Barbeque Grills on Yom Tov
Question: Can I cook food on the barbeque grill on Yom Tov?
Discussion: Cooking on a barbeque grill is actually more similar to the way of cooking in the times of the Gemara, and definitely permitted on Yom Tov. However, there are some Yom Tov restrictions that still apply:51
General Directives
It is, of course, prohibited to strike a match or use a starter (even if it does not use electricity); fire must be obtained from a pre-existing flame (see above regarding the ways in which it is permitted to light a match from a pre-existing flame).
It is permitted to extinguish a fire on Yom Tov if this is done in order for the food to cook properly. Therefore, it is of no concern that fats drip onto the coals and extinguish them a bit on contact. Similarly, if the heat is too high for cooking and one wishes to extinguish some of the fire in order for the food to cook at a lower temperature, doing so would be permitted.52 However, one is not allowed to extinguish the fire just because he is done cooking and no longer needs the flame.53
If one is using an electric grill, one must make sure that he is not automatically turning on the electricity at any point, as this would be prohibited on Yom Tov.
A charcoal grill
One may use lighter fluid, or blow the kindling briquettes, in order to get them to burn better.
Sometimes the bag of coals has a special perforation for opening the bag, and one should not rip the bag at this perforation on Yom Tov.54
After the fire is extinguished, the ash that remains is muktzeh.55
When using coals, some people arrange them in the shape of a pyramid before lighting them. This should not be done on Yom Tov.56
A gas grill
One may open the gas nozzle if it was closed, but one may not attach a new gas balloon.57
An electric grill
One may put an electric grill on a timer and use it when it goes on.
51 See Kuntreis Tzli Eish (Revach) for a brief overview of the halachos of a barbeque grill on Yom Tov.
52 In this case, making a new fire is almost always not practical, since it takes such a long time until a grill is ready for cooking.
53 Practically, this means that using a gas grill on Yom Tov would result in wasting a lot of gas.
54 See Orchos Shabbos 11:40.
55 Shulchan Aruch, Chapter 498, Passage 15, and Mishnah Berurah, note 77 ad loc.
56 See Chapter 502, Passage 1.
57 See Chut Shani, p. 119. However, if one was using a gas grill, and the gas ran out before the food was finished cooking, he may attach another gas balloon on Yom Tov (based on Chapter 495, Passage 1, and Rema to Chapter 509, Passage 2). This is permitted even if it would be necessary to use a wrench.