Here's the Internal Temperature That Means Your Meatloaf Is Done (2024)

Follow these Test Kitchen tips and you'll never have to worry about serving overcooked or undercooked meatloaf again.

Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.

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How to Tell When Meatloaf Is Done

Checking the color of a cooked ground meat mixture to determine doneness is unreliable. Instead, our Test Kitchen (and the USDA) recommends using a meat thermometer to check the meatloaf's internal temperature. Choose your favorite meatloaf recipe and set the oven to the cooking temperature specified. Toward the end of the cooking time (our standard two-pound meatloaf takes about one hour), follow this simple method to know when it's done.

Use an instant-read thermometer ($18, Walmart). The meat loaf's internal temperature should register 160°F when the thermometer is inserted into the center.
Alternatively, use an oven-safe thermometer that can be placed in the meatloaf before it goes into the oven. Insert the stem of the thermometer into the thickest part of the meatloaf and make sure that the tip is not touching the pan.

Now that you know how to tell when your meatloaf is done, discover some new recipes for easy weeknight dinners. Once you've mastered the technique, move on from the classic recipe and make a taco night-inspired meatloaf in your slow cooker. Or, make it taste like spaghetti and meatballs with a family-friendly Italian twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best temperature to cook meatloaf?

Most experts recommend setting your oven to 350°F when cooking meatloaf. Too low and your meatloaf won’t develop that caramelized crust that makes meatloaf so delicious. A higher temperature may cause the outer layer to overcook or burn by the time the internal temperature comes to 160°F.
How long does it take to cook meatloaf per pound?

In a conventional (not convection) oven set to 350°F, a meatloaf takes about 35 to 45 minutes per pound. That means a 2-pound meatloaf will take about 1 hour to an hour and 30 minutes depending on the thickness and ingredients in the mixture.
Do I need to cover my meatloaf when cooking it?

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). On the other hand, if you cook your meatloaf uncovered, the excess moisture will evaporate, resulting in a firmer meatloaf with a crispy crust and caramelized glaze. To strike a happy balance (especially with lean meats), our Test Kitchen recommends you cover your meatloaf with foil for only the first 35 minutes to keep it from drying out.

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FAQs

Here's the Internal Temperature That Means Your Meatloaf Is Done? ›

The meat loaf's internal temperature should register 160°F when the thermometer is inserted into the center. Alternatively, use an oven-safe thermometer that can be placed in the meatloaf before it goes into the oven.

Know More ›

How to tell if a meatloaf is done? ›

Because it is made of ground meat, we must cook all meatloaf to 160°F (71°C). But because we don't want to dry it out, we don't want to go beyond that temperature at all, if we can help it. Using a leave-in probe thermometer like the ChefAlarm^® to monitor the temperature while cooking can help guarantee success.

Is meatloaf done at 160 or 165? ›

According to the USDA, the safe internal temperature for ground meat is 160 degrees f for meatloaf made with ground beef, ground pork, veal, and lamb, and 165°F for poultry (if you're making a chicken or ground turkey meatloaf). Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Is meatloaf safe at 150 degrees? ›

When using ground beef, the lowest a meatloaf internal temp should be before eating is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some choose to make their meatloaf out of ground turkey instead. If you decide to take this approach, the temperature at which the meatloaf is done is 165 degrees Fahrenheit, not 160.

Do you cover meatloaf when baking at 350? ›

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.

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Is it okay if meatloaf is a little pink? ›

If the meatloaf is over 160°F, or 165°F if you used chicken or turkey, it's fully cooked and safe to consume even if it's still pink inside. The reason your meatloaf may still be pink in the middle when fully cooked is nitrates.

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Does meatloaf continue to cook while resting? ›

Internal Temp of Meatloaf – All Beef

As soon as the thermometer reads 65 degrees C, you can take the meatloaf out of the oven. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before taking the temperature reading once again. The residual heat on the meat will continue to cook it even when it is out of the oven.

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How long should meatloaf rest? ›

You can make meatloaf either in a loaf pan or free-form. Free-form meatloaves have a crust all around; loaf-pan meatloaves have a more "steamed" texture. It's strictly a matter of preference. Let your meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven; it will hold together better when slicing.

What temperature should meatloaf be coming out of the oven? ›

When making meatloaf, the recipe will tell you about how long to bake it. But it might not also tell you what the internal temperature of the meatloaf should be when it's completely cooked and safe to eat: 160 degrees F. A recipe won't necessarily take into account your oven, your pan and how you shaped the loaf.

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Why isn't my meatloaf cooking? ›

Too much liquid will stop the meatloaf from baking and cause the meat to boil instead. There's no need to worry, though, as there's a solution to this problem. If there is too much liquid before you put it in the oven, you can squeeze out the excess.

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Is 150 good for meatloaf? ›

Continue to bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf registers 150 degrees F, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

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Is it better to bake meatloaf in glass or metal? ›

Metal pans are great conductors of heat; in other words, they heat up quickly, but in turn, they also cool down more rapidly once removed from the heat source. Additionally, metal pans can withstand higher temperatures than glass.