TomBrooklyn
Assistant Cook
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2003
- Messages
- 11
What size do you like to make your meatballs?
What is the Ideal Size For A Meatball?
- Thread starter TomBrooklyn
- Start date
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middie
Chef Extraordinaire
i like mine bite sized too
crewsk
Master Chef
I use a measuring tablespoon when I make mine. They come out just a little bigger than bite size.
Otter
Sous Chef
Another vote for bite-sized.
thumpershere2
Head Chef
I make mine different sizes, If I'm making them for the hunting shack I make lg ones for the guys, at least a couple bits. It also depends on what I'm making the meat balls for.We love meat balls and mashed potatoes so I then make them large and If I make them for over egg noodles I make sm ones and also for spaghetti.
Lugaru
Sous Chef
For me it depends but I guess they come in 4 varieties
Tiny, like the size of a quarter. These get nice and toasty and firm when frying them in their own fat. Great for latter adding to something with a broth.
Tiny, rolled: I roll them between my palms so they look like tiny sasages (kinda like vienna sausages). I just think it's a more dynamic presentation.
Ping pong ball: usually for my mexican dishes. Big enough to eat in a couple of bites (if you have manners) but not huge.
1 cup. Literally a cup of meat is about as big as I'll go. These I will steam or boil and well the meatball ends up being the meal itself (for example with tomato sauce over pasta or one big meatball in a bowl of soup).
Tiny, like the size of a quarter. These get nice and toasty and firm when frying them in their own fat. Great for latter adding to something with a broth.
Tiny, rolled: I roll them between my palms so they look like tiny sasages (kinda like vienna sausages). I just think it's a more dynamic presentation.
Ping pong ball: usually for my mexican dishes. Big enough to eat in a couple of bites (if you have manners) but not huge.
1 cup. Literally a cup of meat is about as big as I'll go. These I will steam or boil and well the meatball ends up being the meal itself (for example with tomato sauce over pasta or one big meatball in a bowl of soup).
CharlieD
Chef Extraordinaire
I think there is really no ideal size per se. Of course you have to consider cooking time and if it is too big the outside might be overcooked, while inside is still undercooked. I like to meke the meatbawls about 3/4 of an inch let them grow a bit in the pot. And anyway size doesn't matter. 
about the size of both my palms squished together.... i'd say the size of a walnut still in the green outer shell.
bite-size would be too small for me cause that would be literally a half-teaspoon for me.
i take little bites.
i like to cut a piece off, scoop up some sauce and cheese, eat that, then have a bite of bread and butter, till my meatballs are gone. usually i can eat one and sometimes 2 if Pap makes them.
bite-size would be too small for me cause that would be literally a half-teaspoon for me.
i take little bites.
i like to cut a piece off, scoop up some sauce and cheese, eat that, then have a bite of bread and butter, till my meatballs are gone. usually i can eat one and sometimes 2 if Pap makes them.
TomBrooklyn
Assistant Cook
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2003
- Messages
- 11
I'd say about an inch and a half is my favorite size. I didn't realize they grow with cooking. (I haven't made many.)
I got some from a Pizza takeout place around here and I thought they were too big. They were about 2 1/4" in diameter.
Do they grow more if they have bread crumbs in them?
I got some from a Pizza takeout place around here and I thought they were too big. They were about 2 1/4" in diameter.
Do they grow more if they have bread crumbs in them?
AllenOK
Executive Chef
If you all are interested, here's a FAST way to make them. I know it sounds chintzy, but it also insures even sizing between the meatballs.
I have a number of portion scoops (think spring-loaded ice cream scoops). These things should have a number on them somewhere, usually in the little strip of metal that moves over the inside of the scoop. This number represents how many portions you can get out of a quart of "whatever".
A #40 scoop (color-coded purple) is perfect for cookie dough, and if used for meatballs, produces a meatball a little smaller than a golfball. I also have a #80 scoop, which is great for hushpuppies, but should also work to make great "small" meatballs, although perhaps a #50 is best, if such a creature exists.
After you "portion" each meatball, you will want to roll it a bit in your hands to make it even, otherwise it will have a flat side to it.
I have a number of portion scoops (think spring-loaded ice cream scoops). These things should have a number on them somewhere, usually in the little strip of metal that moves over the inside of the scoop. This number represents how many portions you can get out of a quart of "whatever".
A #40 scoop (color-coded purple) is perfect for cookie dough, and if used for meatballs, produces a meatball a little smaller than a golfball. I also have a #80 scoop, which is great for hushpuppies, but should also work to make great "small" meatballs, although perhaps a #50 is best, if such a creature exists.
After you "portion" each meatball, you will want to roll it a bit in your hands to make it even, otherwise it will have a flat side to it.
Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
I'm in the "make them the right size for the purpose" camp. If they're fgoing into a pasta sauce such as spaghetti or angel hair, I make them about the size obtained by using a melon baller. If they are going to be used with egg-noodles, and a beef gravy, and are mixed with rice, then tehy are going to be about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. To go with very large stuffing shells, I give them about a 2 inch diameter. Somtimes, for something like minestroni style soup, I'll make the small meatballs, then flatten into a flying saucer before cooking and adding to the soup.
And as was stated in a previous post, you can make them baseball size if you want, and serve them up during the world series to your buddies, or family. I'd bake them if they were that big, to insure complete cooking throughout.
Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
And as was stated in a previous post, you can make them baseball size if you want, and serve them up during the world series to your buddies, or family. I'd bake them if they were that big, to insure complete cooking throughout.
Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
Maidrite
Contest Winner
I like them to be about golfball sized that way if I can't eat them, I can play a round of golf with them .
.
lutzzz
Senior Cook
The "Meatballer"
Before anybody falls off their chair laughing... check out the link below. (then laugh
It's called a "meatballer" (what else would you call it, pray tell?) and in spite of being a "gadget nut", I don't think even *I* would have bought this for myself.. but my next door neighbor, whose's been helping me learn how to cook, ran over with one (she had bought several to give as gifts too) and gave it to me.
http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?skus=6310668&pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cmeatballer&gids=sku6310668&cmsrc=sch
She said with a straight face, "I found this NEATEST little tool thingy for making meat balls, you just HAVE to have one!" and gave one to me. I asked her where she got it and she told me.. that's how I got the above link.
I smiled, thanked her profusely, and lied telling her I'd give it a try soon.
Anyway, it wasn't long after that I was starting to make some meatloaf (was on a comfort food kick) and got the idea of turning my meatloaf mix into meatballs.. and then make spaghetti & meatballs... So I grabbed the "meatballer" and surprisingly, it works GREAT.... if you like 2" meatballs that is. I do, but sounds like some of you like them smaller. This also works ok for making smaller "porcupine" meatballs... And it takes all the pressure off trying to make things the same size.. not that that is a "major challenge".
You just stick it in your mix, squeeze it, and the excess squirts out a little hole at the top. Toss your meatball on a sprayed/lubricated baking sheet.. I baked mine at 375 I think,, about 20-25 minutes. They come out nicely browned, better than if I tried to do them in a pan and hold their shape better.
Need? No.. fun to have.. Yes. Anyway, in spite of being too much money for what it does, I'm glad I have it.
Before anybody falls off their chair laughing... check out the link below. (then laugh
It's called a "meatballer" (what else would you call it, pray tell?) and in spite of being a "gadget nut", I don't think even *I* would have bought this for myself.. but my next door neighbor, whose's been helping me learn how to cook, ran over with one (she had bought several to give as gifts too) and gave it to me.
http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?skus=6310668&pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cmeatballer&gids=sku6310668&cmsrc=sch
She said with a straight face, "I found this NEATEST little tool thingy for making meat balls, you just HAVE to have one!" and gave one to me. I asked her where she got it and she told me.. that's how I got the above link.
I smiled, thanked her profusely, and lied telling her I'd give it a try soon.
Anyway, it wasn't long after that I was starting to make some meatloaf (was on a comfort food kick) and got the idea of turning my meatloaf mix into meatballs.. and then make spaghetti & meatballs... So I grabbed the "meatballer" and surprisingly, it works GREAT.... if you like 2" meatballs that is. I do, but sounds like some of you like them smaller. This also works ok for making smaller "porcupine" meatballs... And it takes all the pressure off trying to make things the same size.. not that that is a "major challenge".
You just stick it in your mix, squeeze it, and the excess squirts out a little hole at the top. Toss your meatball on a sprayed/lubricated baking sheet.. I baked mine at 375 I think,, about 20-25 minutes. They come out nicely browned, better than if I tried to do them in a pan and hold their shape better.
Need? No.. fun to have.. Yes. Anyway, in spite of being too much money for what it does, I'm glad I have it.
eric
Cook
When I go to a restaurant, I like them big, like tennis ball size. When I make them at home, I like them small so I can freeze them and put them in the freezer and still have room for ice cream.
Bangbang
Executive Chef
I like them about the size of a golf ball.
norgeskog
Washing Up
I use my mellon baller for them, good bite size.
DampCharcoal
Executive Chef
About racquet ball sized.
