Cover a single large meatloaf with a piece of aluminum foil during cooking to keep it moist, but uncover it for the last 15 minutes of baking. “Meatloaf is highly suited to being either frozen raw for cooking later or cooked and frozen to reheat.” Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
How long to cook meatloaf at 375 covered or uncovered?
At 375°F a 1 lb meatloaf will take about 25 to 30 minutes for the meatloaf temp to reach 160°F. A 2 lb meatloaf will take about 40 to 50 minutes for the meatloaf temp to reach 160°F. A 3 lb meatloaf will take about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes for the meatloaf temp to reach 160°F.
How do you keep meatloaf moist?
Add moisture at every step.
Don’t skip adding eggs, ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire, barbecue sauce or some combination of wet seasonings. They don’t just add flavor and texture, they help make the meat super juicy.
Why is my meatloaf mushy?
The ratio of meat in a meatloaf is critical to the final texture. The main cause of a mushy meatloaf is too much bread and milk for the amount of meat. To fix the issue, try reducing the amount of bread and milk by half. Another fix is to double the amount of meat.
Why is my meatloaf not cooking in the middle?
Do you mean that the meatloaf has not reached the required internal temperature OR do you mean that the meatloaf does not appear to be “done” (still red in the middle)? If it is the latter, it could be that the meat mixture was overmixed. The ingredients need to be tossed together quickly with the minimum of handling.
How long does a 3 lb meatloaf take to cook at 350?
Mix all ingredients together, form into a loaf, and place on a roasting pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 1 1/2 hours.
What is the best temperature to cook meatloaf?
The ideal oven temperature for cooking meatloaf is no higher than 350 degrees. While it’s tempting to crank the oven up for a shorter bake time, the tender and juicy meatloaf you’ll get from a low and slow bake will be worth the wait.
How do I make my meatloaf not dry?
Therefore, additional moisture is needed to prevent even your best meatloaf recipe from becoming dry and crumbly. Be sure to soak your breadcrumbs or add additional liquid to a standard meatloaf recipe. One solution is to soak your breadcrumbs/oatmeal in milk for 15 minutes before adding them to your recipe.
How do you know when meatloaf is done?
A 2-pound meatloaf will reliably cook in about an hour — try not to overcook or the meat will start getting tough and crumbly. The best way to know when a meatloaf is done is by checking its internal temperature; as soon as it hits 155°F, you can pull it from the oven.
How long should meatloaf rest?
You can make meatloaf either in a loaf pan or free-form. Free-form meatloaves have a crust all around; loaf-pan meatloaves have a more “steamed” texture. It’s strictly a matter of preference. Let your meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven; it will hold together better when slicing.
What happens if you put too much bread crumbs in meatloaf?
A-Meatloaves most often crumble when they contain too many bread crumbs or too few eggs or when they have not cooled partially in the fat-filled loaf pan in which they were baked. We suggest adding no more than 1/3 cup of crumbs for each pound of meat and adding 1 egg for each pound of meat plus an extra egg.
What is the best filler for meatloaf?
10 Best Fillers for Meatloaf
- Oatmeal. …
- Dried Vegetables. …
- Pork Rinds. …
- Boxed Stuffing. …
- Cooked Rice. …
- Dried Soup Mix. …
- Fresh or Frozen Veggies. Consider adding some fresh spinach or frozen vegetables into the mixture. …
- Potatoes. Adding potato flakes to meatloaf is another great way to hold everything together while adding an extra bit of creamy goodness.
What is the best binder for meatloaf?
The binder gives a meatloaf it’s tender texture and helps it retain moisture. The best binder for making a meatloaf is whatever you already have in your kitchen. It is an excellent use for stale bread and crackers, old breadcrumbs, oatmeal, unsweetened cereal and even leftover potatoes.
Is it okay for meatloaf to be a little pink?
A ground beef patty or meatloaf cooked to the required temperature of 160 F (71 C) is safe. Yet under certain conditions it may still be pink in color. … This too can combine with the myoglobin in meat, causing it to retain its pink color (though usually just on the surface) even when well cooked.
Why does my meatloaf take so long to cook?
Baking a meatloaf packed into a loaf pan takes much longer than baking a meatloaf formed by hand in a larger pan where is is not as dense and the air can circulate. … In addition if the pan was larger so the loaf was not as high or dense, that will greatly reduce the cooking time.
Is it OK to eat pink meatloaf?
Regardless of the color, your meatloaf (and any other ground meats) will be safe to eat once the internal temperature reaches 160 ºF, the point at which any harmful bacteria that might be present will be destroyed. Using a meat thermometer will allow you to cook meats safely, and to perfection.