Cooking Meatloaf At 375 Degrees Fahrenheit Is A Great Way To Achieve A Juicy And Flavorful Result. In This Article, We Will Provide Guidelines For Cooking Times Based On The Size And Shape Of The Meatloaf, The Type Of Meat Used, And The Desired Level Of Doneness.
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General Cooking Time For Meatloaf At 375°F Per Pound
A good rule of thumb is to allow 20-25 minutes of cooking time per pound of meatloaf.
Here is some information on the general cooking time for meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit per pound:
- For a small, thin meatloaf (1-1.5 pounds): 20-30 minutes
- For a medium-sized meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds): 30-40 minutes
- For a large, thick meatloaf (2-3 pounds): 40-50 minutes
- For a very large meatloaf (3+ pounds): 50+ minutes
Cooking Time For Meatloaf At 375° F In A Convection Oven
Cooking meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit in a convection oven may require slightly less time than in an ordinary oven.
As a general guideline, you can reduce the cooking time for meatloaf to 375 degrees Fahrenheit in a convection oven by about 25%. For example, the cooking time for a medium-sized meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds) in an ordinary oven is 30-40 minutes, it may only take 22.5-30 minutes in a convection oven.
Cooking Time For Meatloaf At 375°F In A Air Fryer
The cooking time for meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit in an air fryer is shorter than in a conventional oven. Here are some rough estimates for cooking times based on the size of the meatloaf:
Cooking Time For Meatloaf At 375°F Uncovered Vs Covered
The choice to cook meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit uncovered or covered can affect the cooking time. Here’s how:
- Cooking meatloaf uncovered: The cooking time for meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit is about 10-15% shorter if cooked uncovered. For example, if the general cooking time for a medium-sized meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds) in a conventional oven is 30-40 minutes, it may only take 27-34 minutes if cooked uncovered.
- Cooking meatloaf covered: The cooking time for meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit to be about 10-15% longer if cooked covered. For example, if the general cooking time for a medium-sized meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds) in a conventional oven is 30-40 minutes, it may take 33-46 minutes if cooked covered.
How Long To Cook Chicken Meatloaf At 375°F
The cooking time for chicken meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit is shorter than for beef or pork meatloaf. Here are some rough estimates for cooking times based on the size of the meatloaf:
- For a small, thin chicken meatloaf (1-1.5 pounds): 20-25 minutes
- For a medium-sized chicken meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds): 25-30 minutes
- For a large, thick chicken meatloaf (2-3 pounds): 30-35 minutes
- For a very large chicken meatloaf (3+ pounds): 35+ minutes
Chicken meatloaf should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that it is safe to eat.
How Long To Cook Mini Meatloaf At 375°F
Cooking mini meatloaves at 375 degrees Fahrenheit may take approximately 50-70% less time than cooking a normal-sized meatloaf at the same temperature. This is because mini meatloaves are smaller and therefore require less time to cook through.
- For small, thin mini meatloaves (1-2 ounces each): 15-20 minutes
- For medium-sized mini meatloaves (2-4 ounces each): 20-25 minutes
- For large mini meatloaves (4-6 ounces each): 25-30 minutes
Cooking Time For Frozen Meatloaf At 375°F
The cooking time for frozen meatloaf at 375°F will take approximately 25-50% longer to cook than fresh meatloaf.
- For a small, thin frozen meatloaf (1-1.5 pounds): 30-40 minutes
- For a medium-sized frozen meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds): 40-50 minutes
- For a large, thick frozen meatloaf (2-3 pounds): 50-60 minutes
- For a very large frozen meatloaf (3+ pounds): 60+ minutes
How Long To Cook Turkey Meatloaf At 375°F
As a general guideline, you can expect the cooking time for turkey meatloaf at 375 degrees Fahrenheit to be shorter than for beef or pork meatloaf.
- For a small, thin turkey meatloaf (1-1.5 pounds): 20-25 minutes
- For a medium-sized turkey meatloaf (1.5-2 pounds): 25-30 minutes
- For a large, thick turkey meatloaf (2-3 pounds): 30-35 minutes
- For a very large turkey meatloaf (3+ pounds): 35+ minutes
Optimal Temperature For Cooking Meatloaf In The Oven
The optimal temperature for cooking meatloaf in the oven will depend on the type of meat you are using and the desired level of doneness.
- For beef and pork meatloaf, the optimal cooking temperature is 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For poultry meatloaf, the optimal cooking temperature is slightly higher, at 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whether To Cover Meatloaf While Baking
Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to cover meatloaf while baking:
- Moisture retention: Covering meatloaf while baking can help to retain moisture and prevent the meatloaf from drying out.
- Appearance: Covering meatloaf while baking can also affect the appearance of the finished product. Covering the meatloaf can help to prevent the top from becoming too dark or crusty, resulting in a more evenly colored and visually appealing meatloaf.
- Cooking time: Covering meatloaf while baking can also affect the cooking time. As a general rule, covering the meatloaf while baking will result in a longer cooking time, as it slows down the circulation of heat around the meatloaf.
How To Determine When A Meatloaf Is Done
There are a few ways to determine when a meatloaf is done:
Causes Of Meatloaf Falling Apart And How To Prevent It
By following these tips, you can prevent your meatloaf from falling apart and enjoy a perfectly cooked and cohesive dish:
- Overmixing: Overmixing the meatloaf mixture can cause the proteins in the meat to break down and become too cohesive, resulting in a dense and crumbly meatloaf. To prevent this, mix the ingredients just until they are evenly combined and avoid overmixing.
- Insufficient binder: A binder such as eggs or breadcrumbs helps to hold the meatloaf together and prevent it from falling apart. If the meatloaf mixture does not contain enough binder, it may fall apart during cooking. To prevent this, be sure to use the recommended amount of binder in the recipe or add an additional binder if needed.
- Undercooking: If the meatloaf is undercooked, it may be too soft and fall apart when sliced. To prevent this, be sure to cook the meatloaf to the recommended internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the meatloaf has reached the desired internal temperature.
- Overcooking: On the other hand, if the meatloaf is overcooked, it may become dry and crumbly. To prevent this, be sure to avoid overcooking the meatloaf and check it periodically with a meat thermometer to ensure that it is cooked to your desired level of doneness.
Tips For Keeping Meatloaf Moist
By following these tips, you can help to keep your meatloaf moist and enjoy a flavorful and tender dish:
- Use a binder: A binder such as eggs or breadcrumbs helps to retain moisture in the meatloaf and prevent it from becoming dry.
- Add moisture: You can also add moisture to the meatloaf mixture by including ingredients such as milk, sour cream, or diced vegetables with a high water content (such as bell peppers or zucchini).
- Cover while baking: Covering the meatloaf while baking can help to retain moisture and prevent the meatloaf from drying out. You can use aluminum foil or a lid to cover the meatloaf while it is baking.
- Let it rest: After cooking, let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and helps to keep the meatloaf moist.
Whether To Drain The Grease From Meatloaf
If you want the top of your meatloaf to be crisp, you can drain the grease 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time. This works well if you want to keep the meatloaf moist while baking it in a loaf pan. This method works best when the meatloaf has already been cooked because it makes it easier to cut.
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Here is a simple recipe for Meatloaf that includes the previous cooking times mentioned:
