I Tried 7 Frozen Meatloaf Dinners And Ranked Them Worst To Best - Tasting Table

"Frozen meals may not make for the most gourmet dinner option, but they are always readily available in a pinch, and that convenience keeps many shoppers coming back for more. Of course, it's not always easy picking out the right frozen meal, as there are dozens of frozen dinner brands to choose from as you stroll down the aisle. Moreover, there are seemingly hundreds of entrees to choose from amidst those brands, so it's a good idea to have a go-to entree of choice in"

"If meatloaf is that frozen meal of choice, then you're probably aware that most popular frozen meal brands have some sort of variation of a meatloaf meal. To make your decision a little easier, I tried seven frozen meatloaf dinners and ranked them worst to best. I'd already tried several of these meatloaf meals in other frozen meal rankings, but when trying them this time around, I did so in the specific context of how they fared against other meatloaf entrees."

"One meatloaf meal that I've likely tried in my lifetime but haven't specifically tried for a previous ranking is Banquet's meatloaf meal. Unlike other meatloaf entrees on this list that only come with a single side, this frozen entree boasts a full meal, one including the meatloaf itself, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, and spiced apples for dessert. It's worth noting that this was the cheapest meal on the list, coming in at $2.29 (whereas the other meals ranged from $3.48 to $4.99)."

Seven frozen meatloaf dinners were tested and ranked from worst to best. Meatloaf flavor was a primary criterion in the rankings. Side dishes and their textures — including mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and desserts — influenced overall evaluations. Many frozen dinner brands offer meatloaf entrees and shoppers face numerous options in the frozen aisle, making a go-to entree useful for quick meals. Banquet's meatloaf meal includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, and spiced apples for dessert. Banquet's offering was the cheapest at $2.29, compared with $3.48–$4.99 for other meals, and was judged to reflect lower quality.

Read at Tasting Table