Utensil Mikvah:
The rear of the Mikvah building houses a separate Mikvah for the purpose of immersion of new utensils.
Per Jewish tradition, before dishes and utensils can be used in the kosher kitchen, they must acquire an additional measure of holiness which is conferred through the ritual immersion in a utensil Mikvah.
Utensils Requiring Immersion with corresponding Blessing
Certain kitchen or serving utensils, made of metal, glass, corelle or pyrex, that come into direct contact with food or drink, need to be immersed before first use. These include kitchen or serving utensils with which one eats, drinks, cooks, roasts, fries, or heats up water for drinking. Examples of such utensils include corelle dishes, silverware, pots and pans, kettles, and those parts of a mixer or blender which come into direct contact with food. Prior to immersion of such utensils, a blessing is recited.
Utensils Requiring Immersion without Blessing
Utensils used in the earlier stages of food preparation (where further preparation would still be required before the food can be cooked) should be immersed without reciting a blessing. Examples include meat grinders and kneading bowls, since they are not used in the final stages of preparation. Storage utensils that are not brought to the table should also be immersed without recital of a blessing, since they are not involved in preparation or consumption of food. Additionally, although earthenware utensils do not require immersion (see below), china or ceramics which have a glazed coating should be immersed without reciting a blessing.
Utensils not Requiring Immersion
Utensils that do not require immersion are those made of wood, stone, paper, bone, or unglazed earthenware (china, ceramics etc). Disposables (cups, plates, cutlery or baking pans) which one normally uses one time and then discards also do not require immersion.
Plastic items technically do not require immersion, though there are those who immerse plastic utensils, out of custom, without reciting a blessing.
Immersion procedure
Preparation for immersion involves removal of any substance that would intervene between the water of the Mikvah and the surface of the utensil, such as dirt, rust, stickers, glue from labels, and price markings. Steel wool and/or acetone (nail polish remover) are sometimes needed to remove all traces of surface markings.
If immersing a utensil which requires a blessing, recite this blessing prior to immersion:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֱלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל טְבִילַת כֶּלִי
BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NOI ELO-HAI-NU ME-LECH HA’O-LAM A-SHER KID-SHA-NU B’-MITZ-VO-TAV V’TZI-VA-NU AL TE-VI-LAT KE-LI
If immersing multiple utensils which require a blessing, the wording of the blessing is:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֱלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל טְבִילַת כֵּלִים
BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NOI ELO-HAI-NU ME-LECH HA’O-LAM A-SHER KID-SHA-NU B’-MITZ-VO-TAV V’TZI-VA-NU AL TE-VI-LAT KE-LIM
The utensil should be completely submerged in the mikvah water. One should loosen their grip slightly, to allow the water to reach the utensil’s entire surface all at once.