Reply To: food in oven on shabbos day??

I was told that even to put something on top of the stove once Shabbos has already started one needs to put something (like an empty pot that has been overturned) on top of the blech and put the food on top of that to avoid it appearing as if you are cooking. I believe the idea is that an unlearned person could look at you while it’s happening and not realize that you are putting it “right next to the fire” as opposed to right over the fire and think that you are cooking whatever you have put there.