Perforated Grill Topper Review: Does It Really Keep Vegetables and Small Foods from Falling Through the Grates?

If you've ever watched a sliced zucchini or shrimp slip through the grates and sizzle into the fire, you know the frustration. Perforated grill toppers promise an easy fix: a thin metal sheet with small holes that sits on top of your grill grating, keeping small foods in while letting smoke and heat through. But do they actually work, or are they just one more gadget to clean? In this review we'll look at the real-world tradeoffs and offer some honest alternatives.

We tested a standard perforated grill topper with vegetables, shrimp, and cheese. At the same time, we considered two specialized Nordic Ware products—the Cheese Melting Dome and the Chicken Leg & Jalapeño Grilling & Roasting Rack—as solutions for the same small-item problem. Here's what we learned and how you can decide what fits your cooking style.

What Is a Perforated Grill Topper?

A perforated grill topper is essentially a flat sheet of metal (usually stainless steel or heavy-duty aluminum) stamped with rows of small holes. You place it directly on your grill grates before preheating. The idea is that food sits on the solid parts while smoke and flame still pass through the holes, giving you some sear but without the risk of things falling through. Most toppers have a raised edge to prevent sliding.

Because the holes are relatively small—typically 5–8 mm in diameter—even diced peppers or minced garlic stay on top. The surface area is also larger than open grates, which makes it easier to cook delicate items like fish fillets or sliced mushrooms. But that same solid area means less direct contact with flame, so you lose some of those char marks and smoky flavor that make grilling distinctive.

• Look for a topper made from food-grade stainless steel rather than coated metal to avoid chipping at high heat.
• Measure your grill grate size before buying; many toppers come in 16 by 12 inches but may need trimming.

Does It Prevent Food from Falling Through? Testing the Claim

Short answer: yes, it does. In our test, a handful of green beans and halved cherry tomatoes stayed on the topper without a single piece dropping through. We also tried small shrimp—about 16–20 count—and they held steady. If your main goal is to stop food loss, a perforated topper gets the job done. The tradeoff is that the topper itself prevents direct flame contact, so we had to extend cooking time by about two minutes to get the same internal temperature on thicker vegetables.

Another issue is cleaning. Food bits can wedge into the small holes and char on, requiring a stiff brush or a soak. Nonstick spray helps before each use, but it's not a cure-all. Also, the topper can warp slightly if your grill runs very hot (above 500°F), so we recommend using it at medium heat for most vegetables and seafood.

On the plus side, the topper does work well for things like sliced onions and cheese that might otherwise melt through the grates. For melting cheese directly on the grill, we found the Nordic Ware Cheese Melting Dome to be even more effective: its domed shape traps heat while the flat bottom keeps cheese contained without touching the flames.

• For cheese or foods that melt quickly, the Cheese Melting Dome offers better control and easier cleanup than a flat topper.
• Avoid using a perforated topper for large pieces of meat like steaks—they need direct flame contact for proper searing.

Best Uses and Limitations

The perforated grill topper shines for items that would normally require a foil packet: small vegetables, cubed tofu, crumbled cheese, or minced aromatics. It also works well for reheating leftovers on the grill without them mixing with other foods. However, it is not a substitute for direct grilling when you want heavy char marks. If you're cooking a mix of small items and large proteins, consider using the topper only for the small items and leaving a section of the grates open for steaks or chicken.

One common complaint is that the topper can slide around on slanted grills. A few models come with folding feet that lock onto the grates, but many are flat and require careful placement. For skewered items, the Nordic Ware Chicken Leg & Jalapeño Grilling & Roasting Rack solves the falling problem differently: it holds chicken legs or even jalapeños upright, so nothing rolls into the fire. If you often cook kebabs or poultry parts, that rack may be a more versatile purchase than a flat topper.

• Store your topper in a dry place to prevent rust; stainless steel is best but still needs care.
• If you grill often for a crowd, a perforated topper can double as a heat diffuser for low-and-slow cooking.

Alternatives: Nordic Ware's Specialized Grill Tools

While a perforated grill topper is a generalist tool, Nordic Ware offers two products that solve the same problem with more precision. The Cheese Melting Dome is designed specifically for melting cheese (or reheating small items) without losing anything through the grates. Its perforated bottom allows some smoke in, but the dome traps heat to melt evenly. Cleanup is easier because the cheese sticks to the dome less than to a flat perforated sheet.

The Chicken Leg & Jalapeño Grilling & Roasting Rack works for any small, long-shaped food. You can load it with chicken drumsticks, jalapeño poppers, or even asparagus bundles. The rack lifts them off the grates while keeping them secure. It's especially handy for recipes that call for stuffing jalapeños—fillings won't fall out because the rack holds each piece upright. Both of these accessories are made from heavy-gauge steel and come with a nonstick coating that resists sticking better than a plain metal topper.

If you primarily grill vegetables and small seafood, a perforated topper is a cost-effective solution. But if you regularly cook cheese, chicken legs, or stuffed peppers, a specialized tool might save you time and frustration. The choice comes down to how often you face the falling-food problem and what you're willing to clean.

• The Chicken Leg & Jalapeño Rack fits most standard grills and doubles as a roasting rack for the oven.
• Both Nordic Ware grill accessories are dishwasher safe, unlike many perforated toppers that require hand washing.

So does a perforated grill topper really prevent food from falling through the grates? Yes, it does—for a wide range of small items. But it's a tradeoff: fewer grill marks, longer cook times, and extra cleanup. If you grill vegetables or seafood every week, the convenience may outweigh those downsides. For more specialized tasks like melting cheese or grilling drumsticks, Nordic Ware's Cheese Melting Dome and Chicken Leg & Jalapeño Grilling & Roasting Rack offer cleaner, more focused solutions. Choose based on what you cook most often, and you'll never watch another shrimp disappear into the coals.