How to reheat, store, thaw, and tell if steak has gone bad
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 3-5 days
Take it home right away and refrigerate it at 40°F (4°C) or below, then cook or freeze it within 3 to 5 days.
Watch out Never leave steak out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
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Freezer
Keeps for 4-12 months
Freeze it at 0°F in its original packaging, or overwrap the store plastic with aluminum foil, freezer paper, or freezer-weight plastic wrap or bags for long-term storage.
Watch out Frozen steak stays safe indefinitely but loses quality over time, so the 4 to 12 months is for best quality.
Raw steak lasts 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C), and cooked steak lasts 3 to 4 days. Reheat steak to 165°F, measured with a food thermometer, and keep it covered. Frozen steak stays safe indefinitely, and it's best within 4 to 12 months raw or 2 to 3 months cooked. An off odor, a sticky feel, or slime means spoilage, but color alone doesn't.
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Raw steak lasts 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, and cooked steak lasts 3 to 4 days. In the freezer, raw steak is best within 4 to 12 months.
To reheat steak safely, cover it and heat it to 165°F. This guide follows USDA advice on beef, leftovers, and freezing.
What is the best way to reheat steak?
The best way to reheat steak safely is to cover it and heat it until it reaches 165°F, measured with a food thermometer.
Covering the steak retains moisture and helps it heat all the way through, according to the USDA’s leftovers guidance. Eat cooked steak within 3 to 4 days, either cold or reheated to that temperature.
How to reheat steak in the microwave
To reheat steak in the microwave, cover it and rotate it for even heating.
- Arrange the steak in a covered microwave-safe glass or ceramic dish, and add some liquid if needed.
- Make sure the covering is microwave safe, and vent the lid or wrap to let the steam escape.
- Rotate the steak for even heating.
- Check the temperature in several places with a food thermometer, because microwaves have cold spots, and allow a resting time before you check.
How long does steak last?
Raw steak lasts 3 to 5 days in the fridge and 4 to 12 months in the freezer. Cooked steak lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
The freezer times are for best quality. Steak kept frozen continuously stays safe indefinitely.
| Steak | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Raw | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 12 months |
| Cooked | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Raw, thawed in the fridge | 3 to 5 days before cooking | Can be refrozen without cooking |
How long is steak good in the fridge?
Raw steak is good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge at 40°F (4°C), according to the USDA’s beef guide.
If the package has a use-by date, follow that date. If it has a sell-by date or no date, cook or freeze the steak within those 3 to 5 days.
Put the package in a disposable plastic bag, if you have one, so leaks don’t cross-contaminate cooked food or produce.
How long does cooked steak last in the fridge?
Cooked steak lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Store leftovers in shallow, covered containers at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Never leave steak out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
How long can steak sit out?
Steak can sit out of refrigeration for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C), according to the USDA’s Danger Zone guidance. That goes for raw and cooked steak.
Don’t leave steak to marinate on the counter either. Marinate it in the refrigerator, because the FDA says bacteria can multiply rapidly in foods left to marinate at room temperature, as its Are You Storing Food Safely? advice explains.
How long does steak last in the freezer?
Raw steak lasts 4 to 12 months in the freezer for best quality, and cooked steak lasts 2 to 3 months. Steak kept frozen continuously stays safe indefinitely, so only its quality drops with time.
It’s safe to freeze steak in its original packaging or to repackage it. For long-term freezing, overwrap the porous store plastic with aluminum foil, freezer paper, or freezer-weight plastic wrap or bags.
What is freezer burn on steak?
Freezer burn shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots, caused by air reaching the surface of the steak. Cut those portions away before or after cooking. Heavily freezer-burned steak may have to be discarded for quality reasons.
How long do beef stew and beef stroganoff last?
Homemade beef stew, beef stroganoff, and other home cooked beef last 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Those are the USDA’s times for home cooked beef, and the freezer time is for best quality.
So yes, you can freeze beef stew and beef stroganoff. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely, so the 2 to 3 months is about quality, not safety.
Refrigerate the leftovers within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C), in shallow, covered containers. You can eat them cold or reheated to 165°F (74°C).
How to thaw steak
The best way to thaw steak is in the refrigerator, where steaks may defrost within a day. Once raw steak has defrosted, it stays safe in the fridge for 3 to 5 days before cooking.
During that time, you can refreeze it without cooking it first. The other two safe ways to thaw are cold water and the microwave. Never thaw steak on the counter or in other locations.
How to thaw steak fast
To thaw steak fast, use cold water or the microwave. Steak thawed either way should be cooked before it’s refrozen, because it may have been held above 40°F (4°C).
- For cold water, keep the steak in its airtight package or a leakproof bag, submerge it in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. Small packages of beef may defrost in an hour or less.
- For the microwave, cook the steak immediately after thawing, because some areas may become warm and begin to cook.
Can you cook steak from frozen?
Yes, it’s safe to cook frozen steak in the oven, on the stove, or on the grill without defrosting it first. The cooking time may be about 50% longer. Don’t cook frozen beef in a slow cooker.
How long can you marinate steak?
You can marinate steak in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Boil used marinade before brushing it on cooked beef, and discard any uncooked leftover marinade.
How to tell if steak is bad
Steak has gone bad if it has an off odor, feels sticky or tacky, or is slimy. Steak with these signs should not be used.
What does bad steak look like?
Bad steak may look faded or darker, along with the off odor, sticky feel, or slime described above. A color change alone doesn’t mean steak is spoiled, as the USDA’s guide to meat and poultry color explains.
Why does steak change color?
Steak changes color because its pigments react to oxygen and light. Fresh steak protected from air, such as in a vacuum package, is purple-red. Once it’s exposed to air, it turns cherry-red, and store lighting and continued contact with oxygen later turn it brownish-red.
The USDA says a beef roast that darkened in the refrigerator is safe, because oxidation is a normal change during refrigerator storage. A rainbow sheen on a slice of beef is safe too, since iridescence does not represent decreased quality or safety.
How long do beef jerky and corned beef last?
Store-bought beef jerky lasts 12 months in the pantry from the date of purchase. Corned beef in a pouch with pickling juices lasts 5 to 7 days in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Yes, beef jerky has a limited shelf life, so use it within those times. After you open store-bought jerky, it keeps 2 to 3 months in the fridge, and homemade jerky keeps 1 to 2 months in the pantry or the fridge.
You can freeze corned beef too. FoodKeeper gives corned beef in a pouch with pickling juices 1 month in the freezer from the date of purchase.
| Beef product | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercially dried jerky | 12 months from purchase | 2 to 3 months after opening | Not listed |
| Homemade jerky | 1 to 2 months | 1 to 2 months | Not listed |
| Corned beef in a pouch with pickling juices | Not listed | 5 to 7 days from purchase | 1 month from purchase |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to wash steak before cooking it?
No. It isn't necessary to wash raw beef, because any bacteria on the surface would be destroyed by cooking.
Can you freeze cooked steak?
Yes. Cooked steak keeps 2 to 3 months in the freezer for best quality.
Is the red liquid in a steak package blood?
No. Blood is removed from beef during slaughter, and only a small amount remains in the muscle tissue. The liquid is natural moisture combined with protein, since beef is about three-quarters water.
Is steak safe after 12 months in the freezer?
Yes, steak kept frozen continuously stays safe indefinitely. The 4 to 12 months is for best quality.
Can you brown steak and finish cooking it later?
No. Never brown or partially cook beef to refrigerate and finish cooking later, because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed. Partially cooking it immediately before it goes on a hot grill is safe.
What temperature should steak be cooked to?
Cook raw beef steaks to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C), measured with a food thermometer before you take them off the heat. Let the steak rest for at least three minutes before carving or eating.
