How To Reheat Steak In The Oven

Everyone loves a tender and juicy steak to grace their dinner. But what happens when you can’t finish it and save it for the day after? They need repurposing!

Leftover steaks are often considered unfit for dinners and what most people like to do is use them as a lunch option by adding them to salads and sandwiches. But a properly reheated steak can be just as good as a fresh one. And you can achieve this with just an oven and some simple adjustments.

Is Leftover Steak Safe To Eat?

Leftover steak can be both dangerous and safe to eat, depending on how you store it.

Eating cold leftovers is harmless if stored at a safe temperature, i.e., not exceeding 40° F. But the best way to ensure that your leftover steak remains safe for consumption is to reheat it properly.

For this, you can use an air fryer, a microwave, or an oven and try to achieve a minimum internal temperature of 110° F.

A Guide To Reheating Steak In The Oven

Reheating steak can start in the oven; the process starts once you take it out of the fridge and ends in a skillet. The main processes include prepping the meat, reheating, and searing it.

1. If refrigerated, let the steak come to room temperature before tossing them in the oven. Doing so will prepare it for the oven, reducing cooking time and preventing overcooked and dried-out meat.
2. Preheat your oven to 250° F. Don’t just wait for the meat to warm up and turn on the oven then; else, your steak will get overcooked. Preheating your oven makes the appliance ready to quickly raise the temperature of your meat. Doing so means that your meat will not stay in the danger zone (between 40° F and 140° F) while reheating.
3. Place your steak over a wire rack. This is the easiest yet most crucial step in getting an evenly reheated steak. You must place your wire rack on a baking sheet and your steak over the rack. Doing this will eliminate the need for flipping the meat midway while reheating and ensure that the heat envelops the meat from all directions and reheats it evenly.
4. Low heat and a long cook time are crucial to achieving perfectly reheated steak. A medium-thick steak should take around 30 minutes. A thinner one should be ready in about 20 minutes, while a thicker one should be about 40.
5. Once the steak is out of the oven and has an internal temperature of 110° F, place it on a hot skillet and begin searing it as you’d usually do.

How Different Does Reheated Steak Taste From Freshly Cooked Ones?

It is no secret that leftover steaks don’t taste exactly the way freshly cooked ones do. And even with the most careful preparation, reheated steak still has some different qualities.

One stark difference is observed in the crust that forms on the outer layer of meat– reheated steak has more crispiness.

Another instance is juiciness. Because they’re leftovers and exposed to heat for a second time, reheated steaks have a slightly less juicy texture. However, this can be fixed with some minor additions while reheating, and there’s more about it in the next section.

Does Steak Need Extra Glaze While Reheating?

Preserving its taste and texture is essential to properly reheat steak. And can you achieve this with or without an extra glaze? The answer is both yes and no.

Reheating steak with added glaze isn’t entirely necessary, but you can use a meat broth, butter, or oil to give your meat some extra moisture. Simply drizzle the steak with anything you have on hand and wrap it with aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.

You’ll get a perfectly juicy and tender steak once it’s out and ready. But before you dig in, let it cool down for a few minutes.

How To Store Reheated Steak?

Storing steak also means preserving its moisture and keeping it free of air. The most suitable way to do this is by using a vacuum sealer. Another method is to wrap the steak in freezer paper and place it inside a freezer bag. Try to withdraw as much air as possible when doing this.

Also, don’t layer your pieces of steaks but store them in a single layer. Doing this will help them freeze evenly and potentially be safer to eat.

If you store them correctly each time you take them out, leftover steaks remain edible in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you store them at room temperature for more than 2 hours, they’ll be prone to bacteria outgrowth.

That’s all there is to know about reheating steak in an oven. Now, you can reheat steaks the perfect way every time, and having leftovers will no longer be something to fear about!