Beating Egg Whites on Shabbos

Is one allowed to beat egg whites until they are stiff on Shabbos?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

The rabbis instituted a ban on beating raw eggs on Shabbos, known as “tiruf beitzim.” This was due to the concern the beating eggs appears to be the preparation to cook them.

As such, a recurring and popular Shabbat question is whether it is permissible to make mayonnaise on Shabbat. Since making mayonnaise requires beating eggs, it should not be made on Shabbat. This is similar to all cooking relating issues that must be taken care of before Shabbat.

That being said, it is interesting to note although foods that are generally not edible raw and must be cooked in order to consume them are generally muktza on Shabbos, raw eggs are an exception to this rule and are not muktza. We see this from a number of rulings relating to eggs. For example, we are told that eggs that a chicken was sitting on may be moved. So too, it is permitted to cook a raw egg in direct sunlight on Shabbat. Indeed, it is permitted to cook anything in the heat of the sun on Shabbat, a concept known as “bishul b’chama.” The rabbis allowed it on Shabbat because it is a very odd way of cooking.(Although it is forbidden on a hot surface that was heated from the sun like a car roof, since this is called Toldah de'chamah which is forbidden). There is also discussion in halacha about eating a raw egg on Shabbat in order to improve one’s voice. Hence, it is clear that, although useless to most people, raw eggs are ultimately not muktza.

Shabbat 109 with Rashi, OC 310:2, 318:3, Mishna Berura 321:68; Aruch Hashulchan 321:43.