- Utensils made solely of wood, natural stone, bone, ivory, non-glazed earthenware (dull finish), styrofoam, cardboard, and paper, even if used directly with food, do not require tevilah.
- Most authorities rule that utensils made of plastic and other similar synthetic materials such as melmac, do not require tevilah. However, a few authorities claim that certain plastics are able to be reheated and reshaped and that plastic should therefore be considered in the same ategory as metal and therefore require tevilah - but without a brochah. If in doubt, consult with your own Rav as to the custom practiced in your particular community regarding plastic utensils.
- Disposable pans and containers, even if made of materials normally requiring tevilah, such as aluminium, do not require tevilah if they are normally thrown away after initial use. Some authorities extend this exemption to include disposable aluminium containers even if they may be sed two or three times before being disposed of. All agree that if they are to be used on a more permanent basis they require tevilah even before the first use.
- Utensils made of material that would normally require tevilah but which are not used in direct contact with food do not require tevilah. These include can openers; cork screws; the metal shell of a crock pot; oven racks used solely to support baking pans (and not directly used with ood); Shabbos blechs; and serving trays generally used only for food on plates or for transporting other non-food items (metal or glass trays upon which actual food is regularly placed require tevilah with a brochah).
- Utensils, such as utility knives, not normally used for food do not require tevilah even if occasionally used for food.
- Vegetable racks and refrigerator shelves, even if food may touch them directly, do not require tevilah. Oven racks generally used for food that are contained in baking pans or other utensils also do not require tevilah.
Food purchased in containers that normally equire tevilah may be eaten directly out of these containers without tevilah being required. - Glass and plastic containers (such as coffee or jam jars) purchased with food may be re-used, when empty, without tevilah. Metal containers, such as cans and tins, that are purchased with food in them and that are opened with a can opener and technically made usable only by the onsumer, according to most authorities, may also be re-used without tevilah after they are empty. Other authorities, however, rule that ready-made metal containers even if purchased with food in them (such as tins of biscuits that have hinged or removable lids) should not be reused after they re empty until they are immersed (without a brochah).
- There are authorities that rule that eating utensils that normally require tevilah that are used in commercial venues such as restaurants or catering establishments (i.e. where the food being served on them is purchased from the Jewish owner of the establishment) may be used even f such utensils have not been immersed.
