meatball fail

Jeepinmom4
Jeepinmom4 Posts: 298 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
So the last time I made spagetti my kids asked if I could make meatballs next time. I said sure,so yea I made meat into balls and tried cooking them. They fell apart! :( how do I keep them in a ball!? Thanks in advance,kim

Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    did you use any egg or breadcrumb as a binder? to cook did you fry or bake them?
  • kel9680
    kel9680 Posts: 173 Member
    when I make mine I add an egg, and a moistened piece of bread! plus lots of seasonings, the egg and bread fill them and make them stick, you should be able to roll them into a ball and they feel slightly sticky and stay in that form. also I bake them, healthier then frying and I like them better that way!
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    You need to add egg to the mix. Make sure they're not too watery too. I also add some breadcrumbs depending on the style.
  • cedarhurst2006
    cedarhurst2006 Posts: 378 Member
    My meatball recipe - Trader Joe's Party size meatballs.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    another meatball tip: use a blend of veal, pork and beef. nom nom nom
  • Jeepinmom4
    Jeepinmom4 Posts: 298 Member
    Nope,no egg,no bread...just some seasonings. I tried to fry em,but I could bake em! Sounds like I need to pretend I'm making meatloaf? Thanks guys,and my kids thank you too :)
  • kerrylou150
    kerrylou150 Posts: 55
    along with what everyone else said about egg and breadcrumbs... someone mentioned baking them.

    I also bake mine... I use a mini muffin pan. I make the balls a little larger then the cup of the mini muffin pan - set the meatball in the cup of the mini muffin pan - bake at 350 until done.

    The great part is all the dripping fall into the bottom of the muffin cup so they aren't sitting fat drippings and they stay round :-)
  • cm2two
    cm2two Posts: 194
    add those fillers and BAKE them first...then when theyre done put em on paper towels to soak out the ick and then mix em with the sauce...

    no more meatball fail for you!
  • blink1021
    blink1021 Posts: 1,115 Member
    I also use an egg and bread crumbs, but my family loves if I add cheese I know it sounds wrong but you can use turkey as the meat and a low fat/calorie cheese will work. Yes I know turkey can look a little gray when cooked but if its going in spaghetti no one will know the difference I hid turkey meat from my family for almost a year before I was caught. My son and husband both now eat it without an argument.
  • sarahsmom1
    sarahsmom1 Posts: 1,501 Member
    I don't put anything in mine maybe there was too high of a fat percentage or you made them too big
  • SaddyPants
    SaddyPants Posts: 152 Member
    add those fillers and BAKE them first...then when theyre done put em on paper towels to soak out the ick and then mix em with the sauce...

    no more meatball fail for you!

    This works perfectly every time for me. Good luck!
  • cloneme_losehalf
    cloneme_losehalf Posts: 356 Member
    Just as with meatloaf, rice or oatmeal can be used in place of bread. Also if you like mushrooms chopped mushrooms in place of meat helps add vegetables.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    ... Sounds like I need to pretend I'm making meatloaf? ...
    Exactly, except that they can't be as soft as a meatloaf can get away with in a loaf pan.

    I bake at 350F until done, then transfer to a rack over a drip pan and turn up the heat to 500F to let them brown up to get some color and texture. Then into the sauce.
  • Jeepinmom4
    Jeepinmom4 Posts: 298 Member
    I also use an egg and bread crumbs, but my family loves if I add cheese I know it sounds wrong but you can use turkey as the meat and a low fat/calorie cheese will work. Yes I know turkey can look a little gray when cooked but if its going in spaghetti no one will know the difference I hid turkey meat from my family for almost a year before I was caught. My son and husband both now eat it without an argument.
    Nice!! I'm so going to try this next time! Thanks
  • Jeepinmom4
    Jeepinmom4 Posts: 298 Member
    along with what everyone else said about egg and breadcrumbs... someone mentioned baking them.

    I also bake mine... I use a mini muffin pan. I make the balls a little larger then the cup of the mini muffin pan - set the meatball in the cup of the mini muffin pan - bake at 350 until done.

    The great part is all the dripping fall into the bottom of the muffin cup so they aren't sitting fat drippings and they stay round :-)
    Doing this with the turkey! Yea! My meatballs are gonna be soooo good next time!
  • cloneme_losehalf
    cloneme_losehalf Posts: 356 Member
    Love the idea of the mini muffin pan!!! I would have never thought of that one. I do use the regular size pan to make my meatloaf so that they are easier to freeze and reheat.
  • SaddyPants
    SaddyPants Posts: 152 Member
    Just as with meatloaf, rice or oatmeal can be used in place of bread. Also if you like mushrooms chopped mushrooms in place of meat helps add vegetables.

    I've never heard of this! Do you just add cooked rice instead of the bread?
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I made yummy chicken meatballs last week for a soup recipe - they were just chicken mince, egg white, chopped spring onion and chopped fresh chilli. It was a pretty sticky mixture but after I made them into balls I left them in the fridge for a while and they set a bit firmer. These one were cooked in chicken stock, then I added bok choy and noodles for a yummy soup!

    Sorry, if that's a bit off topic, but they were so tasty. Next time i'm going to try making them just as meatballs and bake them in the oven.
  • pinkgigi
    pinkgigi Posts: 693 Member
    I microwave mine on kitchen paper, doesn't matter that they don't brown up too much if you are putting them in sauce, and they stay together.

    GG
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