Utensils Requiring Tevilah Without A Blessing

  1. Utensils made of glazed china, glazed earthenware, bone china, stoneware, corning-ware, porcelain and porcelain enamel (and aluminium - see above) that have direct contact with food during preparation, serving or eating require tevilah - but without a brochah.
  2. Utensils that are made of two or more materials, only one of which would normally require tevilah, and where the material normally requiring tevilah is an integral part of the utensil (and not just a decoration) should be immersed without a brochah. These includeteflon-coated metal frypans or pots; metal cutlery with plastic, wooden or bone handles; plastic or wooden vegetable peelers with metal blades; and other wood or plastic utensils with metal screws that hold them together.
  3. Metal storage utensils used for direct food storage but which remain in the kitchen or pantry, and are not actually used for serving food at the table, require tevilah - but without a brochah. These include metal flour or sugar canisters or biscuit tins. Some authorities alsorequire glass storage utensils to be immersed (without a brochah).
  4. Electrical appliances that come in direct contact with food generally require tevilah with a brochah if made of metal. Such equipment includes electric kettles and urns; sandwich grillers; mixing wands and toasters. Some authorities rule that a toaster requirestevilah but without a brochah. (One need not immerse an entire toaster oven that has a removable rack upon which the food is baked or grilled. Only the removable rack requires tevilah.)
  5. Please note that great care should be taken when immersing electrical items such as electric urns and toasters. Even if the item appears to be dry, water can often remain inside the item that could then cause an extremely dangerous and damaging electrical fault or short circuit. (Immersion inwater will usually void any warrantee on most electrical items.) Various methods have therefore been devised to safely allow immersion or to enable avoiding the need for immersion. Disassembling the item, for example, in a manner that makes it unusable and then having a Jewish person put ittogether again, so that it only becomes a usable utensil again while in the possession of a Jewish person, can exempt the utensil from the requirement of tevilah. If unsure, please discuss the alternatives with your Rav before attempting to immerse electrical equipment.
  6. It is a widespread custom, though not an actual obligation, to immerse, without a brochah, utensils that are made of any material that normally requires tevilah but that only come into contact with raw or inedible food. These include metal utensils such as a meat-tenderisinghammer; dough hook; biscuit cutter; and a rolling pin.