The Best Microwave Covers (Review) in 2020

Why Buy a Microwave Plate Cover?

One of the biggest reasons for buying microwave covers is to help keep your microwave clean. Using a cover can help contain any spills but are ideal for stopping soup and sauce from splashing all over your appliance. At the same time, it helps your microwave to cook your food evenly, without any hot spots appearing during the cooking time and ensuring you don’t need to keep stirring your food, or worry about an uneven flavor.

Best of all, microwave covers can help you to save energy, by reducing the cooking time. It does this by retaining the heat in a smaller space, any allows the hot air to circulate, so that you food can cook faster. By saving energy, your bills are likely to be lower – but you can also cut down the time your food spends in direct contact with microwaves, making your finished meal much healthier.

Things to Consider When Looking for a Microwave Cover

• Size

The size of your microwave plate cover is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying covers. Firstly, the microwave cover should be able to comfortably sit inside the microwave itself, so that it doesn’t get caught while turning and possibly causing problems. Next, the microwave covers should sit just above the food itself, with enough room for air to circulate comfortably.

Some covers will sit flat against the dish itself but, as long as they are designed to do this and therefore have the right amount of ventilation, there’s no harm in choosing a microwave cover that sits directly on top of your dish. For others, it’s important that they’re raised so as to sit better as a microwave plate cover since plates themselves are flat.

Finally, your covers should be wide enough to sit comfortably around the dish you’re looking to use. If the covers are too small, it’s likely that the microwave plate cover won’t work comfortably, and you’ll be left with more mess to clean up!

• Material

The material you use for your microwave cover is also important. Ceramic, plastic, and glass options are all ideal for use in a microwave since they can handle the heat created by the appliance – but it’s important to always check that your materials are food-safe, too. For example, it’s known that some, cheaper plastics are likely to use BPA, which may be linked to causing harm. For this reason, it’s important to always choose products that are either naturally BPA-free or have created their plastics without this.

Glass and ceramic should also be non-porous so that there is no risk of odors or tastes leeching into the product itself, and passing this on to the next meal. Checking that your microwave covers are made with food-grade materials is a good way to ensure that they don’t absorb flavors and tastes.

Meanwhile, some materials are more durable than others. Glass, for example, can be tempered to better withstand higher temperatures, while plastic is more likely to survive a drop. Plastic is also more lightweight and easier to manage, while glass can be heavier. Arguably, there are pros and cons to both, and choosing which is right for you comes down to your own personal preference.

• Features

One of the biggest factors, when choosing microwave covers, is their cleanliness. Since they will spend most of their time in close contact with food, being mindful of cross-contamination is key. Always opt for materials that are dishwasher safe, or are easy to clean. This will help to keep your home safe and healthy, as well as cutting down on time spent cleaning.

Similarly, covers now come with a range of features, such as silicone handles, to help to reduce the risk of burns, when removing the cover. Another great feature to have is the ability to easily store your covers when not in use. For example, collapsible microwave covers can instantly shrink down and be put away in any cupboard or drawer. Similarly, magnetic microwave covers can be kept on the ceiling or side of your microwave, making it much easier to locate and use your cover.

Best Microwave Cover FAQ:

Q: Should I always cover food in the microwave?

A: Yes. Unless explicitly stated in the cooking instructions on your food, you should always use a microwave plate cover when cooking your food in the microwave. As well as being able to shield your microwave from any splatters, good quality covers can help to maintain the taste of your food, giving you a much better experience than you might have without your covers.

Q: What is the safest material to cover food in a microwave?

A: The safest materials for your microwave plate cover will always be options that are completely inert (so that they do not react with acidic foods or cleaning products) and non-porous (so they don’t absorb smells and flavors, or leech them into the food you’re cooking). For this reason, glass, BPA-free plastic, and silicone are some of the best options you can use as a microwave cover.

Always steer clear of any microwave plate cover that uses metals, as these are extremely dangerous and can cause your microwave to break. You should also be sure that any plastic covers you use are suitable for use in a microwave, as some cheaper options may not be able to handle the heat, or can leech into your food.

Q: Are microwave covers dishwasher safe?

A: Not all microwave covers are dishwasher safe, which is why it is so important to always check that you can use your microwave plate cover in the dishwasher before you buy it. Check the label or description, before buying your microwave cover, to ensure that it can be used in a dishwasher. If it doesn’t say, it’s best to err on the side of caution and only ever handwash your microwave cover.

Q: Does the microwave splatter cover leave any aftertaste on my food?

A: When used correctly, there is no reason why a microwave cover should ever leave an aftertaste on your food. While the materials should always be microwave safe, and therefore unlikely to ever leech a taste or odor into your food, it is also important that the cover should not be in contact with your food. Most covers will sit at least an inch above the food being cooked, so as to allow for proper circulation around the food. If the covers are closer than this, then it may be worth buying a taller microwave plate cover, to better suit the needs of your kitchen.

Our Top Pick

We love the Tovolo collapsible microwave cover because it offers such great value for money. The perforated lid maintains even cooking, so you won’t get any hot spots when your microwave has finished and it’s large enough to cover most household plates and dishes. The top is made with a BPA free plastic and silicone, which makes it easier to grab and go when you need, too.

Best of all, this option is completely collapsible and able to fold into even the smallest spaces, making it an ideal choice for apartment living. Being highly durable and very efficient, this is a splatter cover you’ll be using for years – making this food cover one of the best options for the value for money it brings.