This is a new 2000W 120V copper element, and it has clear plastic tubing-like material at the base of each leg of the element. Should I try to cut this off, or not worry about it?
FWIW, the element is the one recommended by jkarp in his Countertop Brutus thread. It not the Rheem brand, but is the "factory-approved" replacement for the Rheem.
They took on the look of something that had been in boiled wort (brownish). But no melting or other issues. However I did have a batch of scorched wort with that element so I replaced it with a ULWD element.