Best Splatter Guard

We'd start most single-pan cooks with the BergKoch Splatter Screen 13 Inch. It pairs stainless steel with an extra fine mesh, and the 13 inch size is wide enough that owners say it covers their frying pans completely, including a 10 inch skillet. The mesh lets steam out, so bacon, fries and popcorn stay crisp instead of steaming in the pan, and the handle is designed to join up with the pan's own handle so your hand stays clear of spitting oil.

Cleanup is straightforward. Owners report that grease rinses off the metal easily and that the handle is strong and comfortable, and the screen is dishwasher safe. At 0.71 pounds it has the solid, sturdy feel owners mention.

Heat is where the complaints gather. A common complaint is staining and discoloration that will not scrub out, and another is a handle that softens or melts near the flame, so keep the screen away from the burner edge. Owners also note that a little oil still gets past the screen.

At 0.36 pounds, the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Splatter Screen weighs about half what the BergKoch Splatter Screen 13 Inch does, and its folding handle is the reason to choose it when cabinet or dishwasher space is tight. The handle locks open while you cook and folds flat afterward, and owners say that is what lets a screen this wide live in a drawer or go through the dishwasher.

Instead of fine mesh, it uses a solid stainless sheet punched with holes, with grooved concentric rings that help it seat on pans up to 13 inches wide. Owners report that it holds most of the splatter back while steam passes through, that it wipes clean easily, and that it sits well on everything from large skillets to a small saucepan. They also like the soft, comfortable grip.

The trade-offs are real. A common complaint is that the holes let some grease through, so the stove still needs a wipe. Owners also report that the solid sheet hides the food, so you lift it to check, that the handle can start to fold if you are not paying attention, and that the screen is large enough to catch on the dishwasher rack or crowd a drawer.

Handle worries are the clearest dividing line between this screen and the BergKoch Splatter Screen 13 Inch. The U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Splatter Guard 13" has metal handles with no plastic to soften, and owners report they stay comfortable to hold while the pan is hot. The fine stainless mesh lets steam escape while holding grease in, and built-in resting feet let you set the screen down on the counter, or turn it upside down, without a greasy mess.

Owners report that it is sturdy, resists bending and twisting, fits their big frying pans, and cleans quickly by hand or in the dishwasher. The flat profile stores compactly, and the handle loop allows hanging or stacking.

The one complaint worth weighing is heat. Owners report that mesh touching the pan or catching heat from around the burner can turn black and smoke from the first use, so we'd keep the flame modest with this one.

A set of three means you rarely face the single-size question that comes with the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Splatter Screen. The Apidgrowth Silicone Splatter Screen comes in 9.8, 11.4 and 13 inch sizes, made of food-grade silicone with a porous design that lets steam pass. Owners report that it keeps grease in the pan and off the floor, that the size range matches their frying pans, and that it sits securely once placed. They describe the silicone as thick and sturdy, and prefer it to metal mesh.

Cleanup is simple, by hand with dish soap or in the dishwasher, and the same screens can serve as a strainer or a cooling rack for desserts. Owners also note it has no weak joints to worry about.

Heat is the question to ask. Owners report that it keeps its shape on the stove; a common complaint is that it softens and gets too hot to handle under strong heat, so it is better matched to moderate burners.

Four sizes put the U.S. Kitchen Supply 4-Piece Splatter Guard Set a step beyond the Apidgrowth Silicone Splatter Screen's three, and the 13, 11.5, 10 and 8 inch screens cover everything from a small pan to a big cast iron skillet. Each is fine stainless mesh with a comfort grip handle, and the mesh vents steam while holding oil back. Owners report that having a screen sized to each pan makes it better at containing spatter than the one or two they had before, and that cleanup is quick, though they note it does not stop every droplet.

The set is dishwasher safe, and the flat design stores compactly, with a handle loop for hanging or stacking. The 1.22 pounds is the weight of all four screens together.

Durability is where the complaints land. A common complaint is that the handles are thin and bend easily, that plastic parts can melt under heat, and that the smallest screen can show burn marks after its first use, so treat the small sizes gently.

The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Splatter Screen is not the only screen with a folding handle; the Foxel Splatter Screen Guard pairs one with a heat-resistant silicone grip and a stainless outer ring around micro-mesh. The folded handle is what lets it slide into a drawer or the dishwasher, and owners like that. Its rim has three levels of notches meant to seat it on 9, 10 and 11 inch pans, and it is also meant for cast iron skillets, deep fryers and steamers.

Owners report that it contains grease and bacon spatter on the stove and counter, that it works on their skillets, and that the wide solid edge around the mesh cuts stray mess further. They also rate the build as a step up from earlier screens they had. A limited lifetime warranty comes with it.

At 11.75 inches it is narrower than the 13 inch screens above, and a common complaint is that the fit can fall a little short on larger fry skillets.

Every other pick here rides on top of the pan as a screen; the Frywall Splatter Guard 10 Medium is a silicone shield made to leave the cooking surface open, so you can stir and flip without lifting anything. It targets the fine oil mist that mesh lets through as well as condensation splatter, it is rated for sustained heat up to 450°F, it rolls into a small sleeve for storage, and it is dishwasher safe. Owners report that it stops all but the most explosive spatter and keeps stovetops and ceramic cooktops cleaner when sautéing or frying bacon and chicken.

Fit is the catch. It is made for pans with an inside diameter of 9.5 to 10.25 inches, so check yours before buying, and owners report that it works well on skillets in that range and runs too big for others. If you own a 10 inch pan, the closest alternative for pan-specific fit is the Foxel Splatter Screen Guard, whose notched rim seats on 9, 10 and 11 inch pans, though that one is a flat screen rather than a shield. Owners also report that the Frywall takes some getting used to, and it is not suitable for downdraft stoves.