The misvah of tevilah – dipping one's dishes and utensils in a mikveh (not to be confused with Koshering…) – applies specifically to utensils that were previously owned by a non-Jew and are made from metal or glass. If such an item is intended for use with food, it must be immersed in a mikveh before it can be used.
Do all food utensils need to be dipped?
Generally, any utensil that comes in contact with food requires tevilah – dipping in the mikveh. This applies equally to items used to prepare food, such as pots and pans, and to utensils used when eating, such as cutlery, plates, and cups. Even a simple metal water bottle used only for drinking water needs to be dipped.
Before dipping any of these items, one should recite the beracha of "al tevilat keli" for a single item, or "al tevilat kelim" when dipping multiple items.
Storage containers that are not used for the actual cooking or preparation of food should also be dipped. However, since some opinions do not require these to be dipped, a beracha is not recited.
What if I always use my tray covered with parchment paper?
Even if the utensil is always separated from the food by a liner, such as a tray used with parchment paper, it still requires tevilah. However, if the food is held in a separate utensil entirely – for example, oven racks where the food is kept in pans – tevilah is not required.
Furthermore, a utensil used to service the packaging rather than the food itself does not require tevilah either. For example, a corkscrew or can opener is used only to open the container, and not to handle the food. Even if the can opener comes in contact with the food, it is merely incidental to its actual job of opening the can.
What about utensils used with raw food?
It is questionable if tevilah is required for items used with foods that are not yet edible, such as chicken scissors used for raw chicken or a coffee grinder used for coffee beans. According to some opinions, this question also extends to utensils primarily used with non-edible food and only occasionally with edible food. An example of this is a peeler used primarily for potatoes, which are not eaten raw, and only occasionally for carrots or cucumbers. Preferably, these items should be dipped, but without a beracha.
Do ceramic and porcelain dishes require tevilah?
The requirement to dip utensils applies only to those made from metal or glass[1], and not to those made from wood, plastic, stone, or earthenware. However, items made from a material that does not require tevilah, but are coated with metal or glass, still require tevilah.
Ceramic and porcelain dishes are finished with a smooth glaze, which is essentially a very thin layer of glass. Although some say that since it is merely a glaze, it does not need to be dipped, the custom is to require tevilah without a beracha.
Does a crockpot require tevilah?
When dipping a pot, the cover needs to be dipped as well. For a crockpot, the glass lid requires tevilah with a beracha, while the pot, if ceramic, has a questionable requirement (as discussed above). Therefore, the lid should be dipped first to accommodate the beracha, followed by the pot itself. The outer base containing the heating element does not need to be dipped.
Does a pot or pan with a non-stick coating require tevilah?
Since the actual utensil is made of metal, it requires tevilah. Whether or not to recite a beracha depends on what the non-stick material is made from. If it is Teflon-coated or ceramic-coated, no beracha is recited. However, if it is coated with enamel or porcelain enamel (which are essentially glass), a beracha is recited.
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Does a plastic ladle with a metal handle need to be dipped?
When a utensil is made from multiple materials, it requires tevilah if a metal or glass component touches the food. Nevertheless, in this case, where only the handle is metal, and the actual spoon part is plastic, it does not need to be dipped. The primary function is provided by the plastic, and the fact that the food sometimes touches the metal handle is not strictly necessary for the function of the utensil.
This same rule applies to silicone tongs with a metal handle. Since the silicone is the part that actually grabs the food, the utensil does not need to be dipped. However, if the tongs themselves are metal and are only covered with plastic, then they would be dipped without a beracha. Some baby spoons are made in a similar way; the actual spoon is metal, but has a plastic cover to protect the baby. These would also be dipped without a beracha.
If only part of the utensil is metal, can I just dip that part?
When dipping, the entire utensil needs to be submerged in the water at once, including the handles. It does not help to dip one half and then the other half; the entire item must be fully under the water at the same time for the tevilah to be valid. However, if the metal part can be separated, it is sufficient to only dip that part.
Do electric appliances need to be dipped?
Some electric appliances, especially if they have a computer chip or a digital screen, can get ruined if submerged in water. For these items, one can avoid the requirement of tevilah by gifting the appliance to a non-Jew and then borrowing it back. The non-Jew should lift the item in the air to acquire it before lending it back indefinitely.
In reality, many electric appliances – such as toasters, urns, or waffle makers – can be dipped without breaking. For these items, there is no need to “avoid” the tevilah; instead, one can fulfill the mitsvah properly. The key is ensuring the item is completely dry internally before use. After dipping, shake out any excess water and allow the appliance to dry for two to three days. Experience has shown that if these steps are followed, the appliance will not be damaged.
As explained earlier, the entire item must be submerged in the water at once, and this applies to electric appliances as well. The attached cord and plug also need to be dipped in the water together with the rest of the unit.
What needs to be done before dipping?
Before dipping, one must ensure that all stickers are removed, excluding those that are intended to stay on permanently. When removing stickers, it is important to make sure that no sticky residue remains. If there is residue, it can be scrubbed with warm water and soap or removed using Goo Gone. In many cases, forgetting to remove the sticker or leaving a residue can invalidate the dipping. A Rabbi should be consulted.
What’s the proper process for immersing in the mikveh?
When dipping, the mikveh water must reach all sides of the utensil, or the tevilah is not valid. For items like pitchers or bottles, one should dip them face up to allow the entire inside to be completely filled.
One should be careful not to grip the utensil too tightly, as the water may not reach the area under the hand. Nevertheless, if one’s hands are wet, especially if they are wet from the mikveh water, this is less of a concern. The most preferable method is to hold the utensil in one hand and dip it into the water. While still in the water, one should pass the item to the other hand and let go with the first, ensuring it is not held too tightly in the second hand at any point.
If dipping numerous utensils at the same time, such as when dipping cutlery, they can be placed together in a basket and dipped, as long as the water is able to reach all surfaces. However, stacking items like plates and bowls would not be an effective way to dip them, as the water would not be able to reach in between each item.
Can a utensil be used once before dipping?
A utensil that requires tevilah may not be used even once before dipping. This should not be confused with disposable utensils, which many follow the custom of not requiring tevilah, since they are typically used only once.
If food is accidentally placed in a utensil that has not yet been dipped, the food should be removed immediately, but it remains permitted to eat.
Who can do the tevilah?
Any Jew over Bar or Bat Mitzvah can perform tevilah, even if they are not the owner. When dipping many utensils at once, a child or a non-Jew may help with the dipping, provided they are supervised. In this case, an adult Jew should recite the beracha and dip the first utensil; the child or non-Jew may then assist with dipping the rest.
Imagine walking into a wedding and finding plastic plates set on paper tablecloths…. When one is looking for fine dining, they look for great fresh food, made with the finest ingredients from start to finish. However, the plates, cutlery, etc., of course, will make a big difference. The purity of what we eat is not just about the ingredients of what we eat, but also in the purity and spiritual cleanliness of our cutlery and pots. With this special mitsvah of tevilat kelim, dipping our dishes and pots, may we always merit that grand level of eating the finest on the finest spiritual level.
