Can you freeze and reheat meatloaf?
Yes, you can freeze and reheat meatloaf. Many consumers save time and money by freezing meatloaf leftovers. This allows them to have a tasty and hassle-free meal soon. Healthwise it is safe to freeze meatloaf for up to 4 months without compromising the taste of the meatloaf. The heating process is relatively simple but requires careful consideration when thawing it first. You will also need to be paying attention to avoid over-drying this meatloaf. This action can be achieved by adding moisture through ketchup or barbeque sauce.
How do you defrost a frozen cooked meatloaf?
If you have time available, you can leave the meatloaf in the refrigerator for 24 hours. This should offer you a natural and simple solution to safely defrosting the meatloaf without compromising its taste.
For those who are in a hurry, then you may consider making use of the oven to defrost the cooked meatloaf. You will need to preheat the oven to 325 degrees F for about 8 minutes. Once this is possible, you can place the oven-safe dish firmly in the center of the oven.
We put it in the center to ensure even defrosting. The advantage of using this method to prepare the frozen meatloaf is it can both defrost and reheat. Once the meatloaf is defrosted, you can keep it in the oven to bake for an extra 30 minutes. This move should help it reach the optimal temperature for you to enjoy it.
Reheating frozen meatloaf step-by-step
Reheating meatloaf on the stove
Using the stovetop method is a fast and safe option to get the meatloaf warm without deforming it. The key to successful heating is to ensure the stovetop is on medium power.
- It is advisable to use a skillet made from cast iron because it will keep the meatloaf from annoyingly sticking to the pan.
- Adding just a few drops of vegetable oil will make sure the meatloaf reheats evenly.
- The meatloaf should be warm in about 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure to continuously flip the meal to ensure the heat is distributed fairly. At this point, you will have thoroughly reheated the meatloaf.
- Adding some beef broth or water to the mixture will help to decrease any chance of burning the meatloaf on the stove.
How to reheat meatloaf in the toaster oven
- Preheat the toaster oven until it reaches a temperature of 350ºF.
- Assemble the meatloaf slices in the toaster oven as you would with bread. Just be sure to add a baking sheet at the bottom to absorb any fatty liquid drops. This sheet will minimize the cleanup.
- It should take about 3 minutes to fully warm up both sides of the meatloaf on high heat.
How to reheat frozen meatloaf in the Microwave
The Microwave offers the most convenient method for reheating your meatloaf. This option is perfect if the amount of meatloaf you are reheating is relatively tiny. For example, if you are only reheating a few slices, you can consider using the Microwave over the oven.
- To begin, have your meatloaf slices organized in a single layer. Please make sure they are on a microwave-safe plate to avoid any accidents. Make sure you have cut the meatloaf into pieces because reheating a whole one will not happen evenly. You will notice temperature differences between the inside and outside.
- Ensure that you have covered the dish you are using with a damp paper towel to prevent it from burning.
- Perform the reheating for about 1 minute with the Microwave on a low power level. This move is to be avoided because it will not benefit your reheating but could burn the meatloaf. Even if you are short on time, you should avoid reheating them at a high temperature.
- Investigate the internal temperature of the meatloaf every 30 seconds until you see it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to reheat meatloaf slices in the oven
It is often best to reheat the food the same way you cooked it. For that reason, an oven is the best option to use when reheating meatloaf. It is also the option that will guarantee even heating because of the hot air convections.
- You need to preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This balanced heat level will slowly but surely reheat your meatloaf.
- Place your leftover meatloaf in an oven-safe tray. You will need to add some moisture to the dish to prevent it from drying out. You can add this moisture in the form of water or beef broth. Remember to be careful because adding too much will make the meatloaf soggy.
- Cover the oven-safe dish with aluminum foil and place it on the center rack of the oven. Keep the heat applied for between 25-30 minutes.
How to know when it is ready to eat
If the meat has reached an internal temperature of around 155 degrees Fahrenheit, you can assume it is ready to eat.
How to thaw frozen meatloaf in the Microwave
Microwave at 50% power for 2 minutes to remove the initial frost from the meatloaf. After this, you need to remove all the thawed parts that come off quickly and set them aside. This can be done with warm water. When clean, you can pop the meatloaf back in the Microwave at 30% power for 1 minute. You should add an extra minute for heavier items depending on the quantity.
Safe internal temp for meatloaf
155 Degrees Fahrenheit is the safe temperature to consume meatloaf when heated.
Best way to reheat meatloaf
The oven is the best option to use when reheating meatloaf. It is optimal because it will heat the meatloaf evenly. See the guideline above for how to do it.