Sheia and chazara
Question
Please explain Sheia and chazara in regards to a chulent pot please?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
The term “shehiya” refers to the ban on leaving certain types of foods cooking on an open or uncovered fire. This is why a fire or cooking surface is covered in religious homes on Shabbat. When a fire is covered (a tin covered is usually used for this purpose) there are no restrictions on leaving foods on the fire, one can leave raw, partially cooked or fully cooked foods. If the fire is left uncovered for Shabat, there are some restrictions as to what kinds of foods can be left on the fire. The principle of shiya was enacted in order to ensure that one would not be tempted to stoke the fire which would be a severe violation of Shabbat
The term “chazara” refers to the ban on returning cooked foods to the fire once one has removed them unless several conditions are met. As a general rule, Le'chatchilah in order to return food to a fire once it has been removed the following conditions must be met: the fire one is returning it to is covered, the food is fully cooked, the food is still warm (Sefardim require it to still be hot "Yad Soledet bo"), one did not let go of the pot for the entire time it was off the fire, and one had intended to return it to the fire before removing it (according to the Sefardi custom as long as one didn't place the pot on the floor, then one may return the pot even if he let go of it and did not intend to return it, as long as the other conditions are kept). The principle of chazara was enacted to ensure that one does not appear to be cooking as well as the concern, like shehiya, that one might be tempted to stoke the fire.
It is worth noting that in your case of cooking a cholent, if raw meat is placed in the cholent shortly before Shabbat, there is no true need to cover the fire. This is a special dispensation known as “kedeira chaysa” the dispensation of “raw meat.” Since one only intends to eat such food the next day there is no concern than one might come to stoke the fire.
Source
OC 253