Food utensils that have been purchased or received from a gentile require Tevila (immersion) in a Mikveh before they may be used for preparing or eating food. The question arises as to how this Halacha is applied in cases of electrical appliances such as an urn, which will likely be ruined as a result of immersion in water. In some instances, manufacturers tell consumers that immersion will not ruin the appliance if it is left to dry for several days afterward. In other cases, immersion will likely harm the appliance even if one waits several days before using it, and the question thus arises how the obligation of Tevila would apply to such a utensil.
Chacham Ovadia Yosef writes in "Halichot Olam" that in such a case, one should transfer ownership over the utensil to a gentile, and then ask permission to borrow the utensil. According to Halacha, a utensil that one borrows or rents from a gentile does not require immersion. Thus, one can circumvent the obligation of Tevila by legally giving the item to a gentile, and then using it only in the capacity of borrowing.
Do the grates of one's oven and stove require immersion? One might argue that although generally they do not come in direct contact with the food, nevertheless, since one occasionally toasts bread and the like by placing it directly on the grates, they should require Tevila. However, Chacham Ovadia rules that in determining a utensil's status with regard to Tevila, we follow its majority usage. Since grates are much more commonly used in a manner that does not involve direct contact with food, they do not require Tevila, even if on occasion one places food directly on the grates.
It should be noted, however, that the grate of a barbeque, which is intended for direct contact with food, indeed requires Tevila.
Summary: If one purchases an electrical appliance used for preparing food, and it will likely be ruined as a result of immersion in a Mikveh, he should formally transfer ownership over the item to a gentile and then ask to borrow it, so that it will not require Tevila. Grates of stoves and ovens that do not normally come in direct contact with food do not require Tevila, whereas barbeque grates do require Tevila.
