In a nutshell: There are four ways to reheat steak: in the microwave, on the stovetop, in the oven, or the air fryer.
You don’t have to be a big meat enthusiast to know how steak is the queen of this category. Gastronomes will agree that there aren’t many better things than a flavorful steak, and it has to be rare or medium rare done. Many gourmands will resent you if you ask for a well-done steak.
But, what if you have a piece of your juicy steak left after dinner? Should you throw away such a tasty piece of meat?
We strongly oppose this and bring up the best ways to reheat steak leftovers.
Reheating Steak In The Microwave
Although you are accustomed to simply putting other foods in the microwave, this should not be the first choice for reheating steaks.
At best, if you leave the steak in the microwave for a few minutes, you will get a dry version of the once famous piece of meat. In the worst case, your steak will turn into gummy and hard-to-eat dog food.
But if the microwave method is the only solution you have, here are some tips on getting the most out of the whole process.
Step 1: Place the steak onto the plate and grease it
First, put the steak on some microwave-safe plate on which you’re going to heat it. Then—and this is the crucial part—grease it, so it doesn’t go dry while heating. You can use leftover gravy if you have it. If you don’t, put in a teaspoon of olive oil.
Step 2: Cover the steak
You should cover the sliced steak with plastic wrap (please use only ones made for microwaves), or some other suitable cover. This should keep the steak juicy and moist.
Step 3: Flip it a few times
Heat the steak over medium heat at 30-second intervals. Between each interval, it is necessary to turn the steak to heat it evenly. Repeat this a couple of times until you get the desired warmth.
Downside: This way, you won’t get the sharp edges of the steak you’re used to while it’s fresh, but it will be juicy and evenly heated.
Reheat Steak On The Stovetop
This could be a tricky method if you’re not careful. It’s the easy way to overdo your steak and to dry it out. Here’s what to do to avoid overcooking scenario.
Step 1: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan
The best choice is olive oil or the baking oil you have from the day before. Warm it to a medium high heat, carefully not to overheat the skillet.
Step 2: Place the steak onto the skillet
Place your steak on the pan and cover it with a lid, so it retains moisture and will not dry out. The steam inside the cast iron skillet should nicely retain the freshness of the meat.
Step 3: Turn the meat several times
As with microwave heating, you will need to turn the steak every 30 seconds, so it doesn’t burn and heats up evenly. You can use a meat thermometer for the best results.
Downside: Again, your reheated steak won’t be the same as the first time, but you’ll certainly have a juicy, not dried, and tasty meal.
Warm Up Steak In The Oven
If you have time, treat yourself to slight heating of the steak in the oven. This is for sure the best way to reheat steak. The trouble is, it will take you at least 40 minutes for this process, depending on how fast your oven heats up. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare the baking tray
Put the oven to preheat to a medium low heat at 250 °F—no more than that because the meat will be overcooked. While the oven is heating up, prepare a pan in which to heat the steak and be sure to use a wire rack. By placing the meat on it, you will get equal heating of the flavorful steak on all sides and retain the steak moist.
Step 2: Put the meat in the oven
Put the meat to bake for about 20 minutes. The length of roasting depends on how thick the meat is. Larger pieces will need a little more time to warm up nicely. Watch out for your desired doneness not to overcook the meat.
Optional Step: Roast the meat in a pan
If you want the best results, after taking the meat out of the oven, you can bake it further in the pan. On a tablespoon of olive oil, fry on each side for up to 60 seconds maximum. This way, you will get a crispy reheated steak that will be very similar to freshly cooked one.
Downside: This is the longest of the warm-up methods, and you definitely need to have time for it.
Heat Up Steak In The Air Fryer
The air fryer is an increasingly common helper in the kitchen, and you will often reheat food thanks to this device. And you don’t have to doubt it at all. The air fryer will do a very solid job and probably is the best way to reheat steak.
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer
Turn on the air fryer and heat it up to 350 °F. This temperature of hot air will do a quick and quality job of heating up a cold steak.
Step 2: Put the meat in the basket
Place the meat in an air fryer basket and make sure it is done in one layer. Do not stack several steaks on top of each other under any circumstances.
Step 3: Flip the steak in the middle of the process
The heating should last between six and eight minutes depending on how you prefer stake. Flipping the meat in the middle of the cycle is a must, so it heats up evenly on all sides and that the internal temperature is good.
FAQs
How do you reheat meat without drying it out?
The key is to use olive oil or roasting gravy if you have it. In this way, the juiciness of the flavorful meat will be retained during reheating.
Can you reheat steak the next day?
Yes, you can. Even if your steak is cooked rare, you can reheat it the next day. Of course, you must keep it in the refrigerator overnight, not at room temperature. See our methods to reheat a steak and choose the best way.
Can you eat leftover steak cold?
Of course, you can, if you like it. Maybe, in that case, you want to make a salad with steak leftovers—to make the meal tastier.
What are the types of steak you can reheat?
Ribeye, T-bone, Strip, and so on, experts will tell you there are 15 types of steak, but we’ll just add that you can reheat every one of them. The only thing you can’t reheat is those types of steak dishes that were initially served raw.
Are you supposed to reheat steak?
Yes, you can reheat steak, but it’s essential to do it properly to avoid overcooking and drying out the meat. Use methods like gently warming in an oven or on a stovetop, and consider adding some liquid or sauce to help maintain moisture.
Conclusion
You should definitely not throw away your delicious and rather expensive steak the next day. With a little patience, you can have a juicy and delicious feast again. Just be careful not to dry the meat while reheating it and enjoy the meal. Don’t forget to make some delicious steak sides to go with it.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
