Tasting Food While Cooking During Ramadan

Ramadan Question: Tasting Food When Cooking While Fasting

Many Muslims ask this question, particularly those who are tasked with preparing food for one's entire fasting family. This is true particularly for the women - mothers, sisters, daughters - who frequently cook meals for the breaking of the fast, as well as meals taken before the start of the fast.

One of the problems faced when cooking while you are fasting is that unless you taste the food, it can be hard to gauge if you have added enough salt, pepper, or not too much spices or chilli that might require diluting the dish somewhat.

Many women who cook while fasting try not to taste the food because they are so worried that their fast might be broken if their tongue touches the food. As such , many opt to cook without tasting.

However, it has been ruled by Islamic scholars that tasting food (as opposed to eating food) is allowed so long there is a necessity for it. And the food should only be put on the tip of the tongue. The food should not enter the throat, nor should it be swallowed, and after tasting the food should be spat out.

Of course, the intention behind this act of tasting food when cooking while doing the fast is primary - it goes without saying that this should not be done just because one is hungry!

Hadith Bukhari, Chapter 25 states:
Ibn Abbas said, "There is no harm in tasting the food of the pots or other meals."

 Is a Person Cooking Allowed to Taste Food While Fasting?

 By Dr. Zakir Naik