The Laws of Davar Shetibulo B'mashke

Please realize that I am not a competent halachic authority. Contact one for a practical ruling.

The laws of davar shetibulo b'mashke can be summarized in one sentence, which I will then expound upon:

Before one eats a food dipped in a liquid, he must wash his hands without reciting a washing-benediction (SA OC 158:4).

Now for the expounding:

eats a food: but not one who actually drinks the liquid by itself, whether from a cup or out of his hand (SA OC 158:6, MB 158:27; see also SHZ 158:33, SAH 158:12).

food: which is normally eaten by hand, rather than with a spoon (MB 158:26) [or other cutlery]. Eating with cutlery that which is normally eaten with by hand does not absolve the eater of the requirement to wash his hands (MB 158:26; see there for a possible exception).

food: which people often dip (MB 158:12).

dipped: partially or wholly, even if his hands don't touch the moistened part (SA OC 158:4, RMA OC 158:4).

dipped in: or otherwise covered with (apparent from MB 158:1, 158:12).

dipped: and still moist; i.e., not dried off from having been dipped (SA OC 158:4)

liquid: The only liquids considered "liquids" regarding this law (SAH OC 158:5) are wine, bee honey, olive oil, milk, dew, blood, and water (SA OC 158:4, MB 158:13-5).

• wine: This includes wine vinegar (AHS OC 158:6).
• honey: If you remove it from the comb yourself, see MB 158:14.
• milk: This includes whey and melted butter (MB 158:16).
• milk: BHT (OC 158:9) writes that this includes what he calls "yogurt". [I doubt, though, that this is what Americans call "yogurt".]
• blood: of mammals and birds (MB 158:17)
• blood: may not be eaten except by one whose life is endangered and who needs it (MB 158:17). Even in such a case, one apparently may not have to wash; see SU Har Tz'vi, volume one, OC 87.
• water: This includes moist sea-salt (MB 158:18), but not mined salt (SHZ 158:21).
• water: AHS (158:6) seems to include as "water" any liquid (e.g. beer) made of water. [I assume reconstituted juices are included.] CHC (158:18) also includes beer. There is a debate as to whether spirits are considered a liquid.

liquid: i.e., not while congealed (See also MB 158:14; SHZ 158:19.)

he: This law applies equally to men and to women (BIC I Sh'mini 2).

wash: as one washes before eating bread, with most of the laws that apply to washing prior to eating bread applying here also (Those laws can be found at OC 158-165.) (MB 158:20)

hands: both, even if he will only eat with one

For further reference:

If the liquid had been cooked, see CHC 158:39 and BHT 158:12.

For various exceptions, see S'de Chemed, volume ten, SU Michtav L'chizkiyahu OC 1.

For the origin of the law, see AHS OC 158:4.

For the severity of the law, see SA OC 158:9 and BHT OC 158:11.

Regarding one who eats a very small amount of food, see SU T'shuvos V'hanhagos (by Rabbi Sternbuch), volume two, OC 116.