And so goes the saying: if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Spill stoppers can take the heat, whether from the stove or the
dishwasher, because many versions are made of silicone. Many can withstand temperatures of up to 400 degrees, which is more than sufficient for almost all dishes. Although they are called "spill stoppers," the name may seem a bit misleading - what they are really designed for is to stop your pots from overflowing when food starts to bubble and boil, preventing spills on to your stovetop while cooking.
Quite unlike some of these other
metal splatter guards that rust over time or those ones made of mess with handles (both of which are typically designed more for preventing grease splattering), the silicone spill stopper fares better in its kitchen life.
And have you seen the cute and lovely shapes, patterns, and colors they come in? Spill stoppers are those pretty functional must-haves that can spruce up your kitchen and add some cheer to your cooking quite unlike those mean, serious-looking splatter guards.
So checking off the mental list: Can withstand the heat? Check. Can endure dishwashing? Universal shape or size to fit a
wide variety of pots and pans? Check. Check. So cute it makes you cry? Check. So efficient it makes you cry again? Check. (Or is that the onions you're cutting?)
So is the idea of a spill stopper sold or what? If so, let's take a look at some of the things to consider when purchasing one.
Price
Because everybody should have a spill stopper, manufacturers have made it so affordable that even the “high-end” stoppers are still pretty affordable. Spill stoppers rarely, if ever, exceed a range of $10 and $35 so now you have an even better reason to purchase even a cheap spill stopper. Many of them are, put gently, a total waste of money. So rest assured, you won’t see poorly designed spill stoppers in our product reviews here. You deserve the best.
Features
If you are going to get a spill stopper that will serve you well then look out for these features:
- Material
- Size
- Color
- Heat capacity
- Cleaning
Let’s now slide into the details.
Construction and Design
A spill stopper is quite different from a splatter guard with which you might be familiar. They are made of silicone which ensures their durability for a very long time, as they won’t rust. They also come in different attractive designs, with many resembling a flower.
Spill stoppers are made to fit your pots perfectly, so as you can guess, they come in different sizes. Before you purchase one, it might do you some good to actually know the size of your pot so that you can pick a fitting stopper. Sizes can range from about 6 centimeters to about 12 centimeters. Some stoppers are also deeper than others, so please note that.
Also, you can pick from multiple colors for your spill stopper depending on the brand you purchase and your required specifications.
Performance and Ease of Use
Spill stoppers are very easy to use, clean, and store. All you need do is place the right size stopper on top of your pot or pan and leave to boil. Usually, these stoppers have vents at their crown which allow the steam to exit while condensing the bubbles. The condensing keeps the bubbles in the pot so that there is no spill.
You should allow your pot cool down for a minute or two before removing your spill stopper. With this method, you are sure to get no spill. Cleaning your spill stopper is as simple as placing it in the dishwasher. The product will come out spotless and ready for the next use provided it is dishwasher safe. Often, spill stoppers come with hooks with which you can hang them to dry and store anywhere in your kitchen.
Finally, you already know that all spill stoppers can withstand heat to a very high degree. Therefore, they can be used with microwaves and sometimes ovens. The maximum temperature range is typically between 400 and 460+ degrees Fahrenheit. So, depending on the type of cooking you’ll be doing, look out for the heat capacity that’s best suitable for you.
After going through our buying guide, you’re probably wondering where you can purchase the best spill stoppers. Well, kick your feet up and read through our individual brand/product reviews below for information on the best spill stoppers available.
Now that you have taken the time to read our review on spill stoppers, you may have already made a decision on which one to get. We trust that you can now go ahead and buy with confidence, knowing that you have enough information to make the right choice.
