Meat Loaf Shaping Made Easy

When mixing a meat loaf, combine the dry ingredients, such as the crackers or bread crumbs, first. Then mix in any chopped vegetables and seasonings. And last, add the ground beef and mix just slightly until all the ingredients are evenly combines. Over mixing the meat mixture will result in a compact loaf.

1. Sprucing up a plain meat loaf: Make slanting indentations across the top with the handle of a wooden spoon or spatula. Fill these grooves with a sauce or glaze.

2. Shaping a stuffed meat loaf or roll: Use waxed paper or foil as a guide. Pat the meat mixture our on waxed paper to the designated size. Spread the filling almost to the edge of the meat rectangle. Pick up the two adjacent corners of the waxed paper and carefully pull it straight up and over. The waxed paper will act as a guide as the meat rolls over the filling. Seal the meat at the side seam and ends so the filling will not spill out.
3. Transferring a long meat roll to the pan: If this is your problem, once again the waxed paper comes in handy. Pick up all four corners of the waxed paper under the meat roll and lift the roll onto the baking pan. Then carefully slide the paper out from under the meat.