How Long To Cook Meatloaf (And Why)?

How Long To Cook Meatloaf (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 50 minutes

New recipes are created every day. Cooking has developed beyond imagination since the beginning of time. Various factors influence every recipe newly created. The ingredients one chooses, the method of preparation and cooking, the spices, flavorings, and seasonings used all influence the recipe.

There are new dishes cooked everywhere, but one of the beef dishes that has been known to mankind for a long time now is meatloaf. One of the best ways to cook a meatloaf is baking them. The time taken to cook a meatloaf is about 50 minutes to an hour.

How Long To Cook Meatloaf

How Long To Cook Meatloaf?

TemperatureTime
350 Fahrenheit1 hour 15 minutes
375 Fahrenheit50 minutes
400 Fahrenheit1 hour

Typically meatloaf is a dish that is mainly made of ground meat, especially beef. To make a meatloaf, the beef is grounded and mixed with multiple other ingredients. After making the mix, they are made into the shape of a loaf, which is then smoked or baked.

The shape is obtained either by forming the loaf shape by hand or pan formed. The loaf formed by pan is got by cooking them in a loaf pan. The other ingredients used in the mix of meatloaf other than ground beef include eggs, onion, bread crumbs, ground meat, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcester sauce.

While baking them, some sauces are applied on the exterior, which when baked form a delicious glaze. The meat used can be any read meat, including lamb and pork. They are tasty, and homemade meatloaf has its health benefits. They contain various vitamins, rich in protein. Meatloaf contains fat, calories, cholesterol, sodium, vitamin A and C, calcium, and iron.

Since they are rich in protein they help very much in brain development, and it also improves muscle. It also helps in fastening stomach fullness, improving memory, avoid dementia and anemia. They help in bone development too.

Meatloaf

Many recipes of meatloaf involve baking them and there are some things to keep in check while cooking them. Some among them are the temperature at which they are baked, the time they are baked, and techniques to follow to keep them from overcooking.

Why Does It Take That Long To Cook Meat Loaf?

Normally a meatloaf is made to weigh 1lb or 2 lbs. They are easier to cook, bake, cut, and serve. When one overlooks the meatloaf, they will become crumbly and tough. The time taken to cook a meatloaf depends upon the temperature at which they are cooked and the weight of the meatloaf.

According to experts, the right temperature to cook a meatloaf is normally 375 Fahrenheit, but one can also cook them at 350, 400, and 425 Fahrenheit.

The internal temperature of the meatloaf should reach 160 Fahrenheit. That’s when one can know that the meatloaf is fully cooked, not overcooked nor undercooked. If the meatloaf weighs 1lb, the time taken to cook it at 375 Fahrenheit is around 30 minutes, and if it weighs 2lb, it is cooked for about 50 minutes to an hour.

At 350 Fahrenheit, the meatloaf is cooked for around 1 hour 15 minutes, while it must be baked for an hour at 400 Fahrenheit to get the soft, juicy texture. Certain recipes are followed by many to make a delicious meatloaf. First, the meat is chosen according to one’s choice and then grounded. After that, the other main ingredients are mixed with the ground meat. Flavorings are added to give taste.

Meatloaf

Many people like to glaze their meatloaf with something that will give it an appetizing and tasty look. There will be some cracks within and on the outside of the meatloaf. When the glaze is added to the exterior, it will penetrate the cracks and juice up the dish. The glaze is normally made up of vinegar, ketchup, and sugar.

Conclusion

After following all the major steps in the recipe, the meatloaf must be cooked. After the meatloaf is glazed, it is put into the tray in which is supposed to be baked. The oven is preheated to a temperature of 375 Fahrenheit.

After that, the meatloaf is baked for at least 50 minutes to an hour to make them nice and soft. Overcooking can make them tough and crumble and they cannot be cut easily without being mutilated.

References

  1. https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3316782.3321524
  2. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/45/8/695/165661

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32 thoughts on “How Long To Cook Meatloaf (And Why)?”

  1. This post was quite informative. It provides detailed information as to the temperature settings and time needed to cook the meatloaf according to portion size.

  2. I was under the impression that meatloaf was unhealthy. This article has certainly given me a different perspective on it.

  3. The article gives a good explanation of the cooking process and what mistakes to avoid. I found it very interesting.

  4. This article provides a good insight of the history and methods of preparation of meatloaf. It is amazing the amount of time and care that goes into preparing this dish. The nutritional information was shocking to me as I didn’t know it was that good for you.

    1. I agree, we often consider these comfort foods to be unhealthy, but in reality, they can be quite good for you.

  5. I think the recipe is interesting and all, but also the history and benefits of meatloaf were fascinating.

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