Meat Loaf with Variations

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together9,259 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

2. Onion + beeftop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together17,092 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

3. Mustard + peppertop 9% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together15,430 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

4. Beef + peppertop 10% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together18,971 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

5. Bread + milktop 11% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together11,466 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-undecenal (sweet).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Ground beef

Provides the bulk and rich flavor of the loaf.

Eggs

Bind the mixture so the loaf holds its shape when sliced.

Bread crumbs

Absorb liquid and keep the loaf tender rather than dense.

Milk

Adds moisture so the loaf stays juicy as it bakes.

Onion

Adds savory sweetness and moisture to the meat mixture.

Swap the mustard

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (bread, onion, egg, beef, sauce, pepper, milk):

1. Capsicumfits better
2. Tomatofits better
3. Potatofits better
4. Mustardthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against bread, onion, egg, beef, sauce, pepper, milk. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.