S0530 - Meleches Shabbos - (Klal 20 Siman 9) - Bishul - 33 - Stirring - 4

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Bishul 33 - Stirring 4 (Klal 20 Siman 9) S0530

We have finished siman 9, where the Chayei Adam discussed hagasah and kiruv bishul. Another scenario in which hagasah comes up is adding water to a container of food. For example, one leaves a food such as a cholent on the fire from before Shabbos, and it begins to dry out. Assuming they plan to add hot water (so there is no issue of bishul on the water), there is still an issue with the hot water mixing into the food and causing it to move around within the pot. The Beis Yosef quotes from the Kol Bo that this is assur due to the concern of hagasah. Based on what we have learned, that the concern of hagasah does not apply when a fully cooked food is off of the fire, one could move the pot off of the fire and then add the water. Additionally, if one did not intend to perform hagasah (but just to prevent the food from drying out), there is even more of an argument that it is muttar, and one does not need to be machmir. It is important to remember that this leniency will only apply when the food is fully cooked.
In truth, the above arguments should apply even if this food item was still on the fire. However, since the person adding the hot water is happy for it to mix into the food, there is an argument that it is considered mechavein (something they intend). Therefore, one should remove the pot from the fire before adding water.

Actively mixing hot water into a food may be a problem even when the food is fully cooked. When the Rambam writes about the issur of hagasah, he explains that it approximates the bishul process. Arguably, adding hot water is part of the needs for the bishul process, so it should be problematic. However, most poskim assume that it is muttar to add the hot water as long as it is off of the fire.

If one cannot remove the pot from the fire, such as where it would be impossible to perform chazarah, taking the fully-cooked pot off of the fire just to add hot water would not allow for it to be replaced. The Chazon Ish writes that one can be meikil to add in the water while it remains on the fire. Since the intention is not to perform hagasah, one can be meikil, as we learned above.
Regarding chazarah, the Chazon Ish holds that a flat blech is not sufficient, but rather the blech needs to be raised up a little in order to minimize the heat of the fire. If so, the Chazon Ish writes that since, according to him, the average blech will not allow for chazarah, one can add water while it is directly on the fire.

Thus, practically, the most appropriate course of action is to remove the food from the fire before adding hot water. If one is unable to remove it, or will be unable to replace it, they can rely on the Chazon Ish.

When one is directly pouring onto the food from an urn while the pot is on the fire, one needs to be careful that the steam from the pot does not rise into the walls of the urn, as it will make the urn fleishing. One should be careful to pour from a distance.

In regards to pouring from the urn into a cup, and then from the cup into the cholent, meikar hadin it is muttar. However, there is an argument that it may be problematic due to shehiya and chazarah, which we will revisit when we reach those halachos, be’ezras Hashem.

Summary
Technically, adding water to a pot which is on the fire will be muttar if the water is hot, the food is fully cooked, and they do not intend to perform hagasah. Practically, in most scenarios, as the stirring is beneficial for the food, one should preferably remove it from the fire before adding the hot water.
If one is unable to remove the pot, or will be unable to return the pot, they can add water while the pot is directly on the fire.
When pouring directly from an urn into the pot, one should be careful that the steam of the pot not make the urn fleishig.
One may pour the water into a cup and then add that water to the cholent.