Freshly prepared steak that has been seared to perfection is one of life’s finest and most delicious pleasures.
A reheated steak is never going to be as good as a freshly cooked steak. However, provided that you are taking the precautions to ensure that you’re being safe and that the steak doesn’t become dry or bland in taste, it can still make a super tasty meal.
In this article, I will cover some key information on reheating steak and a step-by-step guide on how to reheat steak safely in the microwave. So, next time you have leftovers, you can enjoy your steak and ensure that nothing goes to waste.
Keep reading to find out more.
Is it Safe for You to Reheat Steak in the Microwave?
Yes, it’s safe for you to reheat steak in the microwave provided that the steak reaches an internal temperature of 74°C or 165°F.
To find out if your steak has been warmed through properly, you will need to insert a temperature probe into your cooked meat and measure the temperature before you eat it.
In addition to this, there are a few other precautions that you should take when reheating steak in the microwave.
Whenever you’re reheating cooked meat, your safety should be a priority. Steak must be refrigerated within 2 hours of being cooked, and will then need to be allowed to rise to room temperature before it is reheated in the microwave.
If you fail to refrigerate your steak within 2 hours after it’s been cooked, it can rapidly lead to bacterial growth and a potential food borne illness that could make you very ill if you’re not careful.
In this circumstance, the risk of your steak making you ill is too high and it should be discarded.
This simply comes down to the fact that the longer you leave the steak out of the refrigerator after it has been cooked and has cooled, the higher the risk of you becoming ill is.
You will also need to make sure that you adjust the power setting on your microwave before you reheat your steak. A medium or reheat setting is the safest option to reheat the steak without completely overcooking it.
A temperature that is too high will nuke your steak too quickly, and could lead to you overcooking your meat without even realizing it. However, once you tuck into it, you will soon notice that it has a tough, rubbery texture in place of the once tender steak.
This will ruin your steak, and will put you off reheating steak altogether which could lead to more food waste down the line!
Reheating your steak in the wrong way could make it a food hazard.
Bearing this in mind, to avoid getting food poisoning and wasting food, you will always need to take the appropriate precautions to ensure that you’re preparing your food in the safest way possible.
How Long Does it Take for Steak to Reheat in the Microwave?
Generally speaking, a steak can be reheated in around 2 minutes depending on your microwave. However, it’s important to keep microwaving your steak in shorter intervals until the internal temperature has reached 74°C or 165°F.
However, it’s crucial that these are short bursts after 2 minutes, as a much longer time will increase the likelihood of the steak becoming dry and rubbery.
Bearing this in mind, you will need to adjust the microwave power level to the ‘reheat’ setting and set a timer for 1 minute to start off with.
Following this, microwave your steak at 30 second intervals until the internal temperature is hot enough.
While your steak should be hot enough after 2 minutes, this can vary depending on the microwave you’re using and the temperature your steak was at when you placed it into the microwave.
As a result, you can decrease these 30 second intervals after the 2 minutes cooking time as you don’t want to risk overcooking it.
How Should You Store Cooked Steak?
Making sure you store your cooked steak properly is absolutely essential as leftover steak, as with any meat that you are reheating, must be handled safely.
Food safety guidelines recommend that leftover steak should be cooled and stored below 40°F within 2 hours of being cooked.
It is dangerous to leave the cooked steak out of the refrigerator for over two hours. In the temperature range of 40°F to 140°F, food borne bacteria can thrive and will multiply at a rapid rate, causing a potentially harmful illness.
This can lead to a variety of symptoms that will make you feel very unwell, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Bearing this in mind, you must store cooked steak in the refrigerator to remain safe. You can store cooked steak in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days when it is kept in an airtight tupperware container.
Sealing the steak and preventing air exposure will not only increase the shelf life of the cooked steak, but will also prevent it from absorbing any nasty flavors from inside the refrigerator itself.
Covering and properly storing your steak is the key to making reheated steak taste delicious when you microwave it.
If you don’t have an airtight container, then you will need to wrap your steak in a few layers of aluminum foil, or place it in a zip lock bag. The main thing to make sure is that you don’t place your steak in the refrigerator uncovered.
If you don’t cover your steak, this is a one way track to ensure that your steak dries out and absorbs flavor from within the refrigerator.
Think about it, have you ever placed leftovers into your fridge without a cover and noticed they have that distinct refrigerator taste? The same principle applies to your leftover steak, and it’s an expensive piece of meat to go to waste!
After all, steak is an ingredient that should be celebrated and enjoyed. Provided that you store your cooked steak correctly, the steak should retain its quality, texture, and taste!
While it won’t be as good as it would be when cooked the first time around, if you take the proper steps to store it, it makes a huge difference to the overall eating experience.
If it’s the difference between enjoying and throwing your food away, why wouldn’t you want to take the correct steps to ensure you’re making the most out of your produce?
A Guide on How to Reheat Your Steak in the Microwave
Step one – Remove the steak from the refrigerator
To begin, you will first need to remove your steak from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes before you attempt to reheat it.
Step two – Find a microwave-safe plate
Once you have allowed your steak to come to room temperature, place your cooked steak on a microwave-safe plate.
Step three – Cover with a damp paper towel
Next, you will need to dampen a paper towel with water and cover your cooked steak with it. This will ensure that the steak remains moist and tender when it is being reheated in the microwave.
Step four – Change the settings on your microwave
Place your covered steak into the microwave. Before you turn it on, make sure that you change the settings on your microwave to the “reheat” setting.
This will minimize the risk of your cooked steak drying out in the microwave as you reheat it.
Step six – Reheat the steak
Turn the microwave on and allow your steak to reheat on a 1 minute cycle.
Step seven – Reheat the other side of the steak
Once the steak has been allowed to reheat for 1 minute, it’s time to stop the microwave. Take the steak out of the microwave, and flip the steak over.
Place the steak back into the microwave and continue reheating it for 30 seconds.
Step eight – Check the steak’s internal temperature
Once the 30 seconds have passed, take your steak out and check the internal temperature with a temperature probe.
You will need to continue microwaving your steak in 30 second intervals until the internal temperature of your steak reaches 74°C or 165°F.
It’s important to check the internal temperature regularly, as you don’t want to reheat your steak for too long. This comes down to the fact that reheating your steak can make it dry and bland if you’re not careful about the timings.
Step nine – Serve
Once your steak has reached the right internal temperature, it’s time to serve!
Serve the steak immediately and enjoy.
Tips When Reheating Steak in the Microwave
Reheating steak in the microwave isn’t rocket science, but there are a few tips you can bear in mind to ensure your steak remains tender and doesn’t dry out.
You will first need to begin with proper refrigeration within the first 2 hours of being cooked.
Following this, here are some handy tips to bear in mind when it comes to reheating your steak.
- Always allow your refrigerated steak to come to room temperature for around 10 to 20 minutes before you reheat it.
- Do not store your cooked steak in the refrigerator unprotected. If the steak is left uncovered, it will dry out and absorb flavors from within the fridge
- Always cover the steak with a damp paper towel before you reheat it to ensure that the meat remains tender and moist.
- Be careful to not overheat your steak when reheating it by checking the internal temperature in 30 second intervals.
- As with anything you microwave, make sure that you place your steak on a microwave-safe dish. Glass and ceramic dishes are typically safe to use in the microwave. Make sure that you refrain from using plastic dishes when reheating anything up in the microwave as the plastic may melt and could even cause a fire hazard if you’re not careful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Stop Reheated Steak Drying Out?
To ensure your cooked steak remains moist as you reheat it, always cover it with a paper towel.
How Long Should You Reheat A Steak In The Microwave?
The steak should take around 2 minutes to reach the correct internal temperature. Once the steak has been reheated for 1 minute, make sure that you flip it over before reheating it again.
How Do You Know When Reheated Steak Is Hot Enough?
You will need to use a temperature probe to check the internal temperature of your reheated steak. If it is 165°F, it’s ready.
In Summary
So, now you know all that you need to know about reheating cooked steak safely in the microwave.
Microwaving a leftover steak doesn’t have to change the quality or integrity of the steak provided that you store and reheat it properly.
Always make sure that you follow these tips and are checking the internal temperature after every interval to avoid overcooking your steak, as you don’t want the steak to dry out or to become rubbery.
Good luck reheating your leftover steak!
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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