How Long Do I Cook A 2lb Meatloaf In 2023?

Meatloaf is one of the household’s favorite dinners and has even gone upscale by being sold in restaurants. 

There are different ways the meatloaf is prepared; the temperature at which it’s being prepared determines how long it will take to get it cooked.

A 2lb meatloaf in a 350-degree F preheated oven will take 60  minutes to cook, while a frozen one will take 90 minutes to get it cooked. Moreover, the time spent cooking depends on the type of oven you are using, the type of meat used, and the shape and size of your meatloaf.

The higher the temperature, the faster the meatloaf gets cooked. Let’s take a brief look into the preparation of meatloaf and other related things so as for you to have a piece of deep knowledge on the cooking of your  2 pounds weight of meatloaf.

What Temperature Is Best In Getting 2 lb of Meatloaf Cooked?

The best temperature so far for getting meatloaf cooked internally is 350 degrees. Moreover, if you love your meatloaf being crunchy, remove it from the oven after it has been cooked and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F, then return the meatloaf to the oven for it to produce your desired crunchy dinner meal.

You can also cook your meat in a 375-degree F  oven but ensure that the meatloaf temperature does not exceed 165 degrees F internally, which will take 50 minutes to cook.

 A meatloaf cooked in a 400-degree preheated oven will take 40 to 45 minutes to get cooked, depending on the type of meat. 

How Do I Cook The Best 2 Lb MeatLoaf?

You can use any method to make your meatloaf, but the ingredients are essential to differentiate the best meatloaf from a manageable one. The meat and its ingredients are a big deal when it comes to the taste of a meatloaf.

Below are the best ingredients for your meatloaf;

• 90 to  93 % fat-free ground beef or use a meat blend.
• Bread crumbs( You can use a toasted, crumbled slice of bread)
• Eggs.
• Diced onion.
• Vegetable oils 
• Garlic powder or minced garlic cloves
• Salt
• Butter
• Pepper
• Any sauce you love.
• Topping such as Ketchup, brown sugar, tomato sauce, and mustard.

Preparation

Below are the procedures to follow when baking a meatloaf using a  preheated 350-degree F oven.

• Line your baking pan with foil.

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

• Melt your butter in a non-stick frying pan and lightly fry your onion and garlic to a soft texture for 4 to  5 minutes.

• Pour from the frying pan into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

• Inside that same big bowl, add all the other ingredients ranging from ground beef(meat blend) to the bread crumbs, egg, sauce, and milk, and mix them until you cannot identify an ingredient apart.

• Put the mixture in an 8×4” loaf or 9”x 4” loaf pan fully lined with foil.

• Set it into the preheated oven and allow the mixture to bake for 1 hour, depending on the type of meat and the type of oven you use.

• While it is cooking, mix your ketchup, brown sugar, and sauce evenly in a bowl.

• Remove your meatloaf from the oven after 15 minutes and pour your toppings mixture on it before putting it back into the oven for thorough baking.

• Your meatloaf is set; you can also sprinkle vegetables for beautiful toppings.

• Allow the meatloaf temperature to cool down before cutting.

How Long Do I Cook A 2lb Meatloaf In An Air Fryer?

A meatloaf in an air fryer cooks faster than one baked in an oven making the meatloaf spend 30 minutes in a preheated air fryer, producing a crunchy dinner.

How Long Do I Cook  A 2lb Meatloaf In A Skillet?

A skillet is a form of shallow nonstick fry pan that allows you to cook/fry without consuming much oil. Meatloaf is one of the best dishes to cook using a skillet as it does not come out greasy but comes out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Must I Cover My Meatloaf When Baking  It?

Yes, with baking foil but for a specific period. Meatloaf should be covered within the first 20 to 25 minutes to prevent the meatloaf from drying out and splashing. However, it must be opened after 25 minutes to produce a brown-looking meatloaf with a soft inner texture.

How Do I Know If My Meatloaf is Perfectly Cooked?

There might be a slight change in the cooking timing due to the type of meat used for the meatloaf, so you can be sure of the state of your dish by checking the temperature of the meatloaf.

A perfectly cooked meatloaf temperature will be between 160 degrees F and 165 degrees F, so check your meatloaf temperature by using a thermometer after 30 minutes of placing it in the oven to avoid it being overcooked.

However, you can check using your finger, cake tester, or fork if you do not have a thermometer. Insert one of your fingers into the thick part of your meatloaf; if it is yet to cook completely, it will be soft, and vice versa if otherwise.

Confirm if the meatloaf is perfectly cooked by sliding the fork into your meatloaf; if the fork goes down easily, it signifies the meatloaf is done, but if not,.then  the meal needs to cook more.

Using a cake tester to confirm the cooking state of the meatloaf, insert the cake tester into the middle of the meatloaf just as you will for a cake and place it on your palm. If the tester is hot, the meatloaf is perfectly cooked, but if cold, then the meatloaf is yet to be done.

Should I Drain The Grease From The Meatloaf?

Yes, especially when baking your meatloaf in a loaf pan. However, this is not compulsory if you are not concerned about the texture and taste of your meatloaf. Grease removal from the meatloaf is only for those that love consuming crispy meatloaf.

What Are The Mistakes To Avoid When Baking Meatloaf?

Few homeowners make a few mistakes when baking meatloaf and end up with a dry  meatloaf; the mistakes include;

• Using ground meat with low-fat content makes it too dry to enjoy when consuming, so it is best to use a meat blend when making one.
• Use other oil apart from vegetable oil.
• Use stale bread when the rest of your ingredients lack moisture.
• Failure to season the meat adequately.

What Is Meatloaf Perfectly Served With?

Meatloaf can be consumed alone as it has its nutritional benefit, but it can be combined with the following;

• Roasted garlic potato
• simple arugula salad.
• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted Broccoli
• Air-fried roasted potatoes.
• Smashed brussels sprouts
• Crispy skillet fried potatoes.
• Steamed vegetables.
• Dauphinoise potatoes
• Italian peas 
• Carnival squash
• Brussels sprouts and bacon
• Fondant potatoes 
• Airfryer carrots
• Garlic butter mashed potatoes 
• Creamed peas with mushrooms.
• Roasted Parmesan-Garlic Carrots.
• Garlic and herb butter bath corn
• Tangy carrot Slaw
• Creamy spinach with dill.
• Twice Baked Cauliflower with Bacon.
• Cheesy garlic butter bubble bread 
• Cheddar biscuit.
• Monkey  Bread.
• Irish cheddar potato bread

Apart from the above-listed meatloaf side meal, there are other available ones, but ensure you select a side meal you love and enjoy it with your juicy and crispy meatloaf.

What Are The Essential Things To Know When Cooking Meatloaf?

For you to have a perfect meatloaf, you can consider adopting these tips;

• Prepare and refrigerate the meatloaf before the baking time.
• Use a smaller pan to produce a smaller meatloaf, which hastens the cooking process.
• However, It is best to make use of a meatloaf pan.
• Do not stuff the pan with the meatloaf to hasten the baking process.
• Please use liquid ingredients to help hold the meatloaf in place.
• Add liquid milk or vegetable oil to avoid dryness when using lean ground meat.
• Monitor the temperature of the meatloaf to prevent it from overcooking.
• Cover your meatloaf for the first cooking minutes to support the moisture.
• Drain the meatloaf fat  15 minutes before the end of the basking time.
• Do not put water in the pan when baking your meatloaf, but you can include it in the ingredients in the right proportion.
• Allow the meatloaf to cool down and hold shape for about  15 minutes after removal from the oven to avoid crumbling when cutting.
• Put slices of bread to underlay your meatloaf while baking, which will help absorb the grease or fat in the meatloaf.
• Use raw meat in the pan before adding your meatloaf to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
• You can also lime your baking pan with foil.

What  Nutritional  Benefit  Do I  Derive From  Consuming  A 2lb Meatloaf?

According to SparkPeople, each serving of a 2-pound meatloaf has the following nutrients in the nutritional chart.

Cooking A 2lb Meatloaf Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 90 to  93 % fat-free ground beef or use a meat blend.
• Bread crumbs( You can use a toasted, crumbled slice of bread)
• Eggs
• Diced onion
• Vegetable oils 
• Garlic powder or minced garlic cloves
• Salt
• Butter
• Pepper
• Any sauce you love.
• Topping such as Ketchup, brown sugar, tomato sauce, and mustard.

Instructions

 

• Line your baking pan with foil.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt your butter in a non-stick frying pan and lightly fry your onion and garlic to a soft texture for 4 to  5 minutes.
• Pour from the frying pan into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Inside that same big bowl, add all the other ingredients ranging from ground beef(meat blend) to the bread crumbs, egg, sauce, and milk, and mix them until you cannot identify an ingredient apart.
• Put the mixture in an 8×4” loaf or 9”x 4” loaf pan fully lined with foil.
• Set it into the preheated oven and allow the mixture to bake for 1 hour, depending on the type of meat and the type of oven you use.
• While it is cooking, mix your ketchup, brown sugar, and sauce evenly in a bowl.
• Remove your meatloaf from the oven after 15 minutes and pour your toppings mixture on it before putting it back into the oven for thorough baking.
• Your meatloaf is set; you can also sprinkle vegetables for beautiful toppings. Allow the meatloaf temperature to cool down before cutting.

Video

Keyword brown sugar, ground beef, panko bread crumbs, vegetables

Conclusion

A 2 meatloaf can be cooked by baking in an oven, air dryer, or fried in a skillet. All these cooking methods do not exceed one hour once you know the right temperature and the right thing to do in the preparation. However, the best method for cooking a meal loaf depends on how you love it and the availability of utensils, but it is easy to cook.

The meat type and size of the meatloaf is a very strong determinants of the time spent cooking 2 pounds of meatloaf.