How Long Does Cooked Steak Last In The Fridge
Knowing how long cook steak lasts in the fridge is important to determine if your steak is still good or if it has gone bad. You can learn all about how long cooked steak can last when stored in the fridge, as well as how long it can last in the freezer, and much more!
Food Safety Concerns Regarding Cooked Steak Stored in the Fridge
When you are storing cooked steak in the fridge, you will want to keep in mind several different health concerns to be sure your food is safely stored.
Below we will go into detail and the best way to store your steak in the fridge so that it will last for a few days. We also detailed the differences between cooked and raw steak in the fridge, freezing instructions for steak, how to reheat a steak, and how to thaw it.
Plus, we will give you a few tips and tricks, and the best way to cook your steak and make it taste amazing. Be sure to check out how long does cooked steak last in the fridge and more below!
Quick Answer: How Many Days Does Cooked Steak Last In The Fridge
The quick answer to how many days does cooked steak last in the fridge is 3 to 4 days if stored properly. For details on this topic, please see below.
Saving Leftover Steak: What You Need to Know
In The Fridge:
How long does steak last in the fridge?
How long steak can last in the fridge depends on if it is fresh (raw), frozen, or cooked. How the steak is packaged can also play a factor in how long your steak will last in the refrigerator.
From the Butcher Counter
Raw meat that is from the butcher counter is best to be used quickly. You may store it in the fridge overnight, but it should be used within one or two days after it has been purchased. Meat from your butcher typically is wrapped in loose paper, runs a risk of drying out quickly, and may grow bacteria faster because it is not sealed tightly.
Vacuum Sealed
According to the USDA, raw or fresh vacuum-sealed meat placed in your refrigerator is more likely to last 3 to 5 days. For best results, you will want to use your meat around day three if possible.
Cooked meat that has been vacuumed sealed, may last between 3 to 4 days when stored in your refrigerator. Some may say that vacuum-sealed steak can last longer than the suggested guidelines in your refrigerator. In some cases, this may be true, but it is not necessarily true across the board so to be safe, err on the side of caution.
Plastic Wrapped
Most of the meat that you can buy from your local grocery store is wrapped in plastic. Raw steak that is wrapped in plastic may last between 3 to 5 days if stored in your refrigerator at 40°F or below. Cooked steak that is wrapped in plastic is likely to last between 3 to 4 days when stored in your refrigerator at 40°F or below. (USDA)
Cooked Vs Raw
There is a difference in the amount of time steak can last in your refrigerator depending on if your steak is raw or if it has been cooked. Please keep this in mind as you are trying to determine how long your cooked steak can last in the fridge.
How long can you keep cooked steak?
Cooked steak can be kept between three and four days when stored in your refrigerator. We highly recommend storing your cooked steak inside an airtight container or sealed inside a plastic storage bag. Keeping your meat inside an airtight container will help to prevent unwanted bacteria from growing, which would cause your meat to go bad faster.
How long can raw steak last in the fridge?
Raw steak on the other hand can last between 3 to 5 days when stored in your refrigerator at 40°F or below according to the USDA. You will want to be sure that your raw steak is also placed into an airtight container, or sealed in a plastic bag, or plastic wrap when it is placed into your fridge.
How Long Is Leftover Steak Good For?
In most cases, “leftover” steak is going to be a steak that has been cooked. Therefore, leftover cooked steak that is stored in the fridge can last between 3 to 4 days. Your steak is going to be better the earlier it is enjoyed, but it may last up to four days in the fridge.
How to Store Leftover Steak in the Fridge
Knowing how to store your leftover steak in the fridge is important. Storing your steak properly will help to ensure that it does not grow unwanted bacteria and can last for a few days in your fridge.
What’s the safest way to store cooked steak?
The safest way to store cooked steak in your fridge is to transfer your steak to an airtight container or seal it inside a plastic storage bag.
Use the Proper Packaging
You are storing your leftover cooked steak, place it inside the proper packaging before putting it inside your refrigerator. Proper packaging is usually an airtight container, that seals tightly, or a plastic storage bag that you can also seal.
Remove Excess Air
Place your leftover cooked steak inside of the storage container, or plastic storage bag. Remove any excess air from your container before you store the leftovers.
Label and Date
One last step before you place it into the fridge. We highly recommend labeling your leftover cooked steak and putting the date on it. This will help you to keep track of how long it has been stored in your fridge, and when it is likely to go bad.
How Long is Steak Safe to Keep in the Refrigerator?
Remember, cooked steak usually lasts between 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container inside of your fridge. Raw steak may last between 3 to 5 days when stored inside an airtight container in your refrigerator.
In The Freezer:
Storing any leftover cooked steak for a longer amount of time can easily be done by freezing your steak. We will cover many details and how you can keep your leftover cooked steak or raw steak from spoiling, how long it is usually good for the inside of the freezer, and instructions for the best way to store your steak in the freezer.
How Long Do Freezers Keep Steak from Spoiling?
No matter if you have cooked steak or raw steak it can be frozen. Cooked steak when stored in an airtight container or freezer bag typically lasts between 2 and 3 months when stored at 0°F or below. On the other hand, raw steak stored in an airtight container or freezer bag usually lasts between 6 and 12 months when stored at 0°F or below.
What Is Freezer Burn And How To Avoid It
When placing your steak or meat of any kind inside of the freezer it is important that you store it properly so that you can avoid freezer burn.
Freezer burn happens when the moisture from your food is pulled to the outside, creating a layer that is ice crystal-like on the surface of your food. Although freezer burn may not directly cause foodborne illnesses, according to the USDA, it will change the quality of your frozen food causing it to not taste as good. Therefore, we want to avoid freezer burn at all costs if possible.
To avoid freezer burn you’ll want to wrap your food as tightly as possible. For the best results, before placing your steak inside of a container or plastic bag, first, wrap the steak in wax freezer paper, or butcher paper. Then, place it inside an airtight container, or plastic freezer bag. The layer of paper will help protect your steak against the harsh cold inside the freezer.
You can also use a vacuum sealer if you have access to one. This might be one of the best ways to avoid freezer burn, by first vacuum sealing your food before placing it into your freezer.
What kind of wrappers are best for freezing steak?
The best wrappers for freezing stake our wax paper, butcher paper, then placing inside an airtight container, or freezer plastic bag. You can also try using a vacuum sealer to store your steak in the freezer.
How to Keep Steak Frozen Safely
To keep your steak frozen safely, and have the best tasting steak later, you’ll want to wrap your steak in wax paper or butcher paper. Then, place the wrapped steak inside an airtight container or freezer bag. You can also try vacuum sealing your steak if desired. Place your steak inside of the freezer, and store at 0°F or below for 6 to 12 months.
The Symptoms Of A “Bad” Steak
How do I know if my leftovers have gone off?
It is important to know when your steak has gone bad, or if it is “off”. To tell if your steak has gone bad you can simply use your senses to examine the steak and see if it has spoiled.
Use Your Senses
Appearance. Begin by looking your steak over to see if anything seems out of the ordinary. If you see any signs of mold, discoloration, or grain, these are all signs that your steak has started to go bad.
Smell. Next, you can take a smell of your steak. If you detect any kind of smell that is sour or rotten, then your steak has gone bad.
Texture. You can also detective your steak is bad by examining the texture. If you see any sign that your steak has turned slimy, slippery, or even has really dried out, these are all signs that your steak is no longer good.
Taste. Up to this point, you should be able to tell if your steak is bad. If you think that there’s any chance your steak is bad, do not taste it. However, if you think your steak is good, you can try tasting it. If you detect any kind of taste to your steak that is bad or off, do not eat it.
What Happens If You Eat Spoiled Steak?
If you happen to eat spoiled steak, you may run the risk of getting food poisoning. Typically, food poisoning will result in you becoming quite sick. If you experience a very bad sickness, you will want to go to the doctor for help.
Storing Steak Properly Can Prevent Spoilage Symptoms
When your steak is stored properly, it can help to prevent your steak from going bad, and ultimately will allow you to enjoy your steak longer.
What Should I Do with Spoiled Steak?
When your steak goes bad, determining what to do with it is quite simple. Throw it out!
The Secret Tips To Choose Fresh Steak
Good Color. When you are looking for a steak to buy, look for one with nice coloring. You want your steak to be a lovely pink or red, and not a dull gray or brownish color.
Nice Marbling. Looking at the marbling of fat in the steak will also help you find a nice fresh steak to enjoy. You will want to look for a steak that has marbled fat throughout the entire steak, and no large chunks of fat in any one location. The marbling will help your steak stay nice and juicy as it cooks.
Firm and Juicy. You will also want to look for a steak that is firm yet juicy. Try pressing your finger to the steak. If the steak springs back into shape as soon as your finger is removed, this has a good texture. You’re also want to look for one that has a nice amount of juice to the steak, but it’s not excessively runny.
Some Excellent Ways To Thaw Steak
When you are thawing your steak after it has been frozen, there are a few simple ways you can safely thaw your steak out. These methods include thawing your steak in the fridge, in cold water, or in the microwave. Please see the details for each method below.
Thaw In The Fridge
The safest way to thaw your steak is to place it from the freezer into the refrigerator and allow it to sit overnight. To do this, we recommend setting your steak inside of a larger bowl so that collects any liquid your steak may release. Depending on the size of your steak, it may thaw out overnight, or it may take a little longer to thaw in the fridge.
Thaw In Cold Water
Another way to thaw your steak is to place your frozen steak in a bowl and cover it with cold water. Place the bowl of cold water on your countertop and allow the steak to thaw. You will want to change the cold water in your bowl every 30 minutes so that it stays very cold, but at the same time allows your steak to thaw. Never use warm or hot water to thaw your steak. When your steak has thawed, you will want to cook the steak immediately after thawing in a bowl of cold water.
Thaw In Microwave
You can also use your microwave to thaw a steak if desired. This is the fastest way to thaw your frozen steak. To thaw your steak in the microwave, place your steak and a microwave-safe plate, and cover in a damp paper towel. Microwave using the defrost function until it is thawed. Cook your steak immediately after thawing in the microwave.
Can I refrigerate thawed steak?
You can refrigerate thawed steak only if your steak has been thawed in the refrigerator. Steak that is thawed in a bowl of cold water, or in the microwave should be cooked immediately after it is thawed.
What are the best ways to reheat thawed steak?
Now that you know how to thaw a steak it’s important to know the best way to reheat a thawed steak. There are a few different ways you can reheat a steak, including in the oven, on the stovetop, using the air fryer, in a microwave, or on a grill.
How To Reheat A Leftover Steak
Oven and Stovetop
How to reheat a steak in the oven:
To reheat leftover steak in the oven, you want to begin by preheating the oven to 275°F.
Next, place your steak on a cookie sheet and allow to warm in your oven for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 110°F.
Then, it’s recommended to remove your steak from the oven and place it into a lightly oiled skillet on your stovetop.
Place the steak you have reheated over medium-low heat for a few minutes on each side until your steak reaches your desired internal temperature.
Stovetop
How to heat leftover steak on a stovetop:
Reheat your leftover steak on your stovetop, you’ll want to take a skillet and lightly drizzle it with oil. Place your skillet over medium-low heat and add your steak. Sear your steak on each side until your steak is warmed to your desired temperature.
Air Fryer
How to reheat steak in an air fryer:
Heat your steak in the air fryer begin by preheating your air fryer to 375°F. place your steak into the air fryer basket and heat for approximately 3 to 5 minutes or until the steak is warmed to your desired temperature.
Microwave
How to microwave leftover steak:
Please note that reheating a steak in your microwave is the less desirable of all of the options. However, sometimes it is unavoidable to use your microwave.
To reheat your steak in the microwave, place your steak on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave for approximately one minute and then check the internal temperature to see if it has reached your desired temp.
Grill
How to grill leftover steak:
You can also reheat your leftover steak on a grill if desired. Preheat your grill to approximately 350 to 375°F. Add your steak to the grill, and sear each side until your steak reaches your desired internal temperature. Remove and serve, then enjoy.
How do you make leftover steak more tender?
To help make your leftover steak more tender, you can drizzle your steak with oil, butter, or sprinkle it with a little bit of water before you reheat it. Reheat your steak according to one of the methods above.
How To Cook Steak
Easy Grilled Steak
Our favorite easy way to grill steak is to preheat the grill to 250-300°F. Then add your steaks.
Grill until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, then turn the burners to high and sear the steak on both sides.
Sear until the internal temperature reaches your desired temp, then remove from the grill and allow to rest before serving.
This reverse sear method makes for a very tasty steak dinner!
What is the best steak doneness?
The level of doneness for your steak is usually determined from person to person. The internal temperature of a steak at rare is 125°F, medium-rare 135°F, Medium 145°F, medium well 150°F, and well done at 160°F.
How long should a steak rest for?
It is recommended that a steak should rest for at least five minutes as a good rule of thumb. However, the length of your steak’s rest time may vary depending on the size of your steak.
FAQs
Can I refrigerate thawed steak?
You can refrigerate thawed steak only if it has been thawed inside of the refrigerator. If it has been thawed using any other method, you will not want to place it back into the fridge.
Is frozen steak still delicious?
In most cases, steak that has been frozen can still taste delicious. Simply thaw it and reheat the steak according to our suggested methods above.
What kind of wrappers are best for freezing steak?
The best kind of wrappers for freezing steak or defrost wrap your steak in wax paper, or butcher paper and then placed it into an airtight container or seal it inside of a plastic freezer bag. You can also vacuum seal your steak before it is frozen.
What are the best ways to reheat thawed steak?
The best way to reheat thawed steak is to reheat it inside of the oven, or on a grill. Reheating your steak in the oven usually allows your steak to stay the moistest.
Can I eat steak that has passed the use-by date?
Although your steak can be eaten if it has passed the use-by date, you will want to be sure to check it over carefully and make sure that your steak has not gone bad. If there is any indication that your steak has gone bad, you want to throw it away and not eat it.
Is the ‘sell-by’ date the same as ‘use-by’ date?
No, the sell-by date and the use-by date or not the same thing. The sell-by date is an indication of when the store should sell the item, and the use-by date is when the item is recommended to be used before it goes bad.
Is cooked steak good after 7 days?
No, cooked steak is not good after seven days no matter how it has been stored.
Can I eat steak that’s been in the fridge for a week?
No, steak that has been in the fridge for a week should not be eaten.
Does steak go bad in the fridge?
Yes, if not stored correctly, or stored for too long, steak kept in the fridge can go bad.
Is GREY steak bad?
Yes, you will want to avoid eating gray steak. Gray is an indication that your steak has gone bad.
Can cooked steak sit out overnight?
No, cooked steak should not sit out overnight and still be eaten. The maximum amount of time a steak can sit at room temperature is two hours, and no more.
Can you eat rotten meat if you cook it?
No. If you eat rotten meat it will make you sick.
Is Steak bad if its Brown?
A stake that has turned brown is not necessarily bad. Turning brown has a natural occurrence for beef that has been refrigerated. This is a chemical reaction to being kept in the fridge for approximately five days or more. However, beef that has been in the fridge too long may turn brown, have a bad smell to it, and has gone bad. Be very careful to determine if it is good or if it has gone bad. For more details, please see the USDA.
Is Your Steak Still Edible?
Can you still eat your steak? This is the ultimate question. Your cooked steak in the fridge can last between 3 to 4 days if stored properly. Examine your state closely to see if they’re still good, or if it has gone bad before you determine if it is edible or not.
How long can you keep cooked beef?
Assuming it is stored correctly, cooked steak can last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Wrapping it all up
To sum it all up, a cooked steak may last between 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you are unsure if your steak is still good, use your senses to examine the appearance, smell, and texture, to determine if your steak is good or has gone bad.
How Long can Cooked Steak Stay in the Fridge?
Knowing how to properly store your steak is an important factor in how long your steak can last when stored in the fridge. Typically, a cooked steak can last between three and four days stored properly inside the fridge. Now that you know all of these tips and tricks for proper storage of raw and cooked steak, it’s time to determine if you are cooked steak is still good or if it has gone bad.
We hope that this article has helped answer all of your questions in regard to steak stored in the refrigerator. If you have any other questions, please feel free to write to us, or comment in the section below. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things related to food.
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How Long Does Cooked Steak Last In The Fridge
Ingredients
- steak
Instructions
Room Temperature
- Raw: 2 hours or less
- Cooked: 2 hours or less
Refridgerator
- Raw: 3-5 days at 40°F or below
- Cooked: 3-4 days at 40°F or below
Freezer
- Raw: 6-12 months at 0°F or below
- Cooked: 3 months or less at 0°F or below
Helpful!