The 10 Best Splatter Screens for 2023
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OXO’s Stainless Steel Splatter Screen earned the top spot on our list.
Food and Wine / Kevin Liang
Name a kitchen cleaning task more tedious than cleaning your stovetop area. We’ll wait! Residual crumbs, oil splatters, and grease stains from cooking quickly build up over time, making it difficult to keep your stovetop, backsplash, and countertops clean. Luckily, a splatter screen can help keep this frequently used kitchen surface tidy and stain-free.
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A splatter screen covers a frying pan or sauce pot to reduce spills and splatters. It's similar in shape and size to a standard pot lid, but it allows the top of a pan or pot to stay vented, which is key for any high-heat cooking task like frying chicken or letting sauces simmer. Splatter screens are usually made of stainless steel, mesh, or silicone, and they come in a range of sizes to fit virtually any pot or pan's diameter. Some splatter screens are collapsible for easy storage, while others have helpful handles or feet.
Our top pick for the best splatter screen is OXO’s Stainless Steel Splatter Screen, thanks to its straightforward, lightweight design and folding handles for easy storage. Read on for our other top picks.
Oxo Softworks Stainless Steel Splatter Screen
Best Overall
We love OXO’s straightforward and easy-to-use kitchen tools, and this splatter screen is no exception. The soft silicone handle folds down, which makes this screen easy to store. The biggest advantage to this splatter screen is OXO’s use of perforated stainless steel in place of mesh, which can be difficult to clean and easier to rip or damage.
This splatter screen is dishwasher-safe, and its stainless steel construction prevents bending or warping. The screen also has concentric rings to easily latch onto the edge of pots and pans up to 13 inches wide, which prevents slippage and keeps the screen safely in place during cooking.
Price at time of publish: $23
Diameter: 13.5 inches
Material: Stainless steel and silicone
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Bellemain Frying Pan Splatter Guard
Best Value
The Bellemain Frying Pan Splatter Guard is simple and lightweight, and it’s the most budget-friendly option on our list. Its sturdy mesh construction forms a tight seal to protect your countertop or backsplash without trapping excess moisture during cooking. Reviewers love its comfortable handle and the addition of four notched feet to prevent messes when it’s at rest on the countertop. The handle is comfortable, though it’s not oven-safe, and also doesn’t fold, so you’ll need to find a spacious spot for storing this screen.
Price at time of publish: $10
Diameter: 13 inches
Material: Mesh and silicone
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
U.S. Kitchen Supply Set of 4 Classic Splatter Screens
Best Set
If you have a large collection of pots and pans of all different sizes, or if you think you’ll often use more than one splatter guard at a time, a set is a smart option. This set from U.S. Kitchen Supply includes four different sizes ranging from an 8- to 13-inch diameter. Each guard is dishwasher-safe and made from solid steel mesh that is durable and finely woven to keep particles in the pan. The sturdy plastic handles are lightweight and comfortable to maneuver.
Price at time of publish: $18
Diameter: 8, 10, 11.5, and 13 inches
Material: Mesh
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Frywall Splatter Guard
Best Silicone
For fast-frying dishes or items that need to be constantly watched while cooking, a Frywall offers protection from splatters without impeding access. The silicone loop sits against the edges of your frying pan, extending the depth of its walls. Reviewers especially love using the Frywall for cooking down large quantities of leafy greens without spills or splatters. If you’ve ever wished your pan was just a bit bigger, a Frywall can give you more space without needing to buy a new pan. The silicone tool is dishwasher-safe and rolls up efficiently for storage.
Price at time of publish: $22
Diameter: 10 inches
Material: Silicone
Heat Resistance: Oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Williams Sonoma Silicone Splatter Screen
Best Folding
For the space-conscious, a foldable splatter screen saves precious inches in cabinets or drawers. Our pick from Williams Sonoma folds in half down the middle for efficient storage. This splatter screen doesn’t have a handle, which helps the tool take up less space, but it also means you’ll need to be careful when working with hot food and especially hot oil. The perforated silicone design is easy to scrub but can also be popped into the dishwasher.
Price at time of publish: $29
Diameter: 13.5 inches
Material: Silicone
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
JAZ Innovations Splatter Guard Pro
Best Domed
For frying projects that require a longer amount of time, like fried chicken or doughnuts, the JAZ splatter guard is a great option. This tool reduces splatters around the outside of the pan while leaving room to easily check and turn whatever you’re frying. It also has the added benefit of offering splatter protection when you slip a single chicken thigh or square of dough into hot oil to test the temperature. We also particularly like this guard for simmering sauces, since it allows great ventilation while preventing spills and splatters.
Price at time of publish: $17
Diameter: 13 inches
Material: Silicone and stainless steel
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
BergKoch Splatter Screen for Frying Pan
Best for Frying
For most high-heat frying and sauteeing, a heavy-duty mesh splatter screen is the best option, as it allows optimal evaporation and protects from oil spills or burns. We like this lightweight splatter screen from BergKoch, which makes regularly checking any fried food straightforward. The extra-fine mesh blocks water and oil splatters, and it won’t warp and rust over time. The 15-inch size works for all kinds of pans, including large cast iron skillets or Dutch ovens. The handle stays cool even after prolonged heat exposure, and the shield is dishwasher-safe.
Price at time of publish: $22
Diameter: 15 inches
Material: Mesh
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Tovolo Vented Collapsible Medium Microwave Cover
Best for Microwave
Most stovetop splatter guards include some element of stainless steel or other metal, which makes them unsuitable for use in the microwave. If you’re doing a lot of microwave cooking or heating foods that tend to stain your microwave’s interior, a microwave cover is a great solution. We like this cover from Tovolo, which is vented to allow evaporation and is collapsible for easy storage. It comes in three sizes, but we prefer the 10.5-inch version, which works for individual bowls as well as bigger portions. This splatter guard can also be used as a colander for draining pasta and other boiled foods.
Price at time of publish: $10
Diameter: 10.5 inches
Material: Silicone and plastic
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Kuhn Rikon Kochblume Spill Stopper
Best for Boiling Water
One of the most frustrating stovetop spills is the starchy water that comes from items like pasta and beans, which seem to boil over the moment you turn your back. The Kuhn Rikon Kochblume is a clever tool that provides the insulation of a lid while also venting overflow to avoid messy spills on your stove. The cute design is a bonus, and it’s also dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Price at time of publish: $24
Diameter: 11 inches
Material: Silicone
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Farberware Stainless Steel Odor Absorbing Splatter Screen
Best Odor Absorbing
If your primary concern is to absorb the odors released from frying foods like fish, Farberware’s splatter screen is a great solution. In between the layers of stainless steel mesh is a charcoal filter, which absorbs scents and prevents them from lingering in your home. The charcoal can also be used to filter smoke if you accidentally burn something on the stove. This splatter screen is dishwasher-safe for added convenience.
Price at time of publish: $18
Diameter: 13 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Heat Resistance: Not oven-safe
Factors to Consider
Size
When selecting a splatter screen or guard, you’ll want to make sure it’s the same size as your pan, if not a bit bigger. Splatter screens that are too small in diameter can slip into the pan, potentially spilling hot oil or other cooking food, causing burns and hazards. For the best bet, opt for a splatter screen that is just a bit bigger than the largest pan you’ll be using.
Material
Most splatter screens are made out of some form of stainless steel. Some are perforated steel, while others are made of stainless steel mesh. Others are made of silicone, which works well when heat resistance is important. If you’re looking for a splatter guard to use in your microwave, your best bet is to buy one for that dedicated purpose, as most stovetop splatter guards do have at least one metal component.
Special Features
There are a few special features available when it comes to splatter screens. A popular feature is small feet, which prevent the body of the guard from resting on your countertop, potentially getting it dirty. Other splatter screens are designed for specific tasks, like increasing the height of the walls of your pan to reduce splashing and spillage, or to create a smaller opening for steam to escape. When choosing a splatter screen, consider what specific tasks you’ll use it for, then make your decision from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are splatter screens worth buying?
<p>If you do a lot of frying, searing, or other high-heat cooking on your stovetop, a splatter guard is worth buying. The majority of options are very reasonably priced, and it’s a simple, easy-to-clean tool that can save you a lot of time spent scrubbing your stove and countertops.</p>
How do you use a splatter screen?
<p>Splatter screens are simple to use. When you’re cooking something that is creating a lot of droplets around the burner on the stove, simply place the screen over the top of the pan. The screen will catch any oil or other droplets that are being thrown off by the food without trapping water and making your food soggy.</p>
Can you put a splatter screen in the dishwasher?
<p>Most splatter screens are dishwasher-safe, but be sure to consult the manufacturer's instructions before washing.</p>
How do you clean a splatter screen?
<p>To clean a splatter screen by hand, rinse with hot water and use a stiff bristle brush and dish soap to remove any oil and debris. Rinse well and let dry in the open air to avoid rust. For strong smells or stains, soak your screen in hot, soapy water for 10 minutes before scrubbing.</p>
Our Expertise
Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is an experienced professional home cook. She has worked in restaurant kitchens, professional test kitchens, and also on farms and at farmer's markets. She's an expert at translating techniques, recipes, equipment, and ingredient information for all skill levels. She's dedicated to making the home cooking experience more enjoyable and is always on the lookout for the next great tip or trick to pass along to readers.
