Moist meatloaf with crisp top is definitely in the top 10 of my comfort foods. Well, sometimes it’s not that easy to achieve this if you aren’t sure how long you should cook your meatloaf.

Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. This easy meatloaf recipe is a classic version, blending ground beef, pork and veal with simple pantry seasonings.

Still, I swear by one trick that will elevate anyone’s version. I’ve made many a meatloaf recipe over my 20 years as a food stylist, recipe developer, and food writer, but for this one tip, I have to ...