Shabbat to be familiar with these Halachot in order to avoid, Chas V’Shalom, the Issur D’oraita (Torah prohibition) of Borer.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Using a Peeler on Shabbat
Drinking From the Kiddush Cup
Adding Water to a Pot of Hot Food on Shabbat
May One Transfer Food From One Hotplate to Another on Shabbat?
Is it Permissible to Smear Butter or Other Foods on Shabbat?
Snapping One’s Fingers on Shabbat
Making Up a Missed Tefila on Rosh Hodesh and Shabbat
Halachot Regarding the Kiddush Cup and How to Hold the Cup During Kiddush
Preparing for Kiddush
The Procedure for Reciting Kiddush and Drinking the Wine
Adding Salt or Spices to a Pot of Food on Shabbat
If One Did Not Recite Kiddush on Friday Night
Customs for When One Arrives Home From the Synagogue on Friday Night
Situations Where Food Cooked on Shabbat is Permissible
Spraying Perfume or Deodorant on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found