Steak is both a treat and a quick and easy meal. It can be eaten grilled as it is without any embellishment, or you can add butter or sauces. Try garlic butter, herb butter, peppercorn sauce, creamy mushroom sauce, red wine sauce, or gravy.
You can serve it simply with fries or you can make a steak sandwich, use it in a stir-fry, or put it in fajitas. It is a versatile piece of meat but what if you have too much to use before it spoils? Can you freeze it? The answer is yes, and you can freeze it either cooked or uncooked.
However, raw steak freezes slightly better than cooked as it retains more nutrients and is juicer when defrosted. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze steak and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Steak
You can freeze any cut of steak, be it porterhouse, T-bone, ribeye, tenderloin, hanger, sirloin, strip, or flat iron.
How To Freeze Raw Steak
1. Wrap the steak.
Wrap each piece of steak individually in either cling film or aluminum foil. This will stop the steaks from sticking together in the freezer. You can then remove just as many pieces as you need and not waste any. Make sure that the steaks are packed tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freezer burn ruins the taste and texture of your food.
2. Put the steaks in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air from the bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents. Alternatively, you can use an airtight container.
3. Freeze.
How To Freeze Cooked Steak
1. Cool down the steak.
Transfer the steak to a cold plate to speed up the cooling process. You don’t want to leave the steak at room temperature for longer than two hours as, after this time, bacteria can start to develop, and you could become sick if you eat the steak. However, don’t put the steak in the freezer until it is cold. If it is still warm, it can bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food may start to defrost and spoil.
2. Wrap the steak in cling film or aluminum foil.
If you have more than one steak, wrap them individually. Make sure that they are tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn. If you want, you can double-wrap the steaks to ensure that air doesn’t get in.
3. Put the steaks in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents. This is important if you are freezing different cuts of steak as you will want to defrost the right piece of meat. You can use an airtight container if you wish instead of a freezer bag.
4. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Steak
- Freeze uncooked steak if you can. Uncooked steak retains juices and nutrients better than cooked steak when it is frozen. You will barely be able to tell the difference when you come to cook frozen raw steak whereas you will notice some difference with cooked steak.
- If you intend to freeze cooked steak, it is a good idea to undercook it slightly. By doing this, you won’t overcook it when you come to defrost it. If you like well-done steak, for example, cook the steak medium. You don’t want an overcooked streak as it will be tough.
- Portion out the steaks so that you only defrost as much as you need for each meal. Otherwise, you will end up throwing some away and this is a waste.
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn from occurring.
For How Long Can You Freeze Steak?
You can freeze raw steak for up to six months while cooked steak will last for three months in the freezer. After three months, the cooked steak will deteriorate in taste and texture.
How Do You Defrost Steak?
The best way to defrost steak is slowly and steadily as this helps it retain taste and texture as well as nutrients. Take it out of the freezer the night before you want to eat it and put it in the fridge.
You can defrost steak in the microwave if you are in a hurry but it may ruin the flavor and texture of the meat.
Don’t defrost steak at room temperature as it is unsafe. After two hours, bacteria will start to develop, and you could become sick if you eat the steak. This goes for both raw and cooked steak.
Can You Refreeze Steak?
No, you should never refreeze steak. Not only will the taste and texture be compromised but it is an open invitation for bacteria to develop. Meat is sensitive to spoiling and the defrosting and refreezing process may subject it to bacteria. This is particularly true if you keep it in the fridge for a couple of days after defrosting. It is best to cook it as soon as it has defrosted.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Steak?
Raw steak freezes very well, and you won’t notice much difference when you come to cook it. Cooked steak may not be quite as juicy but if you have undercooked it, it should still be tasty. Don’t forget that you can only keep cooked steak in the freezer for three months while raw steak keeps for six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing steak but in case you still have questions, we have answered a few here.
No, it doesn’t, although it is better to freeze raw steak rather than cooked. However, as long as you undercook the steak before freezing, you shouldn’t notice too much difference in taste and texture.
Yes, you can freeze pork steak in the same way as you would freeze beef steak. It can be frozen raw or cooked and should be defrosted slowly in the fridge overnight.
Wagyu is a breed of cattle from Japan. It is very marbled giving it a unique and buttery flavor. Some people might say that it would be sacrilege to freeze wagyu steak but it is perfectly safe to do so and in the same way we have described above.
Peppercorn sauce is a very popular sauce for steak. It can be frozen for around three months. Divide it into portions and store it in freezer bags or airtight containers. It is best defrosted slowly and steadily in the fridge overnight. This ensures that it keeps its taste and texture.
