Video:Tips for Cooking Meatloaf

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Transcript:Tips for Cooking Meatloaf

Hi there, Abby Feldman for About.com. Today were talking about a family favorite that’s a versatile dish, great for any menu. What is it---meatloaf. Today we’ve got some great tips to cook this classic dish.

Kind of Meats Used in Meatloaf:

Beef or pork mince are the most popular meats used for meatloaf. But, why not experiment? Next time meatloaf’s on the menu, try using a mix of veal, pork or beef for added flavor and moisture.
When combining the ingredients don’t over knead or you can end up with a compact, mushy texture.

How to Keep Meatloaf Moist:

For every pound of meat, you will need to add half a cup of filler such as breadcrumbs, oat bran, or even grated or mashed potato. If you want a moist meatloaf, use mashed wet bread and a dash of salad oil rather than dry breadcrumbs. But don’t get carried away! Adding too much bread can make your meatloaf spongy.

You can also keep the mix moist by coating the meatloaf with tomato sauce, adding one-quarter of a cup of tomato juice, wine or beef broth for every pound of meat and wrapping the mixture with strips of bacon or pork.

Baking Tips for Meatloaf:

The cooking time for your standard loaf is one to one-and-a-half hours in a 350 degree oven. To minimize cracking, rub water over the meatloaf before you put it in the oven and if you’re looking to cut calories, bake the meatloaf on a rack within the tray. This will let the fat drip off.

We hope these tips will help you perfect the ultimate comfort food. more tips and recipes, visit us as at About.com Thank you for watching!