What Does 'Sabbath Mode' Do On Your Oven Or Fridge?

If you've ever scrolled through your oven or fridge settings and spotted something called "Sabbath mode," you might have wondered what this actually does. The name itself doesn't give anything away, and it's not just another high-tech feature. In fact, it serves a very specific purpose for Jewish individuals and others who practice Judaism and observe the Sabbath. 

Based on the principles of Judaism, certain activities, including turning appliances on and off, adjusting temperatures, or triggering automatic lights, are considered work and should be avoided on the Sabbath and other holy days. Obviously, modern life makes complete abstinence from these conveniences a challenge, which is why Sabbath mode is so useful.

This setting helps observant Jewish families use their ovens and refrigerators without directly engaging with any electronic controls. It modifies how these appliances function, making sure they stay on without responding to user input in ways that would violate the tradition of keeping the Sabbath a day of rest.

Even though Sabbath mode was designed with religious activities in mind, some people have found other uses for it, like keeping the oven on longer without automatic shut-offs or preventing a fridge from cycling frequently. Here are the ins and outs of using Sabbath mode. This setting can make it easier to stick to a regimen and observe customs in a time when things rarely slow down.

Many modern ovens, likely including AI ovens, have Sabbath mode as a feature to help users keep food warm without breaking any rules of observance. When you activate Sabbath mode, it overrides the oven's usual settings. This means the oven typically goes into bake mode, and it'll stay on for an extended period, typically more than 12 hours, without shutting off automatically during that time. It also silences all those beeps, buzzes, and lights that sometimes start up when you open the oven door, so you're not accidentally engaging with any electrical mechanisms. 

Cleaning cycles (do people even use that feature?), turning the temp up or down, automatic lights — all that stuff is disabled once you put the device into Sabbath mode. This means you must put the oven on your desired settings before you turn the Sabbath feature on. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until it deactivates to use the oven's normal functions again. This means leaving the oven in bake mode if you want to heat up food during the day and leaving the oven light switched on if you want to see your food. Different oven brands have unique spins on Sabbath mode, but the goal is the same: to let you utilize the functions of your oven in a way that minimizes interaction and that aligns with your faith.

Refrigerators work a little differently, but Sabbath mode still enables the user to bypass direct interaction with the appliance. Normally, when you open your fridge, the interior light turns on, and the cooling system kicks in to compensate for the changing temperature. However, this automatic function is considered an issue for those observing the Sabbath, as it involves indirect activation of electricity. Sabbath mode prevents these reactions by keeping the light off and stopping the compressor from immediately turning on when the door is opened.

With this mode enabled, you can still prepare your food the day before and safely stick your leftovers in the fridge. The device continues running at a steady, pre-set temperature, but it won't make automatic adjustments. Some models even disable the water and ice dispensers and control panels, further ensuring that no unintended electrical activity occurs. Sabbath mode also has some surprisingly practical uses outside of religious tradition. 

Since it keeps appliances from switching off, the setting is great for slow cooking or just keeping your food warm for hours on end. It's also nice if you're someone who gets annoyed by all the bells and whistles on your fridge. If you live somewhere with frequent power outages, Sabbath mode also prevents your oven or fridge from resetting unexpectedly. Obviously, you wouldn't just leave your appliance in this setting indefinitely, but there clearly are other ways that you could use it beyond religious practices.