DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 434 KB)
Do Plastic or Teflon Utensils Require Immersion in a Mikveh?

The Torah obligation of Tebilat Kelim – immersing new utensils – applies only to metal utensils, and the Sages extended this obligation to glass utensils. Utensils made from other materials, such as plastic, nylon, rubber and enamel, do not require immersion at all. This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in Halichot Olam (vol. 7).

The Halachic authorities debate the status of a Teflon pot with respect to Tebilat Kelim. On the one hand, since the pot is made primarily of metal, and the Teflon is just a thin layer of nylon covering the pot, it seemingly should require immersion like other metal utensils. On the other hand, people who acquire Teflon pots are specifically interested in the Teflon, which prevents the food from sticking to the surface of the utensil, and thus perhaps the Teflon should be regarded as the primary material, such that the pot should not require Tebila. As mentioned, the Aharonim (later authorities) debate this question. In light of the difference of opinion in this regard, Teflon utensils should be immersed in a Mikveh, but without a Beracha.

Summary: Utensils made from materials other than metal and glass do not require Tebila. Metal utensils lined with Teflon should be immersed, but without a Beracha.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Rosh Hashana-The Misva of Shofar
Rosh Hashanah – Are Women Required to Hear the Shofar?
Rosh Hashanah – Candle Lighting on the Second Night
Rosh Hashanah – The Addition of “Te’anu Ve’te’ateru” in Kaddish
Rosh Hashanah – The Text of “Tichtebenu Be’rahamecha”
The Custom to Fast on Ereb Rosh Hashanah
Can One Ask or Hire Non-Jews to Play Music on Shabbat?
Is it Permissible to Pour Milk into Cereal on Shabbat?
High Holy Days- Habdalah- Separating Ourselves Is The Key to Judgement
Rosh Hashana - Tashlich- Shaking One’s Garment, Feeding Fish, and Women’s Participation
Rosh Hashanah – Covering the Shofar While Reciting the Berachot
Rosh Hashana- The Proper Salutation When Writing a Letter in The Month of Elul
Confessing Sins and Crying During the Rosh Hashanah Prayer Service
Halachot of Rosh Hashanah That Falls on Thursday
Visiting Graves of Sadikim on Ereb Rosh Hashanah
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found