Meatloaf Is So Much Juicier When You Add This Boxed Ingredient

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When you want a meal that sticks to your ribs and brings a measure of comfort with every bite, you want a good, homemade meatloaf, one of America's favorite dinners. It's traditionally made with ground beef, though to keep things tender, people often include ground pork or Italian sausage. Some include a cooked-down vegetable mix to help the loaf stay moist, while others employ the use of milk. But there's a boxed (or bagged) ingredient likely already in your pantry that you might bring out next time you make meatloaf and want to avoid a crumbly, cracking mess, and it'll help create the juiciest version you've likely ever had. Instant mashed potatoes, which are great to keep on hand for soups and sauces, are about to be your secret weapon in the battle against dry meatloaf, too.

Instant mashed potatoes might sound like a strange mix-in, but hear us out. They're dehydrated and flaky, which makes them ideal when used in meatloaf because when those flakes get dampened by your other ingredients (meat, milk, egg), they thicken, adding bulk and binding the mixture together. More importantly, though, these hard-working flakes hold onto moisture, locking it inside the loaf inside instead of letting the juices run out quite so freely, so your dinner won't dry out during its long cook in the oven.

While moist meatloaf is reason enough to add instant mashed potatoes to the mix, there are a few other benefits worth considering. First and foremost: They're cheap, and they keep for a long time. You can typically get a box from Walmart for less than $4 (prices may vary), and its bags often start at just a buck apiece. Many brands can last up to a year, so you can keep them in your pantry, and they'll likely be good to go the next time you're in the mood for meatloaf (or shortcut gnocchi, for that matter).

Furthermore, most instant mashed potatoes are gluten-free. While you'll want to be sure to check the labels before using them, these potato flakes can often make meatloaf accessible to our friends and family with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, since they can substitute for breadcrumbs.

Finally, a few tips when employing instant spuds in your dinner loaf. You might let them sit for a few minutes after combining them with the other ingredients, before you introduce the meat; this gives them the opportunity to "set up." And you're not confined to just plain buttery instant mashed potatoes. Give your supper a major upgrade with different flavors of boxed flakes, like sour cream and chives, four cheese, and more.