Gotta Eat, Can't Cook

Microwave oven interior covered with food splatter after heating food without a cover

How to Prevent Splatter Safely When Cooking with a Microwave Oven

by

Bruce Tretter
in ,

Want to avoid what you see above? I’ve been there.

Below is a bowl of leftover cooked shredded beef covered with a tomato sauce, a great example of a dish that could very easily splatter while warming in a microwave oven.

Bowl of leftover shredded beef topped with tomato sauce before microwave reheating.

Here’s an easy 3-step way to help prevent that splatter:

  1. Lightly wet and squeeze dry a piece of plain white paper towel big enough to cover the bowl or plate you’re using.
Two photos showing a paper towel being wetted and squeezed to remove excess water.

2. Loosely cover your microwave-safe bowl or plate, leaving room for steam to escape. Heat the food, pausing to stir as needed.

Two photos showing a damp paper towel loosely covering a bowl before microwave reheating.

3. Carefully remove the bowl or plate and paper towel. Use oven mitts or a dish towel if the dish is hot, and lift the towel away from you to avoid escaping steam.

Two photos showing a covered bowl being removed from a microwave and the damp paper towel lifted away.

That’s it! Less splatter. Less cleanup.

Here’s how your microwave can look afterward.

Clean microwave oven interior after reheating food using a damp paper towel cover.

Safety tip: Use only plain, microwave-safe paper towels for this method, and follow your microwave manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t let the towel contact a heating element or use it for prolonged, unattended cooking.