Q. Dear Rabbi,

I bought a potato peeler today from a Kosher store – its a Kosher peeler (it is green plastic and it says Parev on it!) I forgot to tovel it and I used it to peel potatoes and carrots which I then put into a large pot with water and boiled it to make a vegetable stew! Do I now have to Kasher the pot and what is the status of the stew?

Thank you!

A. If someone uses a utensil that requires tevilah prior to its immersion in a Mikva, notwithstanding that a transgression has been done, the food processed or placed in such a vessel does not become prohibited and it is entirely kosher. (Yerushalmi Avodah Zarah 5,15 – Remah Y.D. 120,15, Chochmas Odom 73,20, et.al.). This applies even if it was used so intentionally (Igros Moishe Y.D. 2,41). However, if the food is still in that container it should be removed.

This assumes that the peeler was manufactured, as it is common today, in a Gentile’s factory. However if it is produced by a Jewish company, it does not need Tevilah. If in doubt, do Tevilah without a Brocho.

If the peeler is used only for potatoes that are raw when peeled, no Brocho is recited. (Y.D. 120,5 – Shach and Taz ibid.- Aruch Hashulchan ibid. 35). If it is used for peeling other vegetables that can be eaten raw, as in your case, carrots, the brocho is recited.

Regardless of how many times a utensil has been used without immersion, it still has to be taken to the Mikva.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a