Immersing a utensil with crumbs
Question
We received a pop-up toaster from someone who had used it without immersion in a mikveh. We tried to shake out the crumbs in order to immerse it, but not everything came out, and there is no way to wash it. May we immerse it as it is and use it?
Answer
Shalom u’vrachah.
The part that requires immersion must be clean of anything stuck to it. However, parts that do not require immersion may be dirty.
Therefore, the internal rack that touches the slice of bread, as well as the entire outer casing, require cleaning before immersion.
However, the inner space beneath the rack does not require immersion.
Normally, one can reach the entire rack that requires immersion with a cloth or a small brush [such as a toothbrush]. Only deeper cavities are difficult to reach, but those areas do not require immersion.
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