Weekly Halacha Discussion
Vegetable, Fruit and Fish Salads 2 of 2
Preparing Fresh Fruit Salad
Continued from last week...
Even when fruits are peeled for immediate use, it is forbidden to use a peeler. Some poskim hold that, regarding fruits whose peel is sometimes eaten – such as apples and pears – they may be peeled at any time and even with a peeler. Other poskim, however, forbid it. But regarding fruits that are almost always eaten with their peel – such as grapes and peaches – they may be peeled at any time and even with a peeler.
Some fruits have letters or words stamped on the peel, so one should be careful not to destroy the lettering while peeling the fruit.
Before placing pieces of watermelon or cantaloupe in the salad, one may shake them vigorously, thus allowing the seeds to fall away.
Stems should be removed, preferably immediately before mealtime, not earlier. Some authorities say that it is best to remove a stem by holding it with one hand and pulling the fruit with the other hand.
Cutting fruit into large pieces is permitted. Cutting fruit into very small pieces, follows the same guidelines as dicing vegetables, as discussed last week, at the beginning of this Discussion. Some poskim advise against using utensils that are designed for cutting fruits into shapes, e.g., melon ballers. Others, however, are not particular about cutting fruits into simple shapes.
It is permitted to mash a banana (when preparing it for a child or an older person) using the handle of a knife, spoon, or fork. If doing so is impractical, the banana may be mashed in the normal manner, but only immediately before being served.
Preparing Tuna Fish Salad, Potato Salad, or Chopped Liver
Excess oil or water may be squeezed out of the tuna can, immediately before mealtime. Tuna or liver may be mashed in the usual manner. If eggs are added, they may be mashed in the usual manner. The eggs must be peeled immediately before mealtime, as explained in the Discussion on Egg and Onions in Korach & Chukas-Balak. (17 & 24 June /01 July 2023).
If diced vegetables are added, see the beginning of this Chapter for instructions as to how to dice vegetables on Shabbos. If mayonnaise is added, it should be mixed with a shinui, as explained earlier in the Discussion for Korach & Chukas-Balak. (17 & 24 June /01 July 2023) in regard to eggs and onions.
Nowadays, since refrigeration is widely available, it is strongly recommended to prepare these foods before Shabbos, whenever possible. Soft, well-cooked potatoes may be mashed in the regular manner. If they are not completely cooked, it is preferable to use a shinui when mashing them.
On Shabbos, it is permitted to mix...
- Horseradish (in beet juice) with mayonnaise or ketchup.
- Cottage cheese with sour cream.
- Cinnamon with rice or sugar.
- Jam (Jelly in the US) or honey with sour cream or yogurt.
- Ketchup with chopped liver that is already mixed with mayonnaise.
- Mayonnaise with large pieces of potatoes. Or blueberries into yogurt.
- A banana or avocado in its own juice.
- A medicine tablet in water.
Kneading is not a concern when dipping bread in warm soup, or baked goods into warm tea or coffee.
