The 6 Best Splatter Screens of 2023
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Sizzle without the mess with the U.S. Kitchen Supply Splatter Screen Set
Most of us cook on modest-sized stove tops, and that's why a brilliant mind invented the splatter screen. These shield immediate surrounding areas, not to mention unprotected skin, from dangerously hot oil and liquids flying out of sizzling pans. Although Maren Marvin, cookware expert and veteran buyer at The Cupboard in Fort Collins, Colorado, doesn't use a splatter screen for every cooking task, she says “If I do use one, it's usually when I do meats or things where there is some water content, which makes it spray more, especially things like sausage.” Another advantage is, unlike solid lids, the screens don't trap moisture, so you won't end up steaming your steak or burger.
According to another expert, housewares purchaser Carol Watkins of Down to Earth in Eugene, Oregon, "you can pay anywhere from $3 to $50" for a splatter screen; though she warns "the cheaper ones are going to not last," while "the more expensive ones should last a lot longer." With that in mind, we factored in size, construction, durability, and ease of care in choosing the best splatter screens. Our overall favorite is the U.S. Kitchen Supply Splatter Screen Set, which is reasonably priced for three sizes of storage-friendly, well-made screens that are easy to use and clean.
U.S. Kitchen Supply Splatter Screen Set
Best Overall
It is designed with resting feet on one side of the screen, allowing you to set it aside from the pan or use it as a cooling rack.
What We Love: Affordable, three sizes, has feet for resting
What We Don't Love: Unprotected handle
Made of durable stainless steel, this splatter screens set comes in three sizes to accommodate a variety of pans. This, according to Watkins, is the best approach because you want a splatter screen that fits your pan almost exactly or just slightly larger to prevent cooking hazards and singed screens.
The rustproof fine wire-mesh screen has a durable, double-thick twill weave that catches finer particles, so it can even be used in a pinch to drain something from a pot (just be sure to hold it steady!). It is designed with resting feet on one side of the screen, allowing you to set the screen down on the counter without forming a grease puddle.
While the solid stainless-steel handle is securely attached at four points under the rim of the screen, we aren't thrilled that it's unprotected. However, the affordable price of this dishwasher-safe multifunctional set makes this an unbeatable choice. Online reviewers like the lightweight, yet sturdy, screens and resting feet design.
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 9-inch, 11.5-inch, and 13-inch rounds | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Homestia Splatter Screen Set
Best Budget
This affordable set of three screens offers a size to fit nearly every pan or skillet.
What We Love: Three popular sizes, handle folds flat for storage, can be used as a strainer
What We Don't Love: Top-center placement of metal handle
This set of three dishwasher-safe, stainless-steel screens offers a size to fit nearly every pan or skillet. The flat-folding top handle allows for easy storage. If you prefer to lift your splatter screen, like a pan lid, then this budget-friendly option is right for you.
Since the top handle flips up to function like a lid knob, you won't have to contend with a screen handle sticking out from the side. In fact, several online reviewers like not worrying about accidentally knocking over a long handle. However, the metal handle's top-center placement also means that you will reach directly over the heat to adjust or remove the screen, so you should use a dry towel or oven mitt to protect your hand, especially if you are making a dish like chicken-fried steak where there is potential for sputtering hot oil.
Price at time of publish: $17
Size: 10-inch, 11.5-inch, and 13-inch rounds | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
HIC 3-Sided Folding Splatter Guard
Best “Frying Fence” Style
The rolled lip means no sharp edges to scratch the cooktop or countertop.
What We Love: Allows pan access, keeps splatters contained, rolled lip
What We Don't Love: Hand wash
Splatter from a frying pan or grill comes out in all directions, but a lot of the mess will spray out the sides, so building a protective wall or fence around the pan will catch most of it. This “fence” screen consists of three connected 9 x 10.25-inch carbon-steel panels that can surround any immediate work area to contain splatters and spills while allowing full access. Online reviewers praise the tri-fold design of the splatter guard, which folds up neatly and is small enough to stash in a drawer.
You can use it to protect surrounding areas from messes caused by simmering or frying foods on the stove or whipping cream and beating batters with a mixer on the kitchen counter. The panels are just tall enough to keep things like hot bubbling strawberry jam from dotting your black splash. The rolled lip means there are no sharp edges to scratch cooktops or countertops. However, this fence-style screen is hand-wash only.
Price at time of publish: $10
Size: 9 x 30 inches, 9 x 10.25 inches | Material: Carbon steel | Dishwasher Safe: No
Williams Sonoma Silicone Splatter Screen
Best Silicone
This silicone screen is heat resistant, won't shift around, and cleans easily.
What We Love: Heat-resistant, stays in place, easy to clean
What We Don't Love: Silicone can get sticky
If you love using silicone tools in the kitchen, this is the splatter screen to try. It's heat-resistant, won't shift around, and cleans easily. With the exception of the smallest of pans, this 13-inch splatter screen fits over a variety of pots and pans without sagging over the sides. Small perforations allow steam to escape, while tabbed edges provide quick access for removal or checking on a long-simmering sauce like a classic bolognese. The dishwasher-safe screen folds in half for storage. Online reviewers like being able to open one side of the screen to stir without having to remove the entire screen.
An important thing to keep in mind is that silicone must be kept really, really clean, or it can get sticky. Also, even with the perforations, there will be some condensation on the underside, so you should proceed with caution when lifting the screen.
Price at time of publish: $29
Size: 13-inch round | Material: Silicone | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Related: The Best Silicone Spatulas
Williams Sonoma Stainless Steel Splatter Screen
Most Unique
This multi-layered stainless steel screen also absorbs odor.
What We Love: Well-constructed, absorbs odors, handle folds flat
What We Don't Love: Expensive
While there are plenty of considerably less expensive splatter screens with folding handles on the market, what makes this special is its multi-layered stainless steel screen that's infused with charcoal and promises to absorb odors. It not only blocks splatter but also absorbs a substantial amount of cooking smells. Online reviewers were impressed by how effective the splatter screen was at preventing pungent cooking smells from traveling, which comes in handy when you're sautéing a lot of garlic cloves for garlic chicken with white wine sauce.
The 13-inch splatter screen is weighty enough to sit flat on any pan but is not heavy or unbalanced. The handle does fold flat, although we recommend reading the instructions or asking a store staffer to demonstrate how to fold it properly. It's also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Although this splatter screen is on the pricey side, we think it is definitely worthy of consideration.
Price at time of publish: $33
Size: 13 inches diameter, 22 inches including handle | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Related: The Best Nonstick Pans
New Star Aluminum Pizza Backing Screen
Best for the Oven
Because it’s designed to withstand oven heat, you can place it on top of a pan to prevent splatters in the oven.
What We Love: Oven-safe, versatile, affordable
What We Don't Love: Hand wash
This is technically a pizza pan, but because it’s designed to withstand oven heat, you can place it on top of a pan to prevent splatters in the oven. Available in several sizes, you could also adapt it for stovetop use, but since it has no handles, that’s not the best function.
The manufacturer recommends hand-washing since, if you want to go the dishwasher route, it will lose its aluminum sheen after a wash or two. But the screen is inexpensive enough to be easily replaced. And it's great for turning out a crispy crust for your favorite veggie pizza. Online reviewers gave the pan high ratings for its ease of use and value for the money.
Price at time of publish: $7
Size: 8 to 20 inches | Material: Aluminum | Dishwasher Safe: No
Related: The Best Pizza Cutters
Final Verdict
A splatter screen is a timesaving way to keep messes off the stove and countertop, as well as help prevent dangerously hot oil and liquids from landing on unprotected skin. The affordable U.S. Kitchen Supply Splatter Screen Set is our best overall because the three screen sizes fit a variety of pans and are easy to use, clean, and store.
What to Look for When Buying Splatter Screens
Size
Carol Watkins has seen the pitfalls when customers buy the biggest splatter screen they can find, only to return it because it’s more than they need. “Not that many people have even a 13-inch pan,” Watkins says, and she notes that if a splatter screen overhangs the pan by an inch more, the screen itself can scorch or singe from the heat coming up the sides of the pan. Maren Marvin concurs by adding, "You don't want this giant, wobbly thing with a short handle."
Watkins suggests multiples. “I think it's best to have at least a couple of sizes because if you just get the big one, sometimes it's going to be hanging over the side, and that’s too much if you're going to just make yourself an egg," she says.
Ease of Care
Every little hole in a splatter screen and every edge around the frame is designed to trap fats and cooking fluids. You can approach this one of two ways: Get a screen that is well-constructed and dishwasher-safe, knowing that it will probably be a bit heavier to handle. Or get a lighter, less expensive screen and replace it when it gets ladened with too much hard-to-remove grease. Bear in mind that silicone must be kept very clean, or grease will collect, making the silicone stickier and stickier.
FAQs
Are there other uses for splatter screens?
A splatter screen can be held securely against a pot to strain vegetables or pasta but be careful as the weight shifts. You don’t want to balance all the pot’s contents on a surface with no sides. In the case of splatter screens with resting feet, like over best overall pick, you can use it as a cooling rack for baked goods.
Can I use a splatter screen in the microwave?
Never put anything metal in the microwave. Technically you could use a silicone splatter screen in the microwave, but really, if you’re poaching eggs in the microwave or experimenting with microwave jam, there are microwave covers that are better designed for the task.
How do I clean a splatter screen?
Toss it in the dishwasher when possible. For extra care, hand wash and scrub with a brush to get all the crevices clean. If scrubbing doesn’t do it, try Marvin’s trick. “You can put baking soda in water and set it to a low boil,” she says. “Sit the screen in that, then wash it and drain dry.”
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Catherine Russell is a writer and editor specializing in food, culture, and home and garden. Her work has appeared in such national publications as Bon Appetit and Saveur, and in film and video. To find the best splatter screen options on the market, Catherine considered size, construction, durability, and ease of care, as well as online reviews. She also consulted with kitchenware expert Maren Marvin from The Cupboard, who has over 30 years of experience, and houseware purchaser Carol Watkins from Down to Earth.
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