Customer Reviews

Chicago Metallic Professional 2-Piece Low-Fat Meatloaf Pan Set

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You can buy 4 half-decent loaf pans for the price of this thing, so why would you be tempted?

Well, it's by Chicago Metallic, a company that knows what it's doing. Let's get the loaf-pan part out of the way first: this is a very good one indeed, though it's not built well enough to last a lifetime. If you ever slip into bachelor-pad mode, the seams will RUST if left in the sink overnight.

But you'll understand the concept perfectly the first time you bake a meatloaf, lift the serrated insert out, and see the 1,000 calories of coronary thrombosis left behind.

I was lucky enough to need two meatloaves on the day I first put this pan to real use. I double-batched the recipe, baked them and served them side-by-side - a perfect single-blind experiment. The first comment was: "Meatloaf! At a dinner party! How ... refreshingly bold." But even that supercilious bitch had seconds. The unanimous choice was the Chicago loaf, which evaporated quickly. Not only was it obviously healthier, but significantly tastier, due to superior browning on all sides from better air circulation.

But it was also somewhat dry, so you'll need to adjust your recipes: see the discussion at the end of the review.

Just three stars, though? The initial fit is poor - you might need to carefully squeeze or stretch the insert to get it to sit right. And the "top-quality SilverStone finish" on the insert is utterly fragile: if you get lazy and carefully use a metal knife to cut slices right in the insert, you'll discover that you weren't careful enough.

It also seems that the insert could be a little deeper, without damaging the concept. I may be wrong on that one, though - all that air-space might be necessary for the physics to work. In the meantime, what you'll be buying is a rather small meatloaf pan.

But buy it anyway. I for one am not going back to regular pans. If and when I kill this one, I'll hope that v2.0 is available.

RECIPE ADJUSTMENT FOR DRYNESS: I don't trust supermarket meatloaf mix - who knows what's really in it? It also seems curiously exempt from the general requirement to list fat content. So I make up my own, often omitting the veal, but noticed poor results. A long Cook's Illustrated treatise on all-beef meatloaf set me straight: the veal's contribution is moisture-retaining collagen. No problem: we have almost-pure collagen readily available, in the form of gelatin. 1/4 teaspoon per pound of meatloaf brings about an almost-magical, lip-smacking transformation.

This pan lived up to its billing in all but one respect -- I don't think you could quite get a 3lb meatloaf into the thing, 2lbs or 2-1/4lbs maybe. Other than that nitpic though, the design works well for draining away the grease as you cook (especially important if you mix in any ground pork or sausage as some recipes call for). The non-stick surfaces make cleanup pretty easy too.

The quality is obvious when you get it. What is left in the bottom of the pan after a meatloaf will make you really happy with your purchase. I also agree with the first reviewer in that you might want to find a way to make your meatloaf recipe and bit more 'wet' by adding water, whatever.

My only complaint is that a 2 lb meatloaf will barely fit in the pan and I've had spills in the oven.

I'm a happy camper but I look forward to version 2.0 as well.

Unfortunately, most of the holes in the top pan are blocked by the meatloaf and can't drain at all, and there isn't much of a gap at the ends between it and the bottom pan for grease to drain that way, so it clogs easily and builds up. I usually pull out the pan halfway through cooking, clear away the built up material, and put it back in.

Another pan I had from a different manufacturer with a slightly different design had the same problems, however, so it seems they all suffer from this.

The top pan is also a pain to clean because meat gets trapped in the holes.

LOVE IT, LOVE IT ,and did i say LOVE IT! This is super great!!! actual meat loaf pans are hard to find. this lets the grease drip down away from your meat loaf, and if you think for 1 minute, dry meat loaf, WRONG!!! it stays moist and is much healthier. No globs of fat when you refridg. the leftovers so great for sandwiches. YES ,Yes a zillion times yes for this. it cleans up really easy too ((JUST DO NOT DISHWASHER IT__))it says in instructions. That soap will ruin it.

These pans are great. There is a space between them so that the meat doesn't sit in the grease, and the meat loafs turn out pretty much grease free. The pans are also a breeze to clean; just pop them in the dishwasher and they come out perfectly clean. A great purchase!

The pans came fast and in perfect condition. I could not have asked for a better experience.

Product arrived as described

Worked fine, made a great meatloaf with all the grease on the bottom of the pan, not touching the meatloaf itself

I just received this product today and was extremely disappointed. Not only is it not the same item as pictured online (there are a few small holes in the drip pan rather than a fine grate as shown), but it is also Made in China, not in the USA as the product description states. I ordered this low-fat meatloaf pan specifically because it claimed the country of manufacture was America. I'd prefer not to have toxic chemicals leaching into my body when I cook, thanks. Needless to say, I will be returning this product promptly.

The pan is exactly what I wanted. It is perfect in almost every way. However, there is no way 3 pounds will fit inside this pan. I am glad I did not buy the 2 pound pan. I guess I will have to buy a second pan.