Question
Is it allowed for Zakatul-Fitr food to be cooked first before paying it? Some recipients are so poor they are unable to store or cook the raw grain paid to them.
Fatwa
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
A person who is religiously required to pay Zakatul-Fitr has to pay it out according to what is prescribed in religion, which is a Saa' (2,480 grams) of dates or one Saa' of barley. It is confirmed that Ibn ‘Umar said: "The Prophet enjoined the payment of one Saa' (2,480 grams) of dates or one Saa' of barley as Zakatul-Fitr on every Muslim, free or slave, male or female young or old." [Al-Bukhari] So if one wants to be more generous to the needy by giving them Zakatul-Fitr cooked, then there is no harm on him, Inshaa' Allah. However, he has to ask their permission on the matter. If they want to take Zakat [food] before it is cooked, then he has to give it to them uncooked, and if they want it cooked, he can cook it for them.
Allah Knows best.