Meatloaf is a deliciously satisfying dish. The savory-sweet meal is essentially ground beef meets bread. The hearty qualities of meat shaped into a bread loaf give you the best of both worlds.
To cook meatloaf in the oven, simply combine the ingredients and mold them into a bread pan. Pop them into an oven to create perfectly baked meatloaf.
You need the right meatloaf internal temp to get that rich, juicy meatloaf texture. This requires both the correct meatloaf cook time and the oven temp for meatloaf.
You are probably wondering what temperature to cook meatloaf. The ideal temperature for most ovens is 375 degrees Fahrenheit. So now you may be asking how long to cook meatloaf at 375?
Baking meatloaf is easy when you know how to! Read on to discover all the best cooking, storing, and reheating tips for that tasty meatloaf recipe.
How Long to Cook Meatloaf At 375?
Are you asking the question, how long do you cook a meatloaf at 375? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
Meatloaf is usually cooked at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. How long depends on the weight of the meatloaf.
When preparing your meatloaf, it is important to spread the meat evenly throughout the baking pan. You do not want any parts too thick or thin, or the loaf will not cook evenly.
That being said, the overall cooking temperature of your meat is based on weight. Lighter-weight loaves require shorter cooking times, while heavier loaves require longer.
The following questions will break down how to make meatloaf in the oven based on weight.
What Temperature to Cook Meatloaf in The Oven?
So you have prepped all the ingredients, and your meatloaf is oven-ready! Now, you should be asking what temperature and how long to bake meatloaf?
The ideal temperature to bake meatloaf is between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is hot enough that both the interior and exterior of the meatloaf cook thoroughly.
The meatloaf should be cooked in order to be safe to consume. However, you want a crispy, slightly burnt crust with a juicy, flavorful center.
Higher temperatures tend to burn the outside without fully cooking the inside. Lower temperatures will take too long to cook the inside and may leave the outside soft.
Do You Bake Meatloaf Covered or Uncovered?
Another common question people ask when making this dish is, do you cover meatloaf when baking?
The short answer is yes, you should cover meatloaf when baking it. This will ensure the enclosed contents heat up evenly and thoroughly. It will also prevent the loaf from drying out on the top or inside, leaving all the juicy flavors intact.
However, you have the option to leave meatloaf covered or uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes.
I personally prefer leaving it uncovered for the last portion of baking to give the outside extra crispiness. That burnt texture carmelizes the sugars on top, leaving a slightly sweet crust.
How Do You Keep Meatloaf from Falling Apart?
In order to keep a meatloaf intact, you need to add binders to your mixture. A traditional meatball recipe calls for breadcrumbs and eggs. These two binding items bring balance and form to the meatloaf.
Breadcrumbs soak up extra moisture, so your loaf doesn’t get too dry or too liquidy. Eggs work as an excellent binding agent because it is liquid while mixing the ingredients, helping the components blend together.
However, the proteins solidify as they cook, which helps the meatloaf take on a solid, loaf-like texture.
How Long Does Meatloaf Take to Cook?
Are you wondering how long to cook meatloaf in the oven? Meatloaf can take anywhere from 25 minutes to over an hour, depending on the oven temperature and weight of the meatloaf.
Meatloaf is generally cooked at 350 or 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your oven is set to 350, how long does meatloaf take to cook? The meatloaf takes roughly 40-50 minutes for a one-pound meatloaf, the 2 lb meatloaf cooking time is 1 hour and 10 minutes, and 1.5 hours for a 3-pound meatloaf.
How long do you cook meatloaf at 375? The meatloaf takes an estimated 20-25 minutes per additional pound at this temperature. To start, a 1-pound meatloaf takes 25-30 minutes, while a two-pound meatloaf will take 40-50 minutes. A 3-pound meatloaf requires 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
How Long to Cook 1 lb Meatloaf At 375?
Do you need to know how long to cook 1 lb meatloaf at 375? The answer is 25-30 minutes.
This is the estimated length of time it takes to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it is best to test the internal temperature to make sure it is fully cooked in the center before removing your meatloaf from the oven.
How Long to Cook 1 lb Meatloaf At 350?
Do you need to know how long to cook 1 lb meatloaf at 350? The answer is 35-45 minutes.
This is the estimated length of time it takes to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it is best to test the internal temperature to make sure it is fully cooked in the center before removing your meatloaf from the oven.
How Long to Cook A 3lb Meatloaf?
Do you need to know how long to cook a 3 lb meatloaf? The answer varies depending on the temperature of the oven. It is recommended to bake the meatloaf between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 350 degrees, a 3-pound meatloaf will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 ½ hour. At 375 degrees, a 3-pound meatloaf should take 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
How Long to Cook 4 lb Meatloaf?
Do you need to know how long to cook a 4 lb meatloaf? The answer varies depending on the temperature of the oven. It is recommended to bake the meatloaf between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 350 degrees, a 4-pound meatloaf will take about 2 hours to 2 hours and 40 minutes. At 375 degrees, a 4-pound meatloaf should take 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Remember, the answer to how long to cook 4 lb meatloaf? relies on the meat being evenly distributed in the pan. Since this is a larger quantity of meat, this detail is essential to cook all sections adequately.
How Do I Know When Meatloaf Is Done?
The temp for meatloaf, when done should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit inside. There are several ways to test this. You can use the knife test to make sure the inside feels hot enough.
However, the most accurate way to test this is to use a meat thermometer. Stick the thermometer in the thickest portion of the meat and wait for the temperature to register fully. If your meat is under 160 degrees, continue to cook it and test it again.
How to Make the Best Meatloaf Recipe?
Not all meatloaf is made the same! If you’re hoping to make the best meatloaf recipe out there, try these tips:
- Sautee your veggies before adding them to the meatloaf. This keeps them buttery and will contribute moisture to your meatloaf.
- Use high-fat meat. High-fat meat has more flavor and moisture, so you won’t get a dry, bland-tasting loaf.
- Allow extra room in the pan for your meatloaf to expand.
- Don’t forget a glaze on top! Not only does it add flavor to the crust, but it also helps to seal in the flavors of the loaf.
- Remove the covering for the last ten minutes of baking. This will crisp up the outer layer, adding a caramelized quality.
How Do You Keep the Meatloaf Moist?
To keep the meatloaf moist, you should add the right quantity and quality of ingredients. It is important not to skimp on the amount of moisture-adding ingredients such as ketchup, eggs, or sauces.
Use high-fat meat to add moisture to the loaf. Fat does not dry out as quickly when cooking compared to protein. While leaner meats might have some health advantages, they tend to dry out more easily for this reason.
Cover your meat while cooking. This will lock in the flavors and moisture, preventing unnecessary drying out.
Can You Freeze Meatloaf?
You can freeze meatloaf for up to 6 months in the freezer. Once it has reached room temperature, store it in an airtight container and place it in the freezer.
Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before heating it up again.
How to Reheat Meatloaf?
You can reheat meatloaf in the oven, microwave, or stove. Make sure to reheat only the portion you wish to consume.
You can reheat a larger portion in the oven. Wrap it in tinfoil and place it in a baking tray covered with a thin layer of water. Reheat for 20-25 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is best to reheat meatloaf by the slice when using a microwave or stove. Cut it into thin pieces and pan fry on low heat, flipping when one side is hot. Microwave thin slices for 20 seconds, check the temperature and repeat if necessary.
Check Also:
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- How Long Does It Take to Boil Potatoes?
- How Long to Cook a Hot Pocket in Microwave?
- Ways to Reheat Crab Legs?
- How to Cook Frozen Shrimp?
Meatloaf is a classic dish of the south. And what better recipe to follow than a traditional southern one! Follow these instructions to get a perfectly sweet and savory meatloaf. Enjoy it straight from the oven. 
How Long To Cook Meatloaf at 375?
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
Sauce:
Instructions
However, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. Make sure to spread the meat evenly on the baking pan and cover it for the bulk of the cooking. You may take it off to get the crust crispy towards the end.
Now that you know what you’re doing, you can be confident that you’ll bake a tasty meatloaf! Bon appetit!
