Can you refrigerate and reheat steak?

Photo by Jon Gales licensed under CC BY 2.0

It’s probably not often that you find yourself unable to finish that ribeye you cooked. But there might be the occasional time you go a little overboard and prepare more than the family can eat. With the price of steaks, the last thing you want is to have to throw the leftovers away.

That’s why we came up with this handy guide for saving steak leftovers and keeping them as fresh as possible until the next time you’re ready to enjoy them.

• How to Store Leftover Steak in the Fridge
  • How Long is Steak Safe to Keep in the Refrigerator?
• Reheating Leftover Steak
• Conclusion: Saving Steak Leftovers the Right Way
  • Related posts:

How to Store Leftover Steak in the Fridge

Storing meat the right way will make the difference between tender beef when reheated and meat that has the consistency of a hockey puck. The trick is to make sure you’re retaining as much of the natural juices of the steaks as possible, which will help to maintain both the texture and flavor of the beef. You also want to keep air away from the steaks, which can dry them out.

Using the right wrapping techniques can help you keep the integrity of your meat intact. Your best bet is to use a vacuum sealer to keep juices locked in and air out. However, these machines can be expensive. An alternative method is to wrap the steak leftovers in freezer paper, which is a thick, coated plastic paper that can lock in moisture and keep air away.

Wrap each piece of meat individually and tightly. Then, place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag in one layer. Lay the bag on a flat surface and zip the bag until only a small opening remains. Use your hands to squeeze out as much air as possible before zipping it closed.

The meat should lay flat in one layer on a refrigerator shelf with plenty of room around them for air to circulate and keep them cold. Also, keep your steaks on the bottom shelf to prevent any juices from potentially seeping out and contaminating other foods.

How Long is Steak Safe to Keep in the Refrigerator?

Some people use the sight and smell test to decide whether their leftovers are safe to eat. However, you can’t trust your eyes and nose only when it comes to steak leftovers. Although most foods appear to be just fine for up to a week in the refrigerator, that doesn’t mean that they’re safe to eat.

Generally, leftover steaks are safe in the fridge for about three days, given that you used the right techniques to store them. If you don’t think you’ll eat them in that amount of time, you can always place them in the freezer instead.

Reheating Leftover Steak

Although the microwave is the preferred method when it comes to reheating steak, it’s definitely one you should stay away from if possible. The microwave can dry out your beef, making it taste and feel different than it did the first time around.

As always, Steak University is here to help you out. Check out this in-depth guide for reheating steak so you can enjoy yours just as much the second time.

Conclusion: Saving Steak Leftovers the Right Way

At Chicago Steak Company, we’re dedicated to making sure the beef you order stays as fresh as possible from our facility to your home. We also want to make sure that you can enjoy your steaks to their full potential, which is why we offer invaluable resources through Steak University to help you learn proper cooking, storing, freezing, and other methods to create the perfect beef dinner every time. Enjoy!

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Steak is one of the most satisfying—and expensive—items on any menu. But if you've ever tried to wrap this dish up for later, you'll know that it never quite lives up to its memory the next day.

The problem isn't the steak: your mouthwatering New York Strip is in the fridge, waiting to be returned to yesterday's glory. But if reheated the wrong way, what was once a perfect medium-rare can be overcooked in no time. Steak can become tough, chewy and lose its flavor, leaving you with an unappealing piece of meat.

We tested several methods in order to determine the best way to reheat steak while maintaining the same exceptional flavor and texture:

How to Reheat Steak in the Microwave

As easy as it is to throw something in the microwave and forget about it for two minutes, you won't want to do this with steak. Haphazardly microwaving steak will dry it out, and cause the fat to seize into tough, chewy bits. If you do decide to microwave steak—whether it's the only reheat option in your workplace or you're committed to a low-effort day at home—here are some tricks for a great experience.

Start by placing the steak on a microwave-safe plate and loosely place a slightly damp paper towel on top. This will capture any remaining moisture, preventing your steak from drying out. Make sure that your microwave is set to medium heat and cook the steak in 30 second intervals, flipping the steak in between. This will keep the reheating process even, and will prevent your steak from overcooking. Do this for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. The exact time will vary depending on how powerful your microwave is and how thick the steak is.

The result is a steak that is juicy and still full of flavor. It may not be crisp—or exactly as good as it was yesterday—but it will still make Barb from accounting jealous of last night's leftovers.

We also tested adding a small pat of salted butter on top of the steak; while it did re-introduce some moisture and flavor, most of the butter sits on the bottom of the plate and makes the reheated steak greasier than necessary.

How to Reheat Steak on the Stovetop

We found that cooking steak on the stovetop is a great way to retain the outside sear. Place the steak in a pan with a teaspoon of oil over medium-low heat and cover the pan with a lid for a few seconds to circulate some heat throughout the meat. Remember that just like with the microwave, cooking steak too fast and at too high a temperature will dry it out.

With this method, it's best to drop the expectation that your steak will ever be right-out-of-the-pan fresh and juicy. To make the most out of the previously cooked steak, chop it into bite-sized pieces and add it to fresh recipes like a Steak and Egg Hash or a Fajita Quesadilla.

How to Reheat Steak: Oven to Stovetop

Out of all tested methods, this oven-and-pan-sear method will get you the best juice-to-crisp ratio for your steak:

Start by setting your oven to 250°F—this low temperature will retain your steak's juices. Grab a shallow baking sheet and place a steady cooling rack inside of it. This will help distribute heat evenly around the entire steak without you having to flip it. Put the steak on the rack and pop it in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches about 100-110°F.

Next, swirl a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium frying pan or cast iron skillet and place it on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add your steak to the frying pan once the oil is almost smoking. Allow the steak to cook for about 60 seconds on each side—just enough time to get a crispy exterior without overcooking. Allow to rest 5-10 before slicing.

How to Reheat Steak Sous Vide-Style

The Sous Vide method is just as great for reheating steak as it is for cooking it. Start by placing your leftover steak in a sealable freezer bag with a small pat of salted butter. Squeeze out as much air as possible and allow the steak to come to room temperature, about 20-30 minutes. Once the refrigerator's chill is off the steak, the less time it will take for the beef to reheat.

Next, fill a large stockpot with water and attach a Sous Vide according to the machine's instructions. The water should be about 120°F to 130°F—warm enough for some steam to rise from the pot (note that the water should not reach a simmer). Place the airtight bag in the pot away from the edges and cook for about 5-8 minutes, or until the meat is gently warmed through. This gentle cooking method will keep your meat juicy, and prevent it from overcooking.

If you want a crisp exterior, thoroughly pat dry and pan-sear your steak for about 60 seconds on each side.

Set up for success:

Don't reheat your steak straight out of the fridge—have it sit out for about 30 minutes first. This will make it less likely for the steak to overcook and is an easy way to boost your chances of a successful reheating experience.

If you're looking to cook a cut of steak that you know you probably won't get to, purposefully undercook it by a minute. Cook for about three minutes on each side for a beautifully seared, medium-rare steak that your reheating appliance of choice won't overcook too much the next day.

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