Italian Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf - Easy Family Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why milk instead of water in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

To help your meatloaf stay together add things such as eggs, bread, crushed croutons, oatmeal, crackers, and breadcrumbs, these are all key ingredients that help meat stick together. I hope that this helps to answer your question. What are the secrets to a firm, sliceable meatloaf that slices and won't fall apart?

Crackers. Crushed-up crackers make an excellent bread crumb substitute in baked dishes like meatballs or meatloaf. The crackers work just as well as the bread crumbs to hold the meat mixture together, and using varieties like salty saltines or buttery Ritz is a great way to add an extra burst of flavor to your dish.

Milk – You can use any type of milk you have on hand (even almond milk or soy milk), or you can substitute ½ cup of plain yogurt. Saltine Crackers – Crushed crackers are used as the binding agent for the meatloaf, but you can substitute 1⅓ cups panko breadcrumbs or ⅔ cup quick oats.

Sure, egg yolks add some rich flavor to a meatloaf, but the real reason we need eggs is for structure—to help bind the meatloaf together. This is especially important since we're making a free-form meatloaf, or one that you shape by hand, versus using a loaf pan.

Use high-fat meat.

For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf. Chopping up bacon and adding it to the mix is always a great way to add fat. Oh, and covering it in bacon never hurts, either.

Yes, ground beef can sometimes dry out and get tough. However, baking soda mixed with water (slurry) and added to the ground beef will ensure tender meat. It will also speed up the browning process. I use 90% ground beef, but it is very tender by adding the baking soda.

Lightly grease a standard size loaf pan with cooking spray. Add all of the meatloaf ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix everything to combine (without over-working the meat). Add the meat mixture to a loaf pan and gently pat into an even layer. Bake for about 30 minutes.

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.

Is one better than the other? Both options are great for meatloaf depending on your preference. Panko usually comes from white bread and doesn't include the crust. It tends to be dryer and flakier in consistency than regular bread crumbs, so they absorb less and produce a lighter-tasting meal.

Is oatmeal better than bread crumbs in meatloaf? ›

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

Crushed-up Ritz crackers make a great substitute and add an extra burst of buttery flavor and moisture to your dish that regular breadcrumbs can't quite match.

Unlike some meatloaves that include pork or other meats, this Cracker Barrel copycat meatloaf is made with all beef. We recommend 80 percent lean ground beef. This fat percentage is high enough to make your meatloaf rich tasting, moist, and juicy but not so high that your meatloaf will be greasy.

There are a number of creative ways to use old, stale crackers and hardtack. Here are some ideas: Make breadcrumbs: Crush the crackers or hardtack into small pieces and use them to make breadcrumbs. You can use the breadcrumbs in recipes like meatloaf, meatballs, or to coat chicken or fish before frying.

Milk adds richness and moisture, while the bread helps keep the meatloaf texture softer. So, omitting milk would omit some creaminess and moisture. Those can be easily subbed out by many other ingredients like chicken stock, cream, butter, etc.

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

As a last resort, you can also use water to replace milk for your baking recipe. Your final bake will not be as rich as if you used milk or other milk alternatives. If the recipe only needs a small amount of milk, such as 60ml, then replacing milk with just water should be fine.

You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open. You will have to bake it at lower temperatures than a lean bread. In other words, your bread will be more like a sandwich bread.