What Is The Best Way To Reheat Steak Without Drying It Out?

Believe it or not, the number of people leaving leftover steaks is huge. Sometimes when we feel like we can’t have another bite of our steak, it’s better to leave it for the next day. To be honest, I believe it’s an excellent leftover to have.

Unlike pasta or hot dogs, steaks can become versatile as a leftover. If you didn’t know, you could eat cold steak too. 

Mixing it up with salad is a delicious way to eat cold leftover steak. But that’s not what we are discussing here today. 

We’ll find out the best way to reheat steak today. I’ll walk you through several ways, and you’ll know which one is perfect for you. 

Let’s get started.   

What Is The Best Way To Reheat Steak Without Overcooking It 

There really isn’t a constant answer to this question. It depends solely on your situation and convenience. 

Take me, for example. I don’t wait for a special occasion to cook a steak. Many times leftover steak remains. 

So, it’s a very common occurrence for me to reheat a steak. I’ve tried all of the methods below before writing this article. However, not all of them are my favorite. 

I prefer using a stovetop to reheat my steak. Compared to other methods, it’s the best one to go with, in my opinion. Why? Let me elaborate.

As I’ve already told you, reheating your steak means preserving the moisture and raising the meat’s internal temperature at the same time. 

Tender steak cut like ribeye cut preheats perfectly when you’re using a stove. An oven is a good option too. 

But using a stovetop is better. When you’re using an oven, you have to use an external sauce or gravy if you fail to save the meat juice. So, you will not be getting the original taste of the steak. The flavor will change. 

On a stovetop, you’re not using anything extra. And the moisture stays locked because of the plastic paper. So, if you ask me, I’ll choose the stovetop method in a heartbeat. 

Note that if any other method seems more convenient to you based on your situation, you should do it by all means. 

If you don’t mind keeping watch on your steak constantly, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for the cast-iron method.

Many people don’t know how to reheat their steak without overcooking it, so they end up wasting their food. After all, no one likes to eat a dry steak. 

If you can keep the moisture locked inside your steak, it’ll taste the same as before without becoming chewy or hard. 

So, Let’s learn how to reheat steak without overcooking it – 

How To Reheat Steak In Microwave

Using a microwave to reheat steak is the quickest method. If you want your steak reheated in no time, I recommend using a microwave. So, how do you reheat steak in a microwave? Let’s find out.

Things You’ll Need

• Process
• Plastic wrapper
• Deep microwave dish
• Meat juice, gravy, or steak sauce

Step-by-step process – 

• Find a deep microwave dish. Place the steak inside the dish. 
• Save the meat juice dripped from your steak. Add it over the steak. If you didn’t save it, use gravy or steak sauce. You can use store-bought bbq sauce to prevent your steak from getting dry and retains its moisture. 
• Wrap the dish using a plastic wrapper. Put the dish inside the microwave. 
• Set the temperature to medium. Do not use maximum heat because you’ll burn your steak. Set the timer for 30 seconds. 
• Remove the dish after 30 seconds and flip the steak. Cover it and place it back in the microwave. 
• Let it go another 30 seconds. Repeat the same process a few times.

The reason I haven’t specified how many times you should do it is because it depends on a few factors. 

The steak’s size, what gravy you’re using, how powerful your microwave is, etc., will influence the time. However, it will take about 3 or 4 times before your steak is properly reheated. 

You should keep in mind that you have to keep the steak in check consistently, or it’ll dry out.

Related: How To Reheat Ribs And Keep Them Moist (8 Most Useful Methods)

How To Reheat Steak In Oven

An oven is a better option than a microwave to reheat steak in many ways. First of all, it’s not a quick procedure, and the more time you take to reheat the steak, the better. 

Let’s see how to reheat steak without overcooking it using your oven. 

Things You’ll Need

• Wire rack
• Butter or olive oil
• Oven-friendly dish
• Meat thermometer

Step-by-step Process

• Set your oven to 250 degrees F and leave it to preheat properly. 
• Get an oven-friendly dish. Place a wire rack on the dish and put your steak on top of it. You should use a wire rack to let the heat affect both sides of your steak. 
• Let the steak heat for about 20 minutes. The time will depend on your steak’s thickness. 
• You can also use a Meater digital thermometer to be certain. When the internal thermometer hits 100 to 110 degrees F, the steak is done preheating. 
• If you’re feeling extra feisty and want your steak to be more delicious, you can take the preheating to the stove. 
• Heat up one tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a skillet. Put your steak on the oil and sear for 2 minutes. One minute on each side. 

I prefer this method from time to time because it doesn’t require much attention. You don’t have to babysit your steak while it is reheating inside the oven. 

But there’s a chance of your steak becoming dry if you forget about pulling it out of the oven in time. 

Also Read: How To Reheat Baby Back Ribs Without Drying Them Out

How To Reheat Steak In Air Fryer

The process of reheating your steak using an air fryer is similar to using an oven. Follow the steps below to reheat your steak using an air fryer. 

Things You’ll Need

• Oil or butter
• Meat thermometer

Step-by-step Process

• Set the air fryer’s temperature to 250 degrees F. 
• Apply oil or butter to both sides of your steak.
• Put your steak in the air fryer and heat it for about 20 minutes. 
• Use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature has reached 100 degrees F, and you’re done. 

An air fryer isn’t particularly suitable for reheating steak, but you can use it in case of an emergency. It requires a longer time than other methods, and the result is pretty much the same. 

Using an air fryer has little problem. It’s a lengthy process and there is a chance of your steak getting fried.

Related: Is Air Crisper The Same As Air Fryer? (Air Fryer Vs Air Crisper)

How To Reheat Steak Using Stove

Moving on to the next one, using a stove to reheat your steak. The process sounds a bit complicated, but it’s one of the most effective ones. 

Let’s see how to reheat steak using your stove. 

Things You’ll Need

• Oil
• Pan 
• Water
• Heat-resistant plastic bag

Step-by-step Process

• Move the steak out of your refrigerator and keep it at room temperature. It’ll allow your steak to reheat more quickly. 
• Take a good-quality plastic bag. The bag must have the ability to withstand heat. Insert the steak inside the bag. 
• Take a pan and fill it with water. Place the bag of steak in the water and turn your stove on. 
• Don’t use high heat. Use a medium to low hit so that the water doesn’t boil. 
• Steam your steak for about 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the steak’s thickness.
• Sear it for one or two minutes on the stove using a bit of oil if you want to. But it’s not mandatory.   

I prefer this method most of the time because it doesn’t require much monitoring, gets done quickly, and retains moisture better than other methods. 

Moreover, if you sear the steak using a cast iron skillet on a gas stove afterward, it becomes tastier and helps you get a freshly cooked feel. 

One thing you must keep in mind is that you need extra equipment like a heat-resistant plastic bag. 

How To Reheat Steak Using Cast Iron Skillet

Cast Iron Skillets are appropriate for cooking using low to medium heat. Your steak also needs this range of temperature to get properly reheated. Let’s see how it’s done. 

Things You’ll Need

• Butter or your preferred oil
• Properly seasoned cast iron skillet

Step-by-step Process

• Take a cast iron skillet and place it on your stove. Use low to medium heat. 
• Add one teaspoon of butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil to the pan. 
• Put the steak into the oil and sear it for two to three minutes. 
• Flip the steak with a 30 seconds interval. The time will vary depending on the steak size. 

It’s a quick method compared to other methods, but cast iron takes some time to get preheated for the first time.

Make sure your cast iron skillet or pan is properly and seasoned before reheating your steak in it. Do not reheat the steak without using any oil, or you’ll dry it out. 

How To Reheat Steak On Your Grill

Using your grill to reheat a steak seems a bit bothersome if you’re only lighting your grill for this purpose. 

But, if you need to light your grill for some other reason and you want to utilize this opportunity to reheat your steak, you can. 

Things You’ll Need

• Grill
• Tongs

Step-by-step Process

• Keep your steak at room temperature for about 20 minutes. It takes less time to cook when you allow your steak to reach room temperature. 
• Heating it directly from the refrigerator is never a good idea. 
• Let the grill reach 400 degrees F, and then place the steak on direct heat. 
• Sear the grill on direct heat for 1 minute on each side. 
• Transfer it to the indirect heat zone using tongs and let the steak reheat there. 
• Keep the lid covered for 4 to 5 minutes. Flip it halfway through. 
• Done!  

It’s a seasonal option if you already lit your grill for something else. I wouldn’t recommend lighting your grill only to reheat a cooked steak. 

It takes a lot of time to light up the grill. It’s a lot of trouble to go through only for reheating your steak.

How To Reheat Steak Using Beef Broth

Using beef broth is common. I’ve heard this suggestion from many people in my early days of steak-cooking. Give it a try to see if this works for you. 

Things You’ll Need

• Beef broth
• Nonstick skillet

Step-by-step Process

• Put your nonstick skillet on the stove. Add beef broth. About one and a half cups. 
• Use medium to low heat and wait till the broth starts boiling. 
• Add the steak to the boiling broth. 
• Once you put the steak into the broth, it only takes about 1 or 2 minutes to reheat the steak. 
• Flip the steak halfway through so that it can get heated evenly on both sides. 

Note: You’ll need beef broth for this method and the taste may be different from the prior taste due to the broth. 

Is It Safe To Reheat Steak?

It’s safe to reheat your steak once after cooking, given that you’re following safety terms. The safety terms are-

• Make sure the internal meat temperature reaches at least 100 degrees F
• Steak should be reheated only once. Doing it more than once causes safety risks because of bacterial growth.
• Avoid eating cooked steak after 3 to 4 days. Check if it’s still good for eating. 
• Store the meat in an airtight plastic bag. If you don’t have a plastic bag, use an airtight container.

How To Store Steak Properly?

How you store your steak is also important in saving flavor and moisture. Use a plastic wrapper and individually wrap each steak. 

Not, take an airtight plastic bag and put the steak inside the bag. Close all the way except for a small opening. 

Squeeze out the remaining air as much as possible, and then lock the bag. Always store the steak on the bottom shelf. If you store it on any of the upper shelves, meat juice will drip on other food and ruin them. 

You can eat your refrigerated steak within 3 to 4 days. There’s a chance it’ll go bad after that. 

Can you eat cooked steak the next day?

Yes, you can eat cooked steak the next day. In fact, you can eat the steak cold too. Heating it isn’t compulsory if you cooked it properly the previous day. 

Can you eat cold steak?

Yes, you can. Cold steak is a good idea for eating leftover steak. You can slice it and mix it with other ingredients to execute a new recipe. For example, cold sliced steak does well with a vegetable salad. 

Does steak stay good after a week in the fridge?

Neither raw nor cooked steak can last after a week in the fridge. While uncooked steak can last for 3 to 5 days, cooked steak is recommended to eat within 3 to 4 days. 

How long does cooked steak last in the fridge?

According to USDA, it’s recommended to eat stored meat within 3 to 4 days. Storing the steak at 40 degrees slows bacterial growth but doesn’t stop it. So, it’s better not to take any chances.   

Conclusion

I’ve shared all my experiences with you about reheating steak. Now, you get to determine the best way to reheat steak. 

As I’ve mentioned, it’d be up to your convenience. If you’ve lit your grill for a new steak and want to preheat an old one, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to do it. 

As long as you know how to retain the moisture, you’re good to go with any methods. Just remember that your steak only needs reheating. Do not overdo it because it’s already cooked.