Tovolo Microwave Splatter Cover Review: The $10 Fix That Actually Works
The Tovolo Collapsible Microwave Splatter Cover is a BPA-free silicone dome that keeps food splatter off microwave walls while still allowing steam to escape for even reheating. With over 83,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.6-star average, it's one of the most reviewed kitchen gadgets on the platform — and it costs under $10. If you've ever spent five minutes scrubbing dried tomato sauce off the inside of your microwave, this is the $10 purchase that prevents the next round of that chore.
Product Overview
Tovolo makes three sizes of this cover: Small (fits up to an 8-inch plate), Medium (up to 10 inches, the bestseller), and Large (up to 13 inches). There's also a 3-pack if you want all three. The Medium tested here measures 10.5 × 10.5 × 3 inches when expanded and collapses down to just 0.75 inches thick — about the width of a thick paperback — for storage.
The cover is made from food-grade silicone with a rigid plastic hub and folding ribs that allow the dome to accordion down flat. There's a ring of perforated vents around the top edge to let steam escape, and a short handle on top. Multiple colorways are available: Charcoal, Blue Haze, Candy Apple Red, and Stratus Blue.
| Spec | Medium (B07GTC4NCV) |
|---|---|
| Expanded dimensions | 10.5 × 10.5 × 3 in |
| Collapsed thickness | 0.75 in |
| Max plate/bowl diameter | 10 in |
| Material | BPA-free food-grade silicone |
| Venting | Perforated holes on top rim |
| Secondary use | Colander / produce rinser |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Price | ~$9.99 |
| Colors | Charcoal, Blue Haze, Candy Apple Red, Stratus Blue |
| Also available | Small (8 in), Large (13 in), 3-Pack |
Tovolo is a US kitchenware brand whose products focus on practical, affordable kitchen accessories. This particular cover has been a consistent bestseller since at least 2018, with more than 8,000 units sold in a single recent month according to Amazon's purchase data.
Performance & Real-World Use
The core splatter-control function works exactly as advertised. The dome traps loose particles and liquid that boil up during reheating, so the inside of your microwave stays clean. The vented design is the key differentiator versus a solid glass lid or a sheet of paper towel: steam can escape, which means food reheats more evenly and doesn't get as soggy. A sealed cover builds pressure and effectively steams the food; the Tovolo's venting threads the needle between containing mess and letting moisture out.
The collapsible design is a genuine advantage, not just a marketing gimmick. Rigid glass dome covers take up significant cabinet or counter space; a 0.75-inch silicone disc slides into a kitchen drawer next to the microwave without sacrificing any usable space. Users in small apartments, dorm rooms, and shared office kitchens consistently cite the flat storage as the main reason they chose Tovolo over competitors.
The bonus colander function works for rinsing small produce — berries, grapes, cherry tomatoes — by holding the collapsed disc over a sink and running water through the perforated holes. The openings are too large for fine grains or tiny seeds, but for a quick berry rinse it's legitimately useful.
One physical quirk to know before buying: the instructions say to expand the cover by pushing up on the dome from the underside, not by pulling the handle. Many users pull the handle by instinct, which can stress the attachment point and eventually cause the handle to separate from the hub. Tovolo's own documentation warns against this; it's just not obvious on first use.
- Keeps the microwave interior clean without any daily scrubbing
- Collapses to 0.75 inches thick — stores flat in any kitchen drawer
- Perforated venting allows steam to escape, preventing soggy leftovers
- Doubles as a colander for rinsing berries and small produce
- BPA-free food-grade silicone is safe for direct food contact
- Available in three sizes to match dishes from mugs to casserole bowls
- Dishwasher safe, though hand-washing extends the life of the silicone
- ~$10 price makes it a no-risk purchase
- Handle is prone to separating from the hub if pulled to expand the dome — requires learning the correct push-from-below technique
- Stains visibly from tomato sauce, turmeric, and curries; performance is unaffected but the cover looks dirty
- Medium size only covers plates up to 10 inches in diameter — larger bowls require the Large version
- Collapsing and re-expanding can be stiff initially; some users leave it permanently expanded to avoid the effort
- Repeated dishwasher cycles may warp the silicone edges over months of heavy use; hand-washing is safer for longevity
- Does not seal airtight — tips at an angle can still drip liquid onto the turntable
For a $10 purchase, the Tovolo Microwave Splatter Cover delivers on its core promise with no major caveats. The vented collapsible design is more thoughtfully engineered than it looks, and the flat storage solves a real friction point that rigid covers don't. The handle durability issue is a genuine complaint from a meaningful share of users, but it's addressable if you learn the correct technique on day one. This is the kind of product that earns 83,000 reviews because it solves a specific, universal annoyance cleanly and cheaply — it belongs in nearly every kitchen that has a microwave.
Sources
- Amazon product page — Tovolo Microwave Splatter Cover (B07GTC4NCV)
- The Kitchn — "This $10 Find Keeps Your Microwave Clean and Splatter-Free"
- Viet World Kitchen — "Microwave Splatter Cover Recommendations" (September 2024)
- Yahoo Shopping / USA TODAY — "I test kitchen products for a living, and this bestselling $10 cover keeps my microwave splatter-free"
- Tovolo official product page — Collapsible Microwave Food Cover