Jewish Law
Daily Halacha: Grating vs. Cutting Vegetables
Learn the halachic guidelines for cutting or grating vegetables on Shabbat, based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Is it allowed to grate a carrot using a grater on Shabbat, even if it's for immediate use?
No. According to halacha, it is forbidden to grate vegetables like carrots using a grater, even if you plan to eat them right away. This action falls under the category of tochen, the melacha (forbidden labor) of grinding, which applies even to food when it is processed into very small pieces using a tool like a grater.
This is based on Shulchan Aruch.
Can vegetables be cut into large pieces on Shabbat for later use?
Yes. It is permitted to cut fruits or vegetables into large pieces, even if you don’t plan to eat them until much later. In this case, the concern of grinding does not apply, because the pieces are still considered large.
A general rule is that any piece that is too big to swallow whole is considered a large piece, and cutting it this way is not considered grinding. So as long as you're not finely chopping or using a grater, you're allowed to prepare vegetables like this for future use on Shabbat.
From “Ach Tov VaChesed – Daily Halacha” by Hidabroot
