I have to admit, one of my favorite meats to have at a meal is a big juicy steak. The sound of it sizzling when it hits the grill, the smell as it cooks to a nice medium-well done – there’s nothing else like it. However, I find that more often than I care to admit, there will be leftovers with at least enough left for lunch, if not another dinner.
When it comes to eating leftovers, I often just throw food into the microwave to reheat it. But microwaved steak tends to be bland and not as tasty as when I originally cooked it.
So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered that I could reheat steak in my newly acquired air fryer. Not only could I reheat my leftovers, but it was quick and easy to do so.
Keep reading for my ultimate guide on how to reheat steak in an air fryer!
How to Reheat Steak in an Air Fryer
If you cannot finish your entire meal and have leftover steak, why not put it up for another meal?
The process of reheating your steak in an air fryer couldn’t be easier.
Here are the key steps:
- Begin by preheating your air fryer to a temperature of around 350F or 180C.
- Next, place the steak, or pieces of steak, inside your air fryer basket. Make sure to leave adequate space between the individual pieces. This allows the heat to circulate and evenly reheat the meat.
- Allow adequate time to air fry and reheat your steak or steaks. You’ll need to keep an eye on them and check the temperature of the steaks at least every two minutes. The internal temperature of the reheated steak needs to reach 110F to 130F or 43C to 55C.
The total time to reheat your steak adequately will depend mainly on the thickness of the steak or steaks.
If one piece of meat is thicker than another, allow it time to get up to the proper temperature. Be careful not to overcook any thinner pieces.
Top Tips for Reheating Steak in an Air Fryer
Reheating steak in an air fryer is relatively easy-it’s not exactly rocket science. However, a few tips from the experts will help even the most novice air fryer user ensure that your steak reheats superbly and turns out absolutely delicious.
- The first step in reheating any steak is the most crucial and should not be skipped over. Before reheating your steak, remove it from the fridge. Allow at least twenty minutes for it to come up to room temperature.
- Again, as mentioned above, different thicknesses of meat will reheat at different rates. For best results, cook pieces of meat that are similar in size together, as thinner steaks tend to reheat quicker. If you do reheat thick and thin cuts together, keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking the thinner pieces.
- This bears repeating – cooking times will vary according to the thickness of the steak, so make extra sure to keep a close eye on it. Many pieces of steak have been ruined during reheating due to not being adequately watched over and tended to.
- A meat thermometer will be one of the most essential tools you will need, aside from your air fryer. When reheating any type of meat, a meat thermometer helps to prevent the possibility of over or undercooking the steak.
Other Ways to Reheat Steak
Although reheating steak in an air fryer is probably the easiest and fastest choice, if you don’t own an air fryer, don’t despair.
Other tried and true methods for reheating your steak will also produce a delicious and satisfying result.
These methods include reheating the steak on a grill, placing it in the oven, or searing it in a skillet. Depending on which method you choose to use, there are a few tips to consider.
Reheating Steak on the Grill
- To begin with, you will need to preheat your grill. If you choose to use a grill pan instead, place it over medium heat until it’s ready.
- Next, take your room temperature steak, and you will then sear each side of the steak for at least one minute, being careful not to burn it. Once the steak is adequately seared, you will want to move it to where it will only get indirect heat. The indirect heat will allow the meat to warm without cooking to the point that it is overdone. Warm the steak for at least three minutes and check the internal temperature with your meat thermometer.
- Keep a close eye on the steak. Check the internal temperature of the meat every two minutes, as you will want it to reach 110F-130F, or 43C-55C.
Reheating Steak in the Oven
- First, you will need to ensure your oven is preheated to 250F or 120C. Then after placing your steak on a baking tray, place the baking tray on the wire rack in the middle of your oven.
- Then, you will reheat the steak until its internal temperature reaches 110F to 130F or 43C to 55C. Depending on the sizes and thicknesses of your steak, or steaks, the process could take up to at least twenty minutes.
- Prefer the texture to be crispier? Place the steak in a skillet with a small portion of melted butter, and sear the steak again, after reheating for at least one minute on each side, before plating and serving.
Reheating Steak in a Skillet
- Begin by adding a small amount of cooking oil to your choice of either a nonstick pan, or my favorite, a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
- Place the steak to be reheated in the pan, and then cover the pan with a lid. After one to two minutes, turn the steak over and proceed to check the internal temperature with your meat thermometer.
- Continue to flip the steak at one to two-minute intervals until the internal temperature reads 110F to 130F or 43C to 55C.
How To Store Your Steak
For general storage, it is essential to keep in mind that you can only store your steak in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container, for no more than three days.
When reheating steak, remember that you can safely reheat meat only once. Only reheat the amount of steak that you feel you can eat. If you reheat more than you will eat, it is best to throw the leftover meat away.
If you feel you will not eat the steak in the first several days after it is cooked, place it in plastic wrap and then into a freezer bag. When you’re ready to consume it, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating using one of the methods above.
How To Store Leftover Steak In The Refrigerator
Ensuring that you store your leftover steak the proper way will go a long way to preserving the meat’s taste and texture when reheated.
The trick to tasty reheated steak is to make sure you retain as many natural juices as possible. By being mindful of this, you will find that your steak will maintain much of its original texture and flavor upon reheating. By storing your steak in an air-tight container, you ensure that it will be kept safe from any air, which will only lead to the steak becoming dried out.
The best method for storing your steak leftovers for reheating is to use a vacuum sealer. By vacuum sealing the meat, you lock all the flavorful juices in while at the same time blocking out any moisture or air. If this is not an option, the next best method is to wrap your leftovers in freezer paper. Freezer paper is specifically designed to keep air out and lock moisture in with its thick, plastic coating. Perfect when it comes to freezing leftover meat.
How Long Can You Keep Cooked Steak?
According to guidelines laid down by the USDA on its official website, it recommends that cooked beef, or steak, be refrigerated at a temperature of 40F (or less) and consumed within no more than three to four days after initially cooked.
If you use the proper methods to store your steak leftovers, they should be safe for the three to four days stated above. If you plan on not consuming them in that amount of time, you always have the choice of placing them in the freezer for later reheating.
However, it is essential to ensure that the leftovers are wrapped adequately before freezing.
It is vital to remember that refrigeration will slow down bacterial growth. However, it will not entirely stop it. For this reason, the USDA recommends the use of leftover cooked meat to be consumed in no more than three to four days.
Can You Reheat Steak Twice?
Chances are good that you will not typically find yourself reheating leftover steak more than once. However, experts recommend, for safety sake, that you do not reheat your leftovers more than once.
The NIH also recommends that you do not refreeze thawed leftovers a second time either. The reason is that the more times the food is frozen and then reheated, the higher the chance of contracting food poisoning.
Remember that bacteria will multiply easier when the leftovers are either cooled down too slowly or reheated insufficiently.
