That juicy steak that’s been patiently waiting in the fridge for you to give it a purpose won’t last forever! Even at low temperatures, bacteria develops and at some point, refrigerated meat becomes inedible. It’s important to know how long is steak good in the fridge, so let’s find out!
🧊 How Long?
According to the USDA, when stored in the fridge at 40°F (4.4°C) or below, raw steak will last between 3-5 days.
How long red meat will last also depends on a multitude of factors, including the way it’s stored and packaged.
The same goes for cooked steak, which should ideally be consumed within 3 days after being refrigerated. Using the proper storage and packaging methods can lengthen the time up to 5 days.
Raw steak can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, although this is a general guideline.
This time frame might be shorter, depending on how it was stored even before the purchase, not just after.
If you bought it from a butcher, it was probably displayed in a case where it was exposed to oxygen for hours, or even longer. Compared to one that was vacuum-sealed or tightly wrapped in saran, the bacterial growth may be a bigger risk.
That’s why meat purchased from the butcher will last around 2 days in the fridge.
Minimizing exposure to oxygen can lengthen the life span of a refrigerated meat.
Vacuum-sealing is the best technique for storing all meat and when packaged like this, it can last up to 10 days in the fridge.
On average, cooked steak will last 3 days in the refrigerator, and just like raw, the interval can be lengthened depending on how soon you place it in the fridge after cooking, and how you package it.
Ideally, you should refrigerate right after it cools down.
Temperatures between 40°F and 140°F are considered the “danger zone”. These conditions facilitate bacterial growth, so the sooner you place that cooked meat in the refrigerator, the longer it will last.
When it comes to wrapping cooked meat, the same rules apply.
The best way to limit exposure to air is to vacuum seal it. Even tightly wrapping it in cling wrap or aluminum foil are excellent methods to keep it fresh for longer.
🥩 How To Tell If A Steak Is Bad
You might have doubts about the freshness of your meat if you’re in the upper limit of its life expectancy, which is totally normal!
Raw
Raw steak should have a bright red color, moist but without leaking fluids, feel firm to the touch and have no discolorations.
Vacuum Sealed
Vacuum sealed steak will have a less intense color but it should not smell unappealing. Your nostrils should pick up a mild, meaty odor and nothing else.
Give yourself two days to cook the steak after the “sell-by” date just to be on the safe side.
Even in the best conditions, after 3 days in the fridge, your steak might become slightly brown in some areas. Technically, it would be good for another 2 days, so it should still safe to eat.
If you see spots that have become dark brown, feel an off-putting smell, or the steak feels slimy to the touch, it’s time to discard it.
Frozen
Frozen meat that’s still fresh shouldn’t be dark brown, although expect it to be somewhat darker than raw meat. Even in the freezer, red meat darkens as it ages, which means it will have a deeper shade of red.
Frost bite is another thing to watch out for. It will appear as frost or white speckles on the meat.
Thawed
Don’t rely on the sell-by date when it comes to thawed meat. What matters most is it should be frozen no later than 2 days after purchasing.
We already discussed how frozen meat will darken over time. After thawing, the bright, original color won’t return. Just be wary of dark brown, green, or grey areas – these are all signs your meat is not safe to eat anymore.
For everything else, rely on the same clues as for raw meat.
If you want to learn more information that will teach you how to tell if a steak is bad, read our in-depth guide.
We’re discussing every type of steak: raw, cooked, frozen, and thawed, along with prevention and storage tips!
☠️ What Is “The Danger Zone”?
The range of temperatures between 40° and 140°F is also known as the “Danger Zone”.
They offer perfect conditions for bacteria to multiply, so leaving foods at room temperature for too long is a big no-no.
The guideline is to refrigerate food within two hours if kept at temperatures between 40° and 90°F, and within one hour if the food was exposed to temperatures between 90° and 140°F.
🍱 How To Refrigerate Steak
By now, you know that limiting contact with oxygen is key for keeping it fresh for longer.
The best way to refrigerate is in its original packaging, if it had one. Vacuum sealing is another great option.
If it came from the butcher and you don’t have a vacuum sealer, wrap it tightly in cling film or aluminum foil. Then, place it in an airtight container before moving it to the fridge.
Tip: Planning to cook it within 24-hours? Marinate your steak for even better results!
The oil, salt, and other marinade ingredients act as natural preservatives, and they’ll also tenderize the meat.
❄️ How To Freeze Steak
Freezing your meat is best if you know you won’t cook it within the next few days. The lower temperatures will significantly slow the multiplication of bacteria, although exposure to oxygen can still be harmful.
Like for refrigerating, vacuum seal or tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and then add another layer of aluminum foil before placing in the freezer.
In theory, properly frozen meat is safe to eat indefinitely. For a real-life scenario, frozen red meat is good for 4-12 months, as per USDA’s recommendations.
From my personal experience, I recommend you eat it within the first four months for the best texture and flavor.
Also, it’s not a good idea to freeze cooked steaks.
Will it make it last longer? Yes. The downside is, over time, the cooked steak can dehydrate and even develop freezer burns.
As a result, frozen cooked steak can deteriorate in quality much faster than it would spoil.
Label your freezer bags so you’ll have an easier time figuring out if your steak is still safe to eat.
And don’t forget, you can even grill frozen steaks. This method can yield excellent results and it’s great when you need to use up frozen steak before it expires.
🥘 How To Reheat Leftover Steak
You have plenty of options for reheating cooked steak leftovers!
The microwave is not the best one, but it gets the job done. Use a microwave-safe container and nuke the steak in one-minute intervals.
Depending on size and thickness, it may need up to three minutes of total cooking time.
On the stovetop, preheat a skillet on high flame. Add a small amount of butter, reduce the heat to medium-low and give your steaks a quick sear. Five minutes should be enough time for your steaks to be perfectly reheated.
Reheating steak in the air fryer is super easy! Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and allow the leftovers to warm up for 3-5 minutes.
You can also use the oven to reheat leftover steak. Simply preheat it to 275°F and place the steaks on the wire rack of a baking tray.
Cover them with aluminum foil and place them in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
It makes total sense to reheat grilled steak on the grill. You’ll be adding a little extra smoky flavor, so what’s not to like?
Preheat the grill to 350°F and allow the steaks to cook for 10 minutes while flipping halfway through.
♨️ Our Favorite Grilled Steak Recipes
What better way to make sure your steaks don’t spoil than by grilling them? Pick your favorite cut of beef and fire up that grill!
These grilled steak recipes are well loved in my family and they’re extremely easy to make. Be sure to use an internal meat thermometer to get them to your preferred doneness.
- Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak
- Grilled Ranch Steak
- Grilled Skirt Steak
- Grilled Teres Major Steak
- Grilled Marinated Steak Tips
- Grilled Porterhouse Steak With Herb Butter
- Grilled Greek Steak Bites
- Grilled Tex Mex Flank Steak With Avocado Corn Salsa
- Grilled Sirloin Steak With Chimichurri
- Herb Butter Grilled Ribeye Steak
- Grilled T Bone Steak With Bourbon Salt
- Grilled Herb Crusted Flat Iron Steaks
- Perfect Tomahawak Steak
❓ F.A.Q.
If you see any gray or brown-gray areas on your steak, don’t throw it away just yet.
The chemical reactions that take place in raw beef over time will turn that bright red into various shades of brown.
Freezing meat can also bring changes in color and none of them are a clear indicator that the meat is spoiled.
Check other factors like the smell and texture to decide if the steak has gone bad. If the smell is unpleasant and the steak is sticky or slimy to the touch, it’s not safe to eat anymore.
How long steak stays safe to eat in the fridge depends a lot on how the steak was packaged.
Vacuum-sealed steaks can last in the fridge up to 2 weeks. If you purchased vacuum-sealed steaks, they might still be good, even after a week in the fridge.
Whatever the case may be, remove the steak from the packaging and check for any signs of spoilage. If there are any present, your safest bet is to get rid of it.
Assuming it was frozen fresh, and packed correctly, thawed steak should be consumed within 3 to 5 days.
No. 1 advice? If you want your steak lasting longer in the fridge buy it vacuum sealed, or vacuum seal it at home.
If that’s not an option, tightly wrap it with aluminum foil or cling film and place it in an airtight container. Limiting contact with oxygen is very important to keep your steak fresh for as long as possible.
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Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
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