The Best Way to Reheat Steak

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Alice Smith

Student Of Grill at Art of Grill

Alice is a storyteller and gastronomer from England. She enjoys planning extensive 3-course dinner parties for her family and that includes grilling a big juicy steak or her favorite thing - salmon. As a former head chef, she likes to think of herself as a student of the grill. She enjoys the festivity of grilling while serving smoked and sauced food.

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Do you love steak, but don’t always have time to cook it up fresh? Or maybe you’ve cooked a little too much and need a way to reheat it without ruining the texture or flavor?

If you’ve ever got over-excited when buying the meat for a summer barbeque, only to find that you’ve cooked too much, then you’ll know the pain of trying to figure out how to store and eat all that leftover steak.

Reheating it is often the best option – it’s much tastier than trying to eat it cold, and a way better option than throwing it out. Plus, it allows you to enjoy that juicy steak without having to waste any of it – if you reheat it correctly of course!

If you’ve ever had leftover steak, you know that reheating it can be a bit of a challenge. The meat often ends up dry and tough when it’s been cooked again. But with the right methods, you can reheat your steak so that it tastes just as good as the first time around!

In this blog post, we will discuss the best way to reheat steak. We’ll cover why you might want to do so, different methods for reheating, and some tips on how to make sure your steak is still delicious when it’s ready to eat!

Bottom Line Up Front

Despite many people believing that reheating steak will only result in dry, chewy meat, there are plenty of ways to do it without ruining your leftovers. Some of the best ways to reheat steak are in the oven, microwave, stovetop, or air fryer.

Can You Keep Steak at the Ideal Temperature if You Reheat It?

This is the issue most people have when it comes to reheating that juicy piece of beef. If you like your steak medium rare – is it even possible to keep it medium rare after it’s been reheated?

Well, the answer is yes!

With the right methods, you can reheat your steak without overcooking it or drying it out.

What are the Different Ways to Reheat Steak?

So, how do you reheat your steak without ruining it? Here are some of the best methods:

Oven

This is one of the most foolproof ways to reheat your steak. Arguably the biggest pitfall for reheating steak is using high heat, so don’t whack the oven up to 450. The best method for reheating in the oven is low and slow. Here’s how to do it.

• Step One: Allow the steak to rest out of the fridge for between 20 and 30 minutes. This brings the meat to room temperature and ensures that the heat can penetrate the meat more evenly.
• Step Two: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius.
• Step Three: Line a baking tray with tin foil, and place the steak on top. The tin foil will prevent the steak from sticking to the tray.
• Step Four: Place the baking tray in the oven and heat the steak. Test it with a meat thermometer regularly and remove it from the oven when the steak reads 110 degrees Fahrenheit on the thermometer. If you like the outsides of your steak to be a little crispy, you can also sear it in a griddle pan before serving. To do this, simply add a tablespoon of oil to your pan, and sear it on each side until it reaches the desired crispiness.
• Step Five: Let your steak rest for about 5 minutes before you serve it.

Pros of This Method

This is a pretty reliable method of reheating steak. It doesn’t take too long (estimate around 30 minutes per inch thickness of meat), and it’s unlikely that you’ll overcook the steak.

Cons of this Method

If you have a particularly thick steak, it can take close to an hour to reheat it which might be longer than you’d like. It also requires some patience to let the steak come to room temperature before cooking it.

Microwave

While the microwave isn’t ideal for reheating steak, it is by far the quickest method. It’s a good option if you’re short on time but it’s the easiest to overcook and dry out the meat. Nonetheless, here’s how to reheat your steak in the microwave.

• Step One: Once again, for the best results, take your steak out of the fridge for a few minutes before cooking it.
• Step Two: Place the steak in a microwave-safe container and add some liquid to the bottom. This could be either stock, pan drippings, or even just water. It’s also a good idea to cover the container with a damp towel. All this helps prevent the steak from drying out.
• Step Three: Once the steak is covered, microwave on half power for 30 seconds. Check to see if the steak is warm. Repeat this step in 30 second increments until the steak has reached the desired temperature.
• Step Four: Before serving, allow the meat to rest for about five minutes. This will assist further in retaining its moisture.

Pros of This Method

As we’ve mentioned, this is by far the quickest and easiest way to reheat a steak. It only takes a few minutes and involves minimal equipment.

Cons of This Method

It’s very easy to overcook steak in the microwave which will result in dry, tough meat. It’s also difficult to evenly reheat a steak in the microwave so you might find that the outsides are overcooked while the inside is still cold.

Pan, Griddle, or Skillet

This is a good method if you want to reheat your steak quickly, and you’re not worried about the outer edge of the meat being crispy. It will take a little longer than the microwave method, but it’s definitely not as time consuming as waiting for the oven to heat up.

• Step One: Allow the steak to rest for several minutes on the counter before serving so that it is closer to room temperature.
• Step Two: Preheat your pan by placing it over a medium heat. Ensure that you are using a non-stick pan to prevent the steak from getting stuck.
• Step Three: Add your steak to the pan. The best way to keep it from becoming dry is to, once again, use a liquid. You can either add beef stock or pan dripping to the pan and the steak should absorb some of the liquid and stay moist.
• Step Four: For optimum results, cover the steak with a lid. This will help it to retain its juices and cook evenly.
• Step Five: Reduce the heat to low and cook the meat. Check it every 35 minutes to ensure that it doesn’t overcook, and remove it from the pan when it reaches an internal temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Step Six: If you want to sear the meat as well, wipe the excess juices from the pan and add a teaspoon of oil. Let the oil heat up and then add the steak, turning it on each side until it is crisp on the outside.
• Step Seven: Let the meat rest for about five minutes before serving.

Pros of This Method

This is a pretty reliable method of reheating steak. It doesn’t take too long, and so long as you add a sufficient amount of liquid to the pan, it’s not as easy to overcook the meat.

Cons of This Method

There’s also a chance that the meat will stick to the pan if you don’t use a non-stick pan or if you don’t add enough liquid. If the meat is overcooked, it will also dry out and become tough.

Air Fryer

A much more conventional method of reheating a steak, but an air fryer is by no means any less effective. It’s quick, very easy, and you won’t have to do the extra step of searing the meat because the fryer conveniently does this for you.

• Step One: Before cooking your steak, you’ll need to preheat your fryer. It’s ideal to heat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Step Two: Another advantage of this process is that, unlike the previous ones, it doesn’t require the steak to be left out to come to room temperature. So, for step two, you’ll simply need to remove it from the fridge.
• Step Three: Place the steak in the air fryer basket. This allows the air to circulate the steak and cook it evenly on all sides.
• Step Four: Next, you simply need to heat it up. In an air fryer, it will take roughly three to five minutes to cook a medium to large steak. However, we recommend checking the steak after two minutes, particularly if it’s a thin cut.
• Step Five: Remove your steak from the air fryer. As always, leave your steak to rest for a few minutes after it has finished cooking.

Pros of This Method

An air fryer is a very quick way to reheat a steak. You don’t need to do any extra steps like searing the meat, or letting it get to room temperature before cooking it and it’s not as easy to overcook the meat.

Cons of This Method

An air fryer isn’t as common a household gadget as a microwave or an oven, so there’s a chance that not everybody will be able to benefit from this method. Plus, even though it’s harder, there is still a chance that the meat will dry out if it’s overcooked.

Top Tips for Reheating Steak

So, there are a few good methods for reheating steak. While each has their pros and cons, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your meat is in the best possible condition.

• Always (with the exception of the air fryer method, of course) allow the steak to warm to room temperature before cooking it. It takes longer to cook cold meat and makes it more prone to overcooking. This also helps to ensure that the steak cooks evenly throughout.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. This is the best way to make sure that your meat is cooked to perfection.
• Rest the steak for at least five minutes after cooking it. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, making it juicier and more flavorful.
• For optimum results, try to cook your steak at a low, slow temperature. This prevents the meat from drying out and helps it to retain its flavor. If you cook your steak quickly, you’ll wind up with dry, rubbery meat.
• Adding a sear to your meat can help revitalize that fresh-cooked feel. If you’re reheating a steak that was cooked without a sear, try doing it on the stove top for a minute or two before serving.
• To add even more flavor and moisture to your meat, you could create a delicious sauce or glaze to add on top. Something like a hot peppercorn sauce, diane sauce, or even a garlic and herb butter will help to enhance the flavor of your steak and make it more enjoyable to eat.

Top Q and A for How to Reheat Steak

Conclusion

Reheating steak is a tricky business. If you’re not careful, you can easily overcook the meat and wind up with a dry, rubbery steak. However, the methods that we’ve listed above are some of the best ways you can ensure that your steak comes out juicy and flavorful.

The most effective oven temperature is low and slow, but the stovetop and microwave are also viable options if you are short on time. Overall, while there’s not much that can beat a freshly cooked steak, with a little bit of care, you can come pretty close when you reheat it.

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