Tovolo Collapsible Microwave Splatter Cover, Medium 10.5-inch, Charcoal Review

Verdict: a practical cover if it fits your everyday dishes

The Tovolo Medium Collapsible Microwave Cover is worth considering if reheated sauces and leftovers regularly leave splashes inside your microwave. A washable barrier is a straightforward way to shift some cleanup onto a removable object. The folding sides make this more convenient to store than a permanently tall dome.

This researched review covers the single 10.5-inch Charcoal cover, model 81-31531 and ASIN B07GTC4NCV. We have not tested splatter capture, heating evenness, handle temperature or durability. Its value depends first on fit, then on whether you are willing to wash it after use.

Measure the dishes you actually reheat. A cover that fits yesterday’s small bowl but cannot sit over your usual dinner plate will probably stay in the drawer. Conversely, choosing an unnecessarily large cover can make a small microwave feel cramped and may interfere with rotation.

Sources: Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.

Facts: Medium 10.5-inch Charcoal, model 81-31531

Tovolo’s Medium page lists 10.5 × 10.5 × 1-inch dimensions. The Amazon listing specifies a 3-inch expanded height and describes fitting dishes less than 10 inches in diameter. Treat the 10.5-inch figure as the cover’s outside size, not a promise that every 10.5-inch plate fits underneath.

The official materials list includes both silicone and BPA-free plastic. It is not an all-silicone lid or a glass cover. Official variant data ties Charcoal to SKU 81-31531, matching the Amazon model and UPC 848113031531. Other colors, the larger 13.25-inch cover and three-size sets are separate selections.

Sources: Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.

Features: collapsing sides and visible steam vents

The flexible sidewall changes the cover’s height while the rigid top carries the vents and handle. The practical benefit is a shallow stored shape with more space over food when expanded. The listing advises gently pushing the top up to expand it rather than pulling it open by the handle.

The perforated top lets steam escape; it is deliberately not a sealed lid. That distinction matters if you were hoping to carry soup in a bag or seal leftovers for storage. Treat it as a cover placed over an appropriate dish during microwave use, then use proper storage containers afterward.

Check the full setup: plate width, food height, cover footprint and the path of the rotating turntable. Leave sufficient room above the food rather than pressing the lid against it. A practical fit check at home is more useful than assuming a product described as Medium suits every microwave.

Sources: Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.

Research: editorial usefulness evidence, not verified virality

The Kitchn featured this Medium Charcoal cover on November 20, 2025, highlighting its collapsible storage and cleanup role. That is dated shopping coverage of the relevant size and color. We are not carrying over its historical price, Amazon badges, review aggregates or monthly-purchase estimates.

We have not established exact-model virality or current social-media momentum. This is included as a practical kitchen convenience product. Nor does the reviewed material establish that every meal heats evenly, that the handle stays cool, or that the cover will remain unstained through a particular number of dishwasher cycles.

Sources: The Kitchn: November 20, 2025 Medium Charcoal coverage, Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.

Safety: vented does not mean cool to the touch

Use this cover for its intended microwave task. Keep it out of conventional ovens, broilers and direct heat; do not infer oven suitability from the silicone component or a broad “heat-resistant” description. For a combination appliance, follow the appliance instructions and avoid convection or grill modes with a plastic microwave cover.

Hot food can produce hot steam and condensation. Remove the cover carefully with its opening directed away from your face and hands, and do not assume the handle is cool because a shopping review says so. Keep the vents unobstructed and observe the delivered product instructions.

Tovolo permits dishwasher washing or soap and water. Clean the underside, folds and vent holes where residue can collect, then let it dry. Inspect the hinges, rim and top for deterioration before reuse. A removable cover simplifies access for cleaning; it does not remove the need to clean.

Sources: Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.

Buying: one well-fitting cover is more useful than a random set

The affiliate link below targets B07GTC4NCV. Confirm Medium, 10.5-inch, Charcoal and one cover, as well as the current seller and return policy. The shared official page may initially display the SKU for a different color; the reviewed Charcoal identifier is 81-31531.

Choose it when your frequent reheating dishes fit comfortably and collapsible storage would help. A rigid microwave-safe dome can be simpler if you dislike flexing a sidewall, while a compatible vented container lid may already do the job. Avoid buying a larger set unless you have a clear use for the additional sizes.

Sources: Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531, Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover.

Questions: material, fit and cleaning

Sources: Tovolo: Medium Collapsible Microwave Food Cover, Amazon: Charcoal Medium model 81-31531.