Food preparation that does not involve cooking, such as preparing salads, is permitted on Shabbat. However, care must still be taken to avoid other Shabbat prohibitions. Some actions are permitted only when performed near the beginning of the meal. Furthermore, on Shabbat it is preferable not to use specialized implements intended for peeling, chopping, or crushing (peeling should be done with a knife, crushing with a fork, etc.).

It is permitted to prepare a salad on Shabbat for the Shabbat meal, but one should avoid using specialized tools such as a slicer or grater, and instead use a regular knife. One may peel and cut fruits and vegetables only for the upcoming meal.

It is permitted to add oil, vinegar, or mayonnaise onto a vegetable salad or a potato salad. It is also permitted to sprinkle salt and other spices on the salad.

It is permitted to squeeze lemon on the salad, but this should be done by hand, not with a juice extractor. The lemon must be squeezed directly onto the salad, not into an empty vessel from which it will be placed on the salad.

There are different opinions as to the permissibility of preparing a tahini dip from unprocessed sesame-seed paste by adding water, lemon juice or vinegar, and other spices. It is recommended to consult a rabbi on this matter.

Instant powdered foods (such as mashed potatoes) and instant noodles, which require only the addition of boiling water for them to be ready to eat, may not be prepared on Shabbat.

One may not squeeze fruit on Shabbat in order to produce juice (but see above with regard to squeezing directly into a salad).

It is prohibited on Shabbat to fold napkins or any other paper in a precise manner, as in origami folding, even if this is done for the purpose of setting the table. Simple rolling or folding, such as a single fold for placement in a napkin holder, is permitted.