Temperature Of Meatloaf When Done – If you are very sure about the meatloaf ingredients, but want to know how hot and how long to cook it, and know when it is done, here are some simple tips to help you.
I recently wrote a post explaining how to choose the best beef recipe for you. In doing so, I reviewed twenty-eight recipes for this classic dish, and found the most consistent way to cook beef, as well as analyzing the cooking times used by the authors. So, I can pull out a simple guide for reliable results for your next oven bake. And not just beef – I can help you get pork. Chicken or turkey too!
Temperature Of Meatloaf When Done
If you need instructions, don’t forget to go to our easy 5-step cooking guide. Or you can jump to read detailed answers to one of the three big questions:
Classic Meatloaf Recipe (the Food Lab)
Because there are so many different ingredients and methods among meatloaf recipes, you would expect the oven temperature to vary, but that’s not the case.
Of the twenty-eight recipes I looked at, twenty-three authors roast the meat at 350°F (180°C). Of the other five, one cooks cooler, and four cooks slightly hotter, but none above 400°F (200°C).
Meatloaf is a deep, dense dish, so it takes a long time to cook at this temperature. But the reason most authors do not overheat is to give the meat time to cook evenly.
If you cook it too hot, the meat on the outside will tend to overcook, which is a common cause of cracks on the top of the meat. And cracked mutton tends to be dry and crumbly when sliced.
The Biggest Meatloaf Mistake You’re Making
To prevent cracking and keep the finished dish moist, the ideal oven temperature for meatloaf is 350°F (180°C). And this is true whether it’s pork, beef, turkey or chicken.
Uneven bread (baked on a tray rather than in a pan) will cook faster, so cooking at 400°F (200°C) seems fine. But for beef cooked in a deep skillet, you need to keep it to 350°F.
Before we know the approximate cooking time, we need to know how to calculate the cooking time. These are big, thick cuts of meat, so how do you tell when they’re fully cooked?
Of course you can cut into the meat to see if it’s cooked. But this method is not stupid, add more water to escape. This will be worse if it has to go back in the oven.
Meatloaf Internal Temperature ( How To Tell When Meatloaf Is Done)
As with many other foods, especially large cuts of meat, the best way to tell when they are done is to measure the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
If you’ve never used one, a meat thermometer is a device with a long, thin probe that you insert into meat (or other food) to measure its internal temperature. They are cheap, and indispensable. It is especially useful with large cuts of meat, like thick cuts of beef.
For smaller cuts of meat that are cooked several times at once, such as chicken breasts, you need an instant-read thermometer. It can quickly measure the temperature of the meat when it is inserted into the probe.
I use this digital meat gauge, and it works great, for me. You have a clear internal temperature in about four or five seconds. Simply open the oven, slide out the oven rack, and insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. You will know what to cook, how much you need, and after measuring, measuring two or three times, you will feel that the temperature rises very quickly.
Mini Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
But for larger cuts of meat like this, it’s easier to use a thermometer that can be left on the meat while it’s cooking.
I use an oven-safe thermometer, which I insert into the meat before putting it in the oven. Then, if I’ve kept my oven glass clean enough (not always a safe assumption!), I can monitor the temperature of the beef as it cooks without opening the oven. You can also get fancier models with digital readers, and wireless models that even read out on your phone.
The US Department of Agriculture’s recommended minimum safe temperature is 160°F (71°C) for beef, pork, veal and lamb, and 165°F (74°C) for chicken and turkey.
However, to get the best results with large pieces of meat, you should let it rest (covered loosely with foil) for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This allows the juices in the meat to be distributed evenly, and gives time for a constant temperature. And that means the temperature of the meatloaf will usually rise by about 10°F or more while it’s resting.
How Long To Cook 1 Lb Meatloaf
So if you pull your meat out of the oven at 160°F (71°C), by the time you rest it may have risen to 170°F (77°C) or more, which means you’re out. many are unnecessary. juice while the meat continues to cook more than it needs.
You’ll get better results if you pull the meat out of the oven about 10°F below the target temperature.
If you are going to take the roast out of the oven for 10 or 15 minutes, you can pull it out of the oven at 150°F (66°C) for beef or pork and 155°F (68°C) for chicken or turkey. Just check the temperature again after resting and before cutting to make sure it has risen to a safe temperature.
According to the recipe I saw, meatloaf will cook about five to seven minutes faster (per pound) at 375°F (190°C) than at 350°F (180°C). And at 400°F (200°C), it can cook two to three minutes faster (per pound).
The Best Smoked Meatloaf
Because there is a difference in shape between unshaped meatloaf and one cooked in a loaf pan, there is a difference in cooking time between the two methods.
If you cook the meat loosely in a pan or pan, it may take 5 to 10 minutes faster per pound of meat, depending on the shape. And flat-shaped bread will cook faster than deep-shaped bread.
In a 350°F (180°C) oven, beef or pork should take 30 to 40 minutes per pound of meat (66-88 minutes per pound).
If you cook free-standing on a baking sheet or tray it will go to the bottom of this range, and if in the oven, it will go to the top.
Meatloaf Internal Temperature Guide: Best Temperature For Cooking Meatloaf
Chicken or turkey will take longer because of the higher target temperature (35 to 45 minutes per pound).
And of course this is just a guide as everyone’s oven is different. To be safe, start checking the internal temperature when you get to about 25 minutes per pound, to make sure the meat isn’t cooking faster than you’d like. Or better yet use an oven safe meat thermometer and keep it on so you know what’s going on.
This recipe works for beef or pork, but chicken or turkey will take longer. It should be removed from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 155°F, and it is safe to slice and eat at 165°F (74°C).
All of this is of course just a guide, as there are many factors that can cause you to take longer, or cook faster. But you can avoid these problems by watching the temperature inside while you’re away.
Smoked Meatloaf With Quail Eggs
At 350°F, you should expect the grill to take between 30 and 40 minutes per pound (66 to 88 minutes per kg at 180°C).
For best results, let the beef rest for 10 minutes (covered with foil) after coming out of the oven.
If you rest the beef for 10 minutes, you can remove it from the oven at 150°F (66°C) for beef or pork, and at 155°F (68°C) for chicken or turkey.
You can find the recipe I used to make this guide in my post on choosing beef recipes, or on my beef Pinterest board.
How To Adjust Temperature And Time For Meat Loaf Pan Size
Ever tried to choose a recipe, or wondered what the basics of food are? I think I can help! Read more … Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops recipes that are approachable for cooks. Her recipes range from grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
Meatloaf is a classic American dish that is always a family favorite. And even though it’s a simple meal, there are some things – like the cooking time – that you can do at home. We have a few simple tips to make sure your next meat has flavor, moisture, and is cooked to perfection.
Beef is the meat choice for the best flavor, and also the cheapest option. Ground meat quality means less fat and therefore healthier meat, but still
What temperature should meatloaf be when it's done, when is meatloaf done, temperature of pork when done, internal temperature of meatloaf when done, temperature of meatloaf when cooked, temperature of bread when done, temperature for meatloaf well done, temperature of chicken when done, temperature of beef when done, meatloaf temperature when done, meatloaf cooking temperature done, meatloaf temp when done