How to Keep Food From Splattering in the Microwave

Quick answer

Most microwave splatter comes from trapped steam, high power, or food that is too full in its container. Cover the dish loosely so steam can escape, reheat in shorter bursts at a lower power level, and leave headroom above the food. A vented cover sized to your plate or bowl does more for keeping the microwave clean than wiping it down after every use.

Match the fix to what you actually see

Splatter is not one problem. If food pops and throws liquid, the cause is usually sealed-in steam or a power level that is too high. If the ceiling and walls are coated in a fine mist, the container was overfilled or the food was covered too tightly. If only the turntable is wet, the dish was probably too shallow for the portion. Read the pattern before you change anything, because a tighter cover makes steam-driven splatter worse, not better.

Cover loosely, then vent

A microwave cover for plates works best when it sits over the food without sealing to the rim. Leave a gap at one edge, or use a cover with vents, so steam exits instead of building pressure. If you use plastic wrap, pierce it and pull back one corner. The goal is to block droplets while letting vapor out. A cover that fits the plate but traps every bit of steam will push liquid out the sides.

Lower the power and shorten the time

High power boils water fast, and fast boiling throws food. Drop to 50 or 70 percent power and add time in 30-second increments, stirring or turning between them. This is the single most effective change for reheating food without mess, and it also heats more evenly. If your microwave only has a power-level button, use it. If it does not, stop and stir more often rather than running a longer single cycle.

Give the food room and choose the right vessel

Fill containers no more than two-thirds full, and use a bowl or plate with a rim rather than a flat dish for saucy food. Deep, narrow containers concentrate steam and splatter upward; wide, shallow ones release it more gently. For soups and stews, a larger bowl with a cover is safer than a small one filled to the top.

When covering is not the answer

Some foods should not be covered at all: breaded items, fried leftovers, and anything you want crisp. Covering traps moisture and turns them soft. For these, use a lower power level and a paper towel laid loosely on top, or reheat them in a toaster oven or skillet. If splatter continues after you have lowered power, vented the cover, and reduced the portion, the food itself is the problem, and changing the cooking method is the right next step.

Diagnose the splatter before you change anything

• Food pops and throws liquid: Trapped steam or power set too high. Vent the cover and drop to 50-70 percent power, then add time in short bursts. If popping continues at lower power with a vented cover, reduce the portion size.
• Fine mist coats the ceiling and walls: The container was overfilled or the cover sealed tight. Fill no more than two-thirds and leave a gap for steam to escape. If the mist persists, switch to a wider, shallower vessel.
• Only the turntable is wet: The dish is too shallow for the portion, so liquid boils over the rim. Move to a deeper bowl or reduce the amount. If the food still overflows, split it into two reheating rounds.

Covers that fit the job

• Spatter Covers | Microwave: Designed as a practical microwave accessory, these covers help reduce mess from splattering foods during reheating. A cover sized for bowls and plates blocks droplets at the source, so you spend less time wiping the ceiling and walls.
• Cardamom™ 6 Inch Stainless Steel Cover: The Cardamom 6 Inch Stainless Steel Cover is compatible with 6-inch pots and pans from the Cardamom collection and is constructed from stainless steel. If you reheat single portions in small cookware, a correctly sized metal cover is easier to place and clean than improvised wrap.
• Cardamom™ 10 Inch Stainless Steel Cover: The Cardamom 10 Inch Stainless Steel Cover helps retain heat and moisture during cooking. A wider cover suits larger bowls and skillets, where a small cover leaves the edges exposed and lets splatter escape.