Food - News
Ina Garten's Simple Method For Succulent Meatloaf
By JENNIFER MATHEWS
Ina Garten appeals to Americans with her delicious recipes for simple comfort foods. During an episode of "The Barefoot Contessa," the Food Network star prepared a beef meatloaf that was both moist and succulent. Although it’s a simple recipe, meatloaf is prone to quickly drying out, lending to why people either love or hate it.
Garten used an 80/20 ground beef, which contains enough fat to liquefy as it cooks, creating the juices that keep the meat from drying out. She added more moisture to the meatloaf by sautéing onions, along with tomato paste, chicken stock, and Worcester sauce. As the onion cooks in the oven, it releases more water, further preventing any dryness.
As she formed a log on a baking sheet, Garten was careful not to overmix or compress the meat mixture and stressed that the loaf should be even or else you run the risk of one part drying out while another continues cooking. Garten’s final moisture tip was to place the pan with the meatloaf inside of a larger pan of boiling water before moving both into the oven.