What Should the Internal Temperature Be for Meatloaf?

At what temperature is meatloaf done? It all depends on what type of meatloaf it is of course. Is the meatloaf a pure beef mixture? Does it have a mixture of pork, beef, and veal? Is it a turkey meatloaf? Each variety has its own unique cooking techniques and temperatures. Let’s find out what is the best final temperature for each meatloaf type.

The most important kitchen tool you will need to ensure a perfectly cooked, safe to eat meatloaf, is an accurate meat thermometer. Having a dependable meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of determining when a piece of meat is done.

Don’t have an accurate digital meat thermometer?

Here’s our review of the best digital meat thermometers.

Out of all the meatloaf recipes I’ve tried, I feel that America’s Test Kitchen really has the best ones in terms of technique.  The following cooking and serving temperatures are sourced from them. If you are really serious about becoming a better cook, there is no better investment than a subscription to their website.

If you don’t want to babysit your meatloaf just stick an oven-safe meat thermometer probe in it, set your temperature alarm and go about your business. Most of the following meatloaf recipes take around an hour.

All-Beef Meatloaf Internal Temperature- 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Take out of the oven at 150 degrees.

For a 3 pound, all-beef meatloaf, heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. For best results, bake on a wire rack on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. Start checking the temperature of the meatloaf at the 50-minute mark. Take the loaf out of the oven when it registers 150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and let it rest 15 minutes. The residual heat should bring the temperature to 160 degrees.

Classic Meatloaf Internal Temperature- 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Take out of the oven at 155 degrees.

For a 3 pound meatloaf consisting of beef and pork, heat the oven to 350 degrees. For best results, bake on a wire rack on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven and start checking the temperature around the 1-hour mark. The loaf needs to register 160 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer before it’s done because any food containing ground pork needs to be cooked to at least 160 degrees to be safe.

Turkey Meatloaf Internal Temperature – 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Take out of the oven at 160 degrees.

For a 3-pound turkey meatloaf, heat the oven to 350 degrees. For best results, bake on a wire rack on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. Start checking the temperature around the 1 hour 15-minute mark. Finally, take the turkey meatloaf out of the oven when it registers 160 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer. Allow the meatloaf to rest 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.

The residual heat will raise the internal temperature to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, the safe temperature to consume ground turkey.

There are many variations of meatloaf. The key to not overcooking meatloaf is to check it periodically with an accurate instant-read thermometer. Furthermore, having an accurate thermometer will make cooking so much easier. If you don’t have an accurate thermometer, you can find some great, dependable ones here. Happy Meatloaf Day!