apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have the Amco one that Cook's Illustrated recommended and I really like it: http://tinyurl.com/aoku7p
I don't use it all the time (it's hard to stir fry with a screen over your pan), but for browning beef or cooking particularly vigorous bacon, it's a lifesaver.

I would use my IKEA splatter screen more often, but the last time I used it on my gas stove, it started to... smoke? I didn't have the heat on too high, and I had used it just fine on an electric range. anyone else have this problem with IKEA splatter screens? maybe I should try a different brand?

i've thought of it, too, but then when you lift the splatter screen to do whatchoo gotta do to your food, it's going to release splatterings anyway, right??

Yes! And if I don't...I get in trouble.

My mother swears by hers and uses it for everything. The best use I've noted is when making sauce. No more "pbth, pbth, pbth" spurts on the stovetop.

I wish I had a splatter screen. It would've been incredibly useful when I was making duck legs for New Year's Eve. I was just considering getting one from the dollar store, but if it's going to start smoking or doing something funny, maybe I'll reconsider...

I wish I had a splatter screen. It would've been incredibly useful when I was making duck legs for New Year's Eve. I was just considering getting one from the dollar store, but if it's going to start smoking or doing something funny, maybe I'll reconsider...

I use mine when cooking anything that tends to splatter. I would say it stops about 90% of the splatter.

Don't worry about buying one that fits your pan. I actually prefer the universal ones better...

I use one, they work great at keeping the splatter down, but sometimes they can be quite a pain to clean.

I use mine whenever I'm frying or simmering anything other than water. It stops most everything from splattering except, of course, when I lift it to stir. It reduces my stovetop cleaning by about 80 - 85%. The mesh is tight enough that most droplets don't fly through, but steam and smoke pass right through it.

I have the $5 IKEA universal version, and I've had no problems with it at all - it even goes in the dishwasher.

My husband doesn't let me fry without one. For some reason, Canadian men are funny that way.

I don't use one but I do sometimes put a piece of foil up against my backsplash if I'm frying up bacon or something so that I can just throw away the mess later.

http://danamccauley.wordpress.com

i HAVE one. i rarely USE it.

On the rare occasion that I actually remember to use my splatter screen, I'm always happy I did. Same goes for wearing an apron when I cook, too...

I have one and use it. The previous commenters are right--it stops most--not all--of the splatters, which is definitely better than nothing, and better than a real lid. And it is a pain to clean. But whatever. I used to put it in the dishwasher, now that I think about it (it's just a cheap one). Maybe I'll try that again.

I have a cheap universal one that I use when I cook something that might splatter. I always struggle to clean mine though. How do other folks clean theirs? (I have a tiny sink and no dishwasher so I'm looking for a hand-washing solution.)

I want one -- that reminds me, when we registered at W-S, they had an All-Clad deep sauté pan that came with a splatter screen. I may have to use my registry discount and pick that up ;o)

It does definitely help for cleanup. I've never really notice the screen itself being hard to clean, but then I usually just give a quick soapy rinse or pop it in the dishwasher. If you used one a LOT I can see it getting gunky, though. Mine mostly only gets pulled out if I'm pan frying so I don't have to clean up oil droplet spatter.

Be careful with your splatter screen. My boyfriend almost lit our kitchen on fire with it. What he was frying started on fire under the splatter screen. After he turned off the heat, the fire would not go out, so as he lifted the screen to put on a lid huge flames came out of the pan and lit our cabinets on fire. My bf was fine and I was on my way home from work and I had no idea. I told him if there's a next time, use flour.

I have an Ikea splatter screen that I like using. Popping olive oil scares the crap out of me, so I like the protection this provides. I haven't had any smoking problem with it like the other user had.

I have one and use it for frying -- it works very well. You do have to keep an eye on it, though. Mine is a little scorched.

Green Cat: I clean mine in the dishwasher now, but before I had one I used to soak the screen in a sink full of soapy hot water for 20 minutes or so to release the grease.

I bought one because I'm a bit of neat freak and I hate cleaning up oil splatters. But I found that after sitting over a very hot pan for a bit, the screen starts to warp and then doesn't lie flat on the pan--and then the splatters come out the gaps. So I mostly stopped using it. Maybe I just got a cheapo one--perhaps a better quality of screen would hold up better?

I have one in the $12 range, use it frequently and clean it in the dishwasher with no problems. I say go ahead and get one!

I have one and I use it when I remember...if I had someplace to put it where it was more convenient it'd get used much more often. It does help with the stovetop splatters.

No, might be a good idea, though! I clean the stove after every time I make dinner, and wipe the countertops everytime I do anything in the kitchen, even if it's just making a sandwich. I was brought up that this was part of doing the dishes. did my parents lie?

Interesting... thought I knew such a thing existed, I'd never really thought to use one. And although I usually keep most of the oil in the pan, there are a few dishes I make that require high heat to get a crisp brown on chicken - and one episode of that renders the the back splash and rail system (replete with hanging spice rack, utensils, etc) spotty and sticky. Dana's method of a tinfoil shield is likely more practical for me...

And I'm with ya Jake - I have a row of great aprons on the wall that go unused, and I probably merit them more than most folks.

Buh!? $60 for a splatter screen? I use mine constantly but I picked up a three pack of various sizes at target for about $6 I think. As with everything in my kitchen they get a bit banged up and they wear out, but it's not like I can't afford to replace them either.

I have a cheap one that's big enough for my biggest frying pan, so it's universal. I use it when I remember how much easier it is to clean up a few drops of grease on my cooktop and give the screen a few quick soapy swipes, as opposed to having to spend four times as long, wiping up grease that's splattered around a two foot radius onto every surface.

I forgot about these. The no-meat child is repulsed when sibling's burger spatters onto adjacent pans. Will get this.

I had lots of trouble cleaning mine, then I got a silicone screen.
Mine is made by Starfrit, but I think there are others out there too. They're about $15 and easy to clean - and don't warp, like some or the metal ones do.

I got a set of 3 for less than $10 at a Bed Bath and Beyond. I use and abuse them and I'm very happy with their performance even after being sent through the dishwasher every time.

I don't have one at the moment, but it is on my list of kitchen gadgets to be purchased. We always used one growing up at my house and it made cooking bacon much less painful (somehow, the grease splatters always go for my eye).

We use ours pretty often, especially if we're making a spaghetti sauce from scratch. I'd so there's no reason to waste the money on a W-S version. We got ours from the restaurant supply store for less than $5, I'm pretty sure. Any other "big box" type store will also have them cheap.

I have one but rarely even think of using it because it doesn't block all (or even most) of the splatters. (Maybe it is of lesser quality than others.) Now that we have a smooth top stove it is easier to clean up any splatters anyways.

stiellen - I have that pan and I really like it. I use my splatter screen to both avoid extra cleanup and to keep from getting popped w/oil. I tilt the screen up from the pan with the opening away from me and put the food in the pan. Works great.

Whenever there is heated oil, painful splatters find me like heat-seeking missiles. I always have to leave the room and make my boyfriend put the food in, or use the pan cover like a shield. One of these is probably a good idea.

I got two sizes for Christmas a few years back and they are indispensible. Love 'em!

I had a screen but got rid of it because it doesn't work at all on my gas stove - the edges of the screen get burned. I read through the comments but didn't see any suggestions for gas stoves. Any ideas???

um... for those of you with gas stoves who's splatter screen edges are smoking or burning: Is your flame larger than the bottom of your pot?

I have a cheap Ikea universal screen, and I use a gas stove; my splatter screen is my single favorite kitchen "gadget" ever, and I've never had any trouble with it. But if your flame is actually wider than the bottom of the pan you're using, I could see that causing problems. Also, it's a really inefficient use of your gas heat.

I'm a little ashamed to confess that I actually own the expensive All-Clad one (came with the set!) but I never use it! Instead I use and abuse the cheapo Ikea one that fits almost all of our pots and pans. I've never had any trouble with warping, smoking or fires- and it makes cleanup much easier!

Yes I have the IKEA splatter screen. I also use it to cover the pot when I make popcorn so that the steam can escape as the corn pops.