There are many reasons why meatloaf makes a great dinner choice. For one, it is an affordable dish that can easily be made at home. It is also hearty and filling, making it the perfect meal for those cold winter nights. Additionally, meatloaf can be customized to include your favorite ingredients, ensuring that you will enjoy every bite. Finally, it is a dish that can be prepared in advance, making it a convenient option for busy families. So if you are looking for a delicious and affordable dinner option, consider making meatloaf tonight!
One common question that is asked is whether or not to cover meatloaf when baking. The answer to this question depends on the recipe that you are using. Some recipes do not call for the meatloaf to be covered, while others do.
Let’s take a closer look at what method is better.
Covered vs Uncovered Meatloaf Baking
When it comes to cover meatloaf while baking, there are two main schools of thought: those who believe that covering the meatloaf will result in a drier, harder finished product, and those who believe that covering the loaf will keep it moister. Which method you choose ultimately depends on your own preferences and the recipe you are using.
Some recipes do not call for the meatloaf to be covered at all, while others call for a very light covering of foil. Still other recipes recommend tightly wrapping the entire meatloaf in foil before baking. If you are using a recipe, be sure to follow the instructions.
If this is your fist time making meatloaf and you’re winging it, let’s answer this question for you.
Do you cover meatloaf when baking?
To make the moistest meatloaf, the most important thing to remember when baking meatloaf is that it should be covered with a lid or aluminum foil. This will keep the juices and moisture in, which makes for a tender and moist meatloaf. It also keeps the top from getting too browned on top before the inside is fully cooked.
What temperature to bake meatloaf at?
The next step in cooking meatloaf is to decide what oven temperature to bake it at. A good starting point is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Meatloaf will usually take about an hour to cook fully, but you can check it with a meat thermometer to be sure. When the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it is fully cooked.
Be sure to place your meatloaf into a preheated oven! This is very important to make sure your meatloaf cooks well, and ends up with a nice brown coating at the end of cooking.
What is in meatloaf?
Meatloaf is a dish that is made from ground meat, usually beef, pork, or lamb. It is often mixed with other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, eggs, and onions. The great thing about meatloaf is you really can put whatever you want (or whatever you happen to have on hand) in your meatloaf mixture.
How do you keep the meatloaf moist?
One way to keep the meatloaf moist is to cover it with a lid or aluminum foil while baking it, of course. Another way to make meatloaf moist is to make sure you put some sort of liquid into the meat mixture before you form the loaf. Some popular choices are milk, water, and stock.
How long do you cook meatloaf?
In most cases, meatloaf takes about an hour of cooking time when baked at 350 in a conventional oven. If you’re using a convection oven instead of a conventional oven, start with about 45 minutes of cooking time. Of course, this depends on how large your meatloaf is. After the first hour of cooking, be sure to check it with an internal meat thermometer. The meatloaf is fully cooked when it reaches a temperature of 165 Farenheit.
How do you keep the meatloaf from splattering in the oven?
Covering your meatloaf also helps keep it from splattering it in the oven, in addition to making it moist. You can also try to choose a meat that is low in fat content to reduce the splattering.
What’s the best pan to cook meatloaf in?
I like to use a baking dish, or another pan with high sides when cooking meatloaf. I usually make meatloaf with ground beef, that tends to be a little greasy. The higher sides keep the greats from splattering too much, and will not drip on the bottom of your oven.
Another popular choice is to cook your meatloaf in a 9-5-inch loaf pan for a true loaf experience! My advice is to place this pan into a baking dish or baking sheet with sides to spare the bottom of your oven from grease.
I also like to drain the fat from the pan after about half an hour of cooking.
What are some good toppings for meatloaf?
Some good toppings for meatloaf include ketchup, BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, or gravy. You could also add onions, peppers, cheese, or other herbs and spices to give it a personal touch. experiment with different toppings to see what you like best!
For great results, remove the cover from your meatloaf and add your toppings during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
I like to baste my meatloaf with homemade BBQ sauce during the last 15 minutes of cooking, after I have taken the cover off.
Looking for some more meatloaf tips? Check out how to make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, how to reheat meatloaf, and substitutes for egg in meatloaf.
Want to learn more about cooking in the oven?
When do you not cover meatloaf?
There is one case when I never cover my meatloaf, and that is when I am preparing a meatloaf wrapped in bacon. In this case, I want the fat to render out of the bacon, and this will also help keep the meatloaf moist.