Is putting food in the freezer on Shabbos a machloket?

Question

What is the Halacha if one wanted to put food in the freezer that could be used for a later date? Would this be considered Hachana for after Shabbos? Would this be considered a machloket, since usually one would be allowed to put food in the freezer but if they say that they are planning on using it for a later time then it would not be allowed. So overall I want to know if putting food in the freezer would be considered a machloket if it is allowed or not. Thanks!

Answer 1

This is a machlokes . From the Sefer Bnei Avraham.

For the stringent opinions would include the Sefer Sharei Yosher 2:55:9,Rivevos Ephraim ,Teshuvos Vhanagos 1:227,Rav Shlomo Miller (holds since it changes into a harder thing it's hachana- Magen Avraham 321:7).

Lenient opinions ,Maharshag siman 61 ( If there will be a loss then it isn't hachana, rather hatzalah. Minchas Yitzchak 8:24 bases off this Maharshag. Yalkut Yosef 2:hachana:22,Olas Yitzchak 1:57. AzNidabru 12:31.

With regards to an issue of nolad with putting soup in freezer would also be machlokes ,some would be stringent while other would be meikel.

Answer 2

If one puts liquid into a freezer (putting solid in the freezer is permitted as there is no Nolad -New substance)for a time that will cause the liquid to freeze inorder to benefit on shabbos, this is a Machlokes whether considdered a Melacha derabanan or not.

The Mishna brura Orach Chaim 320,9 33 gives 2 diferent reasons why השלג והברד אין מרסקין אותם melting ice with ones hands into liquid is prohibitted:
1. דדמי למלאכה שבורא המים הללו ואסור מדרבנן - He is "creating" water Nolad which is prohibited Miderabanan
2. א"נ גזירה שמא יסחוט פירות העומדין למשקין: - Alternatively we make a decree of Pressing ice in case he will press fruit juice which is prohibited as a derivative Melacha of Dosh -Threshing

So if the reason why melting ice is forbidden is because of creating a knew substance, one cannot put liquid in the freezer as a solid is created. This is the opinion of Rashi Shabbos 51b and the Tur Orach chaim 320.

But if there is only a prohibition of pressing solids to make liquids come out i.e it looks like Dosh, it would be permitted to make liquids into solids as this is not dash. Indeed the Magen avraham cites the Magid Mishna Ramban and Ran who do forbid changing a solid into liquid actively because of dash. This only applies when one cna see the water coming out of the ice, however if one presses ice in a cup of water where one cannot see the water come out or melting in the sun or other passive methods it would be ok as this does not look like Threshing.

The Mishna Brura concludes that Nolad is forbidden based on the Rena:

ולדעת רמ"א בסימן שי"ח סט"ז בהג"ה גם הכא יש להחמיר דאף דנימוח מאליו אסור משום נולד