Jewish Law
Daily Halacha: Is It Permitted to Crumble a Biscuit into Fine Crumbs?
Learn what’s allowed when crumbling cookies or cutting vegetables on Shabbat, based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Is it permitted to crumble a biscuit into fine crumbs on Shabbat?
Yes. According to halacha, there is no prohibition of tochen, the melacha (forbidden labor) of grinding when dealing with something that was already ground before Shabbat.
For example, if salt or sugar has hardened into a lump in a jar, it is permitted to break it apart and crumble it on Shabbat. The same applies to biscuits or cookies, you may crumble them into fine crumbs, as this does not fall under the category of grinding.
This halacha is brought in Chazon Ovadia.
Is it permitted to cut a salad for later if you don’t plan to eat it immediately?
Halacha allows you to cut vegetables for a salad, even into very small pieces, if you plan to eat it right away. However, if your intention is to save the salad for later, it is not permitted to cut it in this way on Shabbat. The rule of "for immediate use" is an important condition for food preparation on Shabbat.
See Chazon Ovadia.
Can you mash a banana or avocado on Shabbat?
Yes, but again, only if you plan to eat it immediately. Mashing soft fruits like bananas or avocados is allowed as long as it’s done shortly before eating.
This is explained in Chazon Ovadia.
From “Ach Tov VaChesed – Daily Halacha” by Hidabroot
