Peeled Eggs, Onions and Garlic Left Overnight

Peel eggs, onions or garlic, use some, keep the rest for tomorrow. One of the most ordinary things in a kitchen — and a genuine question, on which the poskim divide more evenly than most.

Where it comes from

The Gemara states that one may not eat peeled eggs, onions or garlic left overnight, because a ruach ra'ah — a spirit of impurity — rests upon them. The language is severe: the food is described as dangerous, and one who eats it as culpable for his own life.

Three specific foods, peeled and left. Not a general rule about leftovers.

The case for leniency

Several authorities hold this no longer applies, and the argument is more substantial than "times have changed".

Tosfos states that certain forms of ruach ra'ah do not descend in these countries. From that one may infer a principle: we need not be concerned about any particular form unless there is a tradition that it remains prevalent. On that reading, the burden runs the other way.

Supporting this is an argument from silence — the Shulchan Aruch lists various dangerous activities from the Gemara and does not include this one.

Minchas Yitzchok examines the question and concludes there is a basis for those who are lenient.

The case for stringency

The majority of poskim hold the Gemara's directive still applies. They address the Shulchan Aruch's silence without resolving it, and argue:

• One needs absolute proof that a form of ruach ra'ah no longer exists before setting aside a clear directive of the Gemara. Absence of evidence is not enough.
• We do in fact have a tradition that this form persists, since both Tosfos and the Rosh mention it, and the custom has always been to be careful.
• The source relied on for leniency says only that perhaps this ruach ra'ah no longer exists — it is not asserted with certainty.

Where that leaves practice

This is the part worth knowing, because two leading contemporary authorities landed differently.

Rav Belsky held that one should follow the stricter opinion.

Rav Schachter held that in the United States it is generally accepted to follow the lenient opinion.

Both are stated positions of serious poskim. If your practice is to be careful, you are in good company; if your family has never been careful, you are also in good company. This is a case where "what does your rav hold" is the actual answer rather than a deflection.

One point of agreement is worth noting: even taking the lenient view, a certified caterer or restaurant should not leave peeled eggs and the like overnight — because some of their customers will certainly be stringent, and they have to serve them too. Where you are cooking for others, the stricter practice is the one that works.

Refrigeration is new

A useful observation on the objection that plenty of observant households never worried about this. For most of history it was not practical to keep peeled eggs or cut onions overnight at all, so the question rarely arose. The absence of a widespread practice reflects the absence of fridges more than a ruling.

What your household should do is a question for your rav.