Mega meatloaf | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make Jamie Oliver meatloaf? ›

Method. Put the pork, egg and 1 heaped teaspoon of oregano into a bowl. Grate in half the Cheddar, then sprinkle the bread with water and add to the mix. Add a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, use your hands to scrunch it all together well, then shape into a loaf (roughly 20cm long).

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

The wet ingredients you add to meatloaf make it juicy. Using whole milk will add more richness and fat that keeps it from going dry. Along with ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, it gives meatloaf a marvelous texture.

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Not Cooking the Meatloaf Long Enough

Undercooking the meatloaf can also contribute to excess moisture. Make sure to cook the meatloaf thoroughly to evaporate any excess liquid. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature reaches at least 160°F.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Fewer eggs will create a denser and firmer meatloaf that will be more compact and easier to slice, but more eggs can create a more tender and light texture that allows the meatloaf to melt in your mouth.

“Bread crumbs are the best filler for meatloaf,” Salazar says. Dry bread crumbs work with your other liquid binding ingredients (like milk and egg—more on those in a minute) to help hold your loaf together and give it a crumbly, tender texture.

What can I put in meatloaf instead of breadcrumbs? ›

No bells and whistles - just a few ingredients including beef, egg, bread crumbs and a simple tomato-based topping. Use a gentle touch with ground beef. Over-mixing will result in burgers, meatballs or meatloaves with a firm texture.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Covering your meatloaf is a matter of preference. When you cover a meatloaf, the meat cooks more evenly thanks to the steam trapped inside the pan. The foil or lid also helps the meat retain its moisture, which is useful when cooking with lean meats (like chicken or turkey).

The Rachael Ray nonstick pan set is ideal for both meatloaf and homemade breads alike. It has a classic 9-inch by 5-inch loaf shape that's on par with tradition, however, it also has a nifty insert with two handles on each side to help you slide your loaf right out of the pan without food getting stuck inside.