When it comes to a special celebration or an extended family gathering, steak is the most common food. Most people will cook a lot of steaks and tend to have a lot of leftovers. Throwing those delicious steaks away would be a waste of money. Would freezing cooked steak be an option to preserve them for later?
So, can you freeze cooked steak? Yes, you can freeze cooked steak. Steak stored in the freezer will retain its taste, quality, and nutrients if it’s properly stored. Allow the steak to cool to room temperature before placing them in a freezer bag. You can expect your cooked steak to last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Does Cooked Steak Freeze Well?
Cooked steak freeze quite well. By freezing cooked steak, it can extend its shelf life for about 2-3 months.
When freezing cooked steak, you’ll need to be very careful. If it’s not properly stored, the steak will get freezer burn and go bad quickly. Steak contains a lot of moisture, and it will turn into ice crystals when frozen.
How To Freeze Cooked Steak
When it comes to freezing cooked steak, it’s pretty much straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of time. You just need some aluminum foil, a freezer bag, and a marker to write down the date.
Step 1: Cool Down
Once the steak is cooked, allow it to cool down to temperature. It’s not a good idea to place the steak into the freezer while it’s still warm. Doing so will cause condensation in the container or bag. The moisture will then cause damage to the steak.
Also, the warm steak will cause the temperature in the freezer to rise a bit. This will cause food around it to thaw.
Step 2: Wrapping The Cooked Steak
Take each piece of cooked steak and wrap them in aluminum foil. Make sure no part of the steak is exposed.
For added protection, you can wrap another layer of plastic wrap.
Step 3: Container Storage
Once the cooked steak is wrapped, place them into an airtight container or freezer bag. You can put more than one steak in each container or bag, but don’t put too much where they will be too cramped.
For an airtight container, check the seal on the lid for any damages. If there are none, secure the lid to the container as tightly as possible.
For freezer bags, squeeze out as much air as you can from it and seal it tightly.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write down the date of freezing on the freezer bag or airtight container. Then place them into the freezer for storage.
If you are using a freezer bag and want to save space, you can lay the bags on top of each other. Allow the cooked steaks to completely freeze first, and then you can stack them on each other. Alternatively, you can stand them up against the freezer wall as well.
How Long Can You Freeze Cooked Steak?
Cooked steaks can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. After that, the quality of the steak will start to deteriorate. This is normal for any food that’s stored in the freezer. The longer it’s stored in the freezer, the higher the chance of it suffering from freezer burn.
After 3 months, you’ll still be able to eat the cooked steaks. However, the taste of it will not be that fresh as you would like it to be.
How Do You Defrost Cooked Steak?
When it comes to thawing cooked steaks, there are a couple of ways to do so. However, the best way to thaw cooked steaks is in the fridge. This will ensure the taste and texture will not change.
Remove the frozen cooked steak from the freezer and place it onto a plate. Then let it sit in the fridge overnight or for at least 5 hours before eating it.
If you need to use the frozen cooked steak much sooner, another option would be to use thaw it in a water bowl. Remove the steak from the freezer and place it directly into a bowl of lukewarm water.
After about 10 minutes, change out the water. Keep changing the water until the steak is completely thawed.
One other option is to thaw the frozen cooked steak in the microwave. This is a method that we don’t recommend due to the risk of the steak being overlooked.
If you do want to thaw the steak using the microwave, you’ll need to be very careful. Place the frozen cooked steak onto a microwave-safe plate.
How To Reheat Steak
Once the cooked steak has thawed completely, you can reheat them.
When it comes to reheating steaks, there are two methods of doing so. You can reheat them in the oven or the stovetop.
Reheating in the Oven
This is the best method of reheating cooked steaks. Doing so will maintain a juicy steak since it’s reheated slowly.
Preheat the oven to 275° and place a wire rack over a large baking paper. Cooking the steak on the wire rack allows the hot air to circulate around the entire steak.
Place the cooked steak on top of the wire rack and leave it in the oven for about 20-30 minutes. Using a thermometer, check the internal of the steak until it’s about 110°.
Next, heat the skillet on the stovetop at high heat. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet.
Then transfer the steak from the oven to the skillet. Sear the cooked steak on each side for about a minute. After a minute, flip the steak on the other side. Keep flipping your steak if you prefer a more done steak.
Reheating on the Stovetop
If you don’t have a lot of time, you can go straight to the stovetop for reheating. While this method is faster, it will require standing by the steak and watch it closely.
Heat the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Then pour a tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet. Add the steak to the skillet and flip it over every minute until you are happy with how done the steak is. For a medium-rare steak, it should only take about 3 minutes.
Can You Refreeze Cooked Steak?
Yes, you can refreeze cooked steaks, only if it has not completely thawed yet. This means if you took the steak out from the freezer and stored it in the fridge for no longer than 10 minutes. Since it’s still frozen, refreezing it will not affect the texture or taste of the steak.
On the other hand, if the cooked steaks have partially or completely thawed, you should not refreeze them. Doing so will cause the texture and flavor of the steak to be altered.
Other Questions about Cooked Steak
Does freezing cooked steak affect the taste?
Freezing cooked steak does not affect the taste if it’s used within 3 months. Also, the method that you use to reheat the steak will affect the taste. Avoid using the microwave as it tends to dry out most of the moisture in the steak. Instead, use the oven and stovetop for reheating the steak.