Nothing is better than firing up your kamado grill and grilling up some mouthwatering Tomahawk steaks.
Even if you are cooking a steak for yourself, you can fire up your indoor grill or charcoal grill and grill up a juicy Ranch steak.
Whether your family is taking forever to come and eat the steaks you worked so hard to grill, or you forgot about the steak and left it sitting on the counter, you must know how long steak can sit out.
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Does Cooked Steak Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, cooked steak needs to be refrigerated, especially if you intend to keep it for a few days.
In addition to this, if you do not refrigerate your cooked steak, it will spoil within a few minutes. Therefore, chilling steak is the best option if you are not going to eat it right away.
How To Store Leftover Steak
Whether you cooked top round steak or Denver steak, it is essential that you limit its exposure to air.
This is where your refrigerator comes in. You can wrap the steaks tightly individually with foil or plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container.
Alternatively, you can also package your leftover steaks using a vacuum sealer before storing them in the fridge. In addition to this, you can also place your steaks in the freezer.
How Long Does Leftover Steak Last In The Fridge
Cooked steak has a shelf life of 3-4 days when stored in the fridge. If it is stored in the refrigerator any longer, it will become tainted with bacteria.
Bacteria can lead to foodborne illness. Steaks will last for up to 6 months in the freezer. Nevertheless, the steak will dry if it is kept in the freezer for too long.
Remember, freezing cooked steak will not neutralize bacteria. It sends them into a temporary coma. As soon as you thaw the steaks, the bacteria will awaken.
How to Reheat a Leftover Steak
Reheating steak is pretty easy. The most common ways to reheat steak are in the oven or on the stovetop.
However, you can also reheat steak in an air fryer or using a sous vide machine.
Whether you are reheating brisket, prime rib, or steak, the oven is the best way to the meat.
The only drawback of reheating steak in the oven is that it takes a long time. Even though your steak will not be as juicy as it once was, it will be a close second.
To reheat your steak in the oven, heat it to 250°F.
Place your leftover steak onto a wire rack set on top of a baking sheet. It’s important to set the steak onto the wire rack so air can flow freely and the steak can reheat evenly.
Cook the leftover steak for 20-30 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 110°F. It’s best to monitor the temperature of the steaks with an infrared thermometer.
Once the steak is finished cooking in the oven, place it into a hot cast-iron skillet coated with olive oil. It’s best to heat the skillet to medium-high heat for 4 minutes.
Sear the steak for 1 minute on each side until a rich crust forms. The internal temperature of your steak should be 130°F before diving in.
If you need to reheat your steak in a hurry, you can reheat it on the stovetop.
The stovetop method will only take a few minutes, and the steak will almost be as flavorful and delicious as when it was cooked.
To reheat your steak on the stovetop, place a tablespoon of olive oil into a hot skillet.
Place the skillet on medium-high heat and heat it for 4 minutes. Add the steak and sear it for a minute per side until it reaches your desired temperature.
How Long Can Cooked Steak Sit Out
Unfortunately, steak can only sit out at room temperature for 2 hours. Bacteria love to grow at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F or room temperature.
This specific range of temperatures is called the danger zone for a reason.
After 2 hours, the cooked steak will so much bacteria will be abundant on the steaks surface that it becomes unsafe to eat. Therefore, leaving steak out at room temperature is not recommended.
How To Tell if Cooked Steak Is Bad?
It’s very easy to tell if cooked steak is bad. Whether you left the steak in the fridge for too long or left it sitting at room temperature, you should check the steak to see if it is safe to eat.
If your cooked steak smells off, you should discard it immediately.
In addition to this, if your steak has a slimy texture, you should discard it immediately. Lastly, if there are any signs of discoloration, you should toss the steak immediately.
Can I Reheat Steak That Was Left Out Overnight?
In short, no, you cannot reheat steak that sat out all night. Remember, cooked steak will only last at room temperature for 2 hours.
If the food becomes unsafe to eat after two hours, can you imagine how much bacteria will be preset on the steak after sitting out all night?
Although you may think reheating the steak may neutralize the bacteria, heat will not kill the toxins if it is already present in the food.
There is still a risk that you can get food poisoning. You may experience symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headaches.
Although most cases of foodborne illness are mild, some cases are severe, and certain groups of people like the elderly or persons with compromised immune systems are at risk for contracting food poisoning.
In addition to this, even if you end up with a mild case, it’s no walk in the park. So save yourself the trouble and discard steak that you suspected rotten.
Final Thoughts
Sadly, steak can only sit at room temperature for 2 hours.
Yes, I know it is a super short window, but it’s better to be safe and eat your steak a few minutes after it is cooked.
You might also be interested in the following:
- How Long Can Cooked Beef Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Chicken Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Pork Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Bacon Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Sausage Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Ground Beef Sit Out
- How Long Can Cooked Salmon Sit Out
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.