Cooking meatloaf advice?!
Cooking meatloaf advice?
I have a problem when cooking meatloaf. After the meatloaf is finish baking I notice that it breaks/separates. I have tried adjusting the recipe using 2 eggs versus 3 eggs and vice versa. I've tried adjusting the oven temperature but I still have the same problem. Any suggestions on what I can do?
Answers:
Try this recipe and see if it helps. You may not be packing the meat mixture into the pan right, or even using the wrong size pan. I always use a filler like bread crumbs, or oatmeal, this helps hold the meatloaf together.
BEST MEATLOAF
BASIC MIX:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 c. fresh Italian style bread crumbs
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water or beef stock (can use bouillon)
3 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. Parmesan, grated (optional)
In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, ketchup, Balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and water/beef stock.
In a large bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, onions, green bell pepper, parsley, chopped garlic, egg, seasonings, 3/4 cup of tomato mixture, and optionally, Parmesan cheese.
Form into loaf. Place into shallow 7 by 10 in. pan or bread loaf tin, lightly oiled. Pour remaining liquid over meat loaf to coat. Bake in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for one hour and 15 minutes, basting occasionally with ketchup or your favorite barbecue sauce.
Optional Variations:
Choose one:
1. Eliminate salt, bouillon, and substitute 3 tablespoon onion soup mix. Sprinkle top with tomato soup and crushed crackers instead.
2. Use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of bread crumbs.
3. If you have leftover bread, especially Italian or French bread, substitute milk for the water listed in recipe, and soak about 2 cups bread in the milk prior to mixing into the meat mixture. Squeeze out the excess slightly before adding. Substitute this bread for the bread crumbs. After mixing everything together, you can also form this meat mixture into meatballs and fry in 1/2 inch olive oil in a heavy bottom skillet (such as cast iron). If making Italian meatballs, leave out the brown sugar and Dijon mustard, but be sure to use the Parmesan cheese. Season the oil in the pan with 2-3 whole cloves garlic (don't chop it up or it will burn instead of just roasting).
4. If you're in a hurry, you may use as a substitute 2 cups of barbecue sauce and eliminate the following ingredients:
1 c. ketchup
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. of brown sugar
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
5. Eliminate the sauté crumbs. Sauté this mixture with onion and garlic for 5 minutes and layer a casserole with no-cook lasagna noodles. Place meat mixture to cover noodles. Add a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and:
1/3 pound ricotta mixed with one egg
1/4 c. freshly chopped Italian parsley or 1 c. fresh spinach
1/2 pound grated mozzarella cheese
Cover with another layer of noodles, and top with 1 large can of tomato sauce mixed with 1/2 teaspoon each basil and oregano. Place in 325 degree oven 60 minutes or until bubbly, basting occasionally with sauce to prevent lasagna from drying out.
6. Form meat mixture into large doughnut shapes, approximately 6-7 inches across. When forming the doughnut, don't allow the center to actually become a doughnut hole; just thin it out, leaving a well in the center. Optionally, brush with ketchup. Crush 8-10 Saltine or Ritz crackers into crumbs and sprinkle over the doughnut shaped burger, concentrating the excess crumbs into the center. Sprinkle with onion and garlic powder and a liberal dose of soy sauce, allowing a 1/2 spoon or so to form in the well. This can optionally be topped with cheese and canned mushrooms if desired. Place in microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes or so, according to size, until the juices run clear and meat doughnut is done. Served with meat drippings as topping, there is no need for a bun. This is a fast and easy low-carb lunch!
7. Place 3-4 strips of bacon lengthwise along the top of the meatloaf. Garnish with rings of green or red bell pepper and bake as usual. 8. Use your imagination, get creative, and enjoy!
Try using a different recipe altogether.
when you mix all your ingredients in make shure the loaf feels solid too much liquid such as tomato sauce or to much dry ingredients such as cracker crumbs or bread crumbs or what ever you use will cause it to get crumbly
korkie
Use the recipe off the Lipton onion soup box
I don't bake my meatloaf in a loaf pan. I put it either in an 8" square pan or a 9 x 13 pan. It's not as high and it will shrink, like usual, but I've had no problems with it breaking up. Also, you could try refrigerating it before baking it to make it a little more solid.
add some more bread crumbs...also when baking it put 2 peices of bread in the bottom of the pan to sop up some of the extra grease
mix pork with it.
Are you using a super lean ground beef? It may not have enough fat to help hold it together. Use some that is not quite as lean, and mix it in. You also may need more breadcrumbs.
Best way to check is when you are ready to put it in the pan - does it feel sticky? If so, it's too "wet". Add more breadcrumbs.
you should use more bread crumbs or cracker witch ever one you use. I use to have the same problem