Meatloaf gets a bad rap, but it wasn't always that way. During the lean years of World War II, ground beef was relatively inexpensive and breadcrumbs and eggs stretched a little bit of meat along way.
Reheating leftovers can be a challenge, because they tends to dry out. Dried-up meatloaf is not hard to fix, however. There are several ways to moisten dried meatloaf, so choose the one that works best for you.
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Things You'll Need
Baking dish
Nonstick cooking spray
Tomato sauce or gravy
Aluminum foil
Skillet with lid
Water
Spatula
Microwave-safe dish
Water
Plastic wrap
Unsalted butter
Reheating Meatloaf in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray nonstick cooking spray onto the bottom of a baking dish.
- Pour a thin layer of tomato sauce or gravy in the bottom of the dish.
- Arrange slices of your dried-up meatloaf in the baking dish.
- Pour another thin layer of tomato sauce or gravy on top of the meatloaf slices.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake the meatloaf for 20 to 30 minutes or until it's hot all the way through.
Cooking Leftover Meatloaf on the Stove Top
- Place a skillet on the stove and heat it over medium-high heat.
- Fill the very bottom of the skillet with tomato sauce, gravy or water and bring it to a simmer.
- Place sliced meatloaf in the simmering liquid, cover the skillet and turn down the heat.
- Simmer the meatloaf for 2 to 3 minutes and turn it with a spatula.
- Simmer the meatloaf for another 2 to 3 minutes or until it is heated through.
Tip
Crumble dried-up meatloaf and add it to spaghetti sauce if it won't moisten any other way.
Reheating Meatloaf in the Microwave
- Fill the very bottom of a microwave-safe dish with just enough water to cover it.
- Place the meatloaf in the water and sprinkle more water on top of it.
- Cover the dish loosely with plastic wrap.
- Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes on high and check to see if the meatloaf is done.
- Continue cooking for 1 minute at a time until the meatloaf is heated through.
Frying Leftover Meatloaf
- Place a skillet on the stove and let it heat for a 5 to 10 seconds over medium-high heat.
- Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the hot pan and let it melt until it is bubbly.
- Place slices of meatloaf in the hot butter and fry them for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Turn the slices with a spatula and fry them on the other side for another 1 to 2 minutes or until they are slightly crisp.
Tip
Instead of fighting its dryness, frying leftover meatloaf enhances it texture and flavor.