Tum'a: Removal: Toveling: Utensils
Tevila is the Hebrew word for immersion. You must tovel (immerse in a mikva or other halachically purifying water) new utensils made of metal or other materials that require tevila unless you know that they were:
To tovel a utensil, you may go to any kosher natural mikva (see section on natural mikvas) or to a mikvat keilim (a small mikva for utensils, often attached to the outside of a regular mikva building). To tovel several items, some of which require a blessing and some on which there is doubt whether a blessing is necessary, say the blessing over the item that requires the blessing and have in mind that the blessing will cover all the rest of your items.
Remember to remove all stickers, rust, etc., before you begin. Nail polish remover may help with stubborn stickers. Say the blessing al tevilat keilim and then let the item free fall through the water. Unlike with hagala, during which the item may be immersed in sections, when you tovel a utensil, the entire item must be in contact with the water at the same time, even if only for an instant.
Toveling: Utensils: What Gets Toveled?
- Made by a Jew,
- Sold by a Jew, and
- Not owned by a non-Jew in between.
To tovel a utensil, you may go to any kosher natural mikva (see section on natural mikvas) or to a mikvat keilim (a small mikva for utensils, often attached to the outside of a regular mikva building). To tovel several items, some of which require a blessing and some on which there is doubt whether a blessing is necessary, say the blessing over the item that requires the blessing and have in mind that the blessing will cover all the rest of your items.
Remember to remove all stickers, rust, etc., before you begin. Nail polish remover may help with stubborn stickers. Say the blessing al tevilat keilim and then let the item free fall through the water. Unlike with hagala, during which the item may be immersed in sections, when you tovel a utensil, the entire item must be in contact with the water at the same time, even if only for an instant.
Toveling: Utensils: What Gets Toveled?
Note The main halacha applies to metal utensils that will be used repeatedly.
Say the blessing al tevilat keilim on metal or glass items--including Pyrex, Duralex, and Corelle-- that come in contact with food. Items that require toveling include:
The below chart is copied with permission from the Star-K (www.star-k.org):Say the blessing al tevilat keilim on metal or glass items--including Pyrex, Duralex, and Corelle-- that come in contact with food. Items that require toveling include:
- Bowls
- Cups
- Forks
- Knives
- Pans
- Plates
- Pots
- Spoons
- Storage containers (only if they are brought to the table).
Utensil | Tevila Guideline | Utensil | Tevila Guideline | |
Aluminum Pans, Disposable if intended to be used more than once |
Tevila with Brocha |
Meat Tenderizer Hammer, Metal |
No Tevila | |
Aluminum Pans, Disposable to be used only once |
Tevila w/o Brocha | Melamine | No Tevila | |
Blech | No Tevila | Metal Cutlery | Tevila with Brocha | |
Blender with metal blade on bottom | Tevila with Brocha |
Metal Flour and Sugar Storage Canisters |
Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Bone | No Tevila |
Metal Pots Coated with Teflon, Enamel or Plastic |
Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Brush, Pastry | No Tevila | Metal Spoon Specifically for Medicine | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Brush for Grill, Metal | No Tevila | Microwave Turntable, Glass | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Can Opener | No Tevila | Mixer Beaters | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Cans, Reusable Empty if opened by a Yehudi |
No Tevila | Paper | No Tevila | |
China, Bone | Tevila w/o Brocha | Peeler, Vegetable | Tevila with Brocha | |
China, Glazed | Tevila w/o Brocha | Plastic | No Tevila | |
Colander, Metal | Tevila with Brocha | Porcelain Enamel | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Cookie Cutters, Metal | No Tevila | Racks, Cooling | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Cookie Sheets, Metal | Tevila with Brocha | Racks, Oven | No Tevila | |
Cork Screw | No Tevila |
Rolling Pins Metal or Wood |
No Tevila | |
Corningware | Tevila w/o Brocha | Sandwich Maker | Tevila with Brocha | |
Crockpot Ceramic Insert | Tevila w/o Brocha | Silicone | No Tevila | |
Crockpot Glass Lid | Tevila w/o Brocha | Sink Racks, Stainless Steel | No Tevila | |
Crockpot Outside Metal Shell | No Tevila | Spatula, Metal | Tevila with Brocha | |
Dish Rack, Metal | No Tevila | Stoneware | Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Dishes, Ceramic | Tevila w/o Brocha | Stoneware, Non-Glazed | No Tevila | |
Earthenware, Non-Glazed Dull Finish, e.g. Flower Pot |
No Tevila |
Storage Utensils, Glass not brought to the table |
No Tevila | |
George Foreman Grill | Tevila w/o Brocha | Styrofoam | No Tevila | |
Glass (including Pyrex, Duralex & Corelle) |
Tevila with Brocha | Tea Kettle, Corelle | Tevila with Brocha | |
Grater, Metal used for foods that are ready to eat, eg, apples, onions |
Tevila with Brocha |
Toaster which will not break |
Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Grater, Metal used only for foods that need further cooking,eg potatos |
Tevila w/o Brocha |
Toaster Oven rack & tray only |
Tevila with Brocha | |
Hamburger Maker | Tevila with Brocha | Trivet, Metal | No Tevila | |
Hot Air Popcorn Maker, Metal | Tevila with Brocha | Waffle Iron | Tevila with Brocha | |
Hot Water Urn, Metal | Tevila with Brocha | Warming Tray | No Tevila | |
Knife, Arts & Crafts | No Tevila | Wood | No Tevila | |
Knife Sharpener | No Tevila |
Wooden Cask with Metal Straps |
Tevila w/o Brocha | |
Meat Thermometer | No Tevila |