Halachos of Tevilas Keilim הלכות טבילת כלים

A kli enters the same water a person does. Just as an aino Yehudi must tovel in a mikvah in order to become Jewish, so too must keilim acquired from an aino Yehudi undergo tevila in a mikvah before being used by a Jew.

Metal and glass that touch food. Utensils require tevila with a bracha when they have direct contact with food during preparation or meal time, and when they are made either from metal or glass.

Star-K chart · Star-K guideThe metals listed include aluminum, brass, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, silverplate and tin; glass includes Pyrex, Duralex and Corelle.

Glazed china, coated pans, storage vessels. The Star-K guides place glazed china and porcelain, Corningware, Dutch ovens, Teflon-coated pans, and metal or glass containers used only for storage in the category of keilim that are toveled without a bracha.

What needs no tevila. Utensils do not require tevila if they are made from bone, non-glazed earthenware, paper, plastic, stone, Styrofoam or wood.

Star-K chartAlso exempt: keilim that have no direct contact with food, and — per the chart — brushes and graters used only for raw food, and appliances that immersion would damage.

Bought from a Jew. Keilim crafted by Jews and sold directly to Jews without any aino Yehudi middleman do not require tevila.

When in doubt. If one is in doubt whether a kli needs tevila, a Rav must be consulted.

Completely clean. The vessel must be completely clean — free of dirt, dust, rust, stickers, labels or glue.

Star-K guideA permanent warning label may remain.

Where. The immersion must be done in a mikvah which is kosher for tevilas noshim.

The procedure. One wets his hands in the mikvah water, holds the vessel in the wet hand, says the bracha, and immerses the vessel.

All of it, at once. The entire kli must be submerged in the mikvah water at one time. The water must touch the entire vessel, inside and out, though it does not have to remain submerged for any prolonged period.

Star-K guideAir bubbles must be eliminated; a narrow bottle should be inverted so that it fills completely.

Who may do it. Anyone may tovel keilim, including a small child or an aino Yehudi. The tevila must be done in the presence of a Jewish adult to verify that it was performed correctly.

Star-K chartA bracha may be recited only if a Jew performs the immersion.

Day or night — but not Shabbos or Yom Tov. Tevilas keilim may be performed day or night, except on Shabbos or Yom Tov.

If a kli is needed on Shabbos or Yom Tov. In case of necessity, if one needs to use a non-toveled kli on Shabbos or Yom Tov, it should be given to an aino Yehudi as a gift.

Food made in an untoveled kli. If a non-toveled kli was used to prepare food, the food is still considered to be kosher.

Electric appliances. An electric appliance that was toveled should be dried for 48 hours before use; where toveling would damage an item, the chart says to consult a Rav.