How Long A Cooked Steak Will Stay Safe To Eat (And How To Store It)

A good restaurant steak is hard to pass up, but is also often hard to polish off in one sitting. That means leftovers, which can become steak and eggs, a steak sandwich, or you can simply reheat it and enjoy a second time. But how long can you hang onto that cooked steak? You might think that it's only bad once your steak tastes fishy, but that's actually not the case — there's a hard deadline.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all leftover steak should be consumed within four days' time. After that, cooked steak is no longer safe to eat. During that window of time, your leftovers should be kept refrigerated and reheated to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It's worth noting that reheating steaks can cause the texture to suffer, but you can safely do so in the microwave, on a stovetop, in the oven, or sous vide. 

This mistake you're making with leftover food can actually be a deadly one. Leftover steak is often moist and nutrient-rich, which makes it a breeding area for harmful bacteria, especially Bacillus cereus, which commonly causes food poisoning. Other possible unwanted guests include Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, which can have fatal results. Bacteria might take root in your leftover steak even before the four-day cutoff point, but there are telltale signs: If the meat has a sour odor, slimy texture, a musty taste, or looks discolored, you should steer clear of it.

For maximum quality and safety, the best approach is to use up leftover steak within a day of cooking it. But if you want your leftover steak to last the full four days, it needs to be stored correctly. To keep cooked steak free from bacteria, put it in the fridge within two hours after cooking. The longer your meat is in the "danger zone" — in temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit — the greater the chance that bacteria will develop. That means you also can't leave it out on the counter for any amount of time after bringing it home.

You can help preserve the steak by sealing it in an airtight container or wrapping it tightly in plastic. If your takeout box is vented or made of paper, you should transfer the steak to a better container. This may seem like a lot of hassle for leftovers, but it also doesn't pay to gamble with your health. 

The easiest way to keep your leftovers for longer than four days is to freeze it. Once there, you can keep it for up to four months, according to the USDA. Thaw it in the refrigerator or under cold water rather than on a counter to avoid those danger zone temperatures. And if you still end up with leftovers after thawing, you can safely refreeze your leftovers again. But remember: If there's any doubt, just throw it out!