Sometimes it’s the simple things that make life easier. Case in point: The Progressive Microwave Food Cover.

To be perfectly honest, I never knew this thing existed until I saw it one day on the shelf at a Bed Bath & Beyond. I had seen other “microwave safe” knockoffs, but nothing of this specific purpose. For years, and all through my college days, I’d been using a paper towel to cover anything that went into the microwave. It was sufficient if there was a little splash, but if something exploded, like spaghetti and meatballs, then there was no saving the microwave from being covered in food. And forget about cleaning it. Not that it’s that difficult to clean, but really, who cleans their microwave on a regular basis?

So you can imagine my excitement at having a microwave food cover. No longer do I have to stand in front of the microwave, listening carefully for that first little pop so that I can jump in and hit the off button before my food blows up. No more burnt tomato sauce covering the sides of my microwave.

There’s not much to say here in terms of specs, except that it’s a cover with holes at the top, its dishwasher safe, food safe, and FDA approved. It’s amazing how something so simple can bring a smile to my face every time I use it. Trust me, it’s the best 3 bucks you’ll ever spend.

Cost: $3-$5