Can You Freeze Meatloaf?

It’s always nice to have a meal ready in the freezer for busy weeknights or last minute entertaining, and meatloaf is exactly the kind of dish we like to have at the ready. There are, however, some dos and don’ts for freezing the classic comfort food to ensure it not only maintains quality, but is also safe to eat.

Read on to find out the best way to freeze, thaw, and reheat meatloaf.

Can You Freeze Meatloaf?

Yes, you can freeze meatloaf, and not only can you, but you should.

How To Freeze Meatloaf

The big question when it comes to meatloaf is whether to freeze it before or after baking. 

Before Baking

You can freeze the raw beef mixture before baking, with the caveat that if the ground beef you’re using to make the meatloaf was previously frozen, it may not be safe to refreeze. 

If the beef (or ground pork, turkey, etc.) was defrosted in the fridge overnight (for three or fewer days), it’s alright to freeze it again according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). If you’re ever in doubt about how the meat you’re using was defrosted, it’s best to cook the meatloaf and then freeze it.

We suggest freezing uncooked meatloaf in smaller portions, to make defrosting and reheating easier, in fact portioning the meat into mini meatloaves can be one of the most convenient methods. 

After Baking

You can absolutely freeze meatloaf after baking, but freezing it in one giant portion is not the best way to go about it.  Instead, break up the loaf into smaller portions (such as individual slices).

To properly freeze cooked meatloaf, place the slices in shallow freezer-safe containers. Shallow containers allow the meatloaf to quickly cool, rather than piling it into a deeper dish where it will retain its heat for longer, and therefore sit in the temperature danger zone for an extended time period.

The other advantage to storing the cooked meatloaf in slices is that it will thaw more quickly, and allow you to only defrost what you plan on eating.

How Long Meatloaf Lasts in the Freezer

Freezing keeps most foods safe almost indefinitely, so it's really a question of quality when we talk about how long you can freeze meatloaf. The USDA recommends using cooked meatloaf that has been frozen within 2 to 3 months, while frozen uncooked meatloaf maintains its quality slightly longer, and should be used within 3 to 4 months.

How To Thaw Frozen Meatloaf

The best and safest way to defrost frozen meatloaf is to leave it in the fridge overnight. Never leave the meatloaf to defrost out on the counter. As a general food safety rule, you shouldn't leave any perishable food at room temperature for more than two hours.

How To Reheat Frozen Meatloaf

You need to reheat frozen meatloaf to an internal temperature of 165 °F. If reheating in the oven, that might mean covering the meatloaf with aluminum foil to prevent overbrowning.

If reheating in the microwave (which we would really only recommend for cooked meatloaf), you might need to rotate or flip slices to ensure it heats evenly throughout.