Storing steak for too long or failing to follow the correct steps while storing it can make it go bad. Consuming spoiled meat leads to food poisoning, so it’s imperative that you understand how to identify spoilage to protect yourself and your close ones.
You may sometimes find it hard to determine whether your steak has gone bad or is still safe to eat. So, how can you tell if the steak you’ve got stored is safe for consumption or if it should be disposed of?
A common sign that indicates if a steak has gone bad is a thin slimy film on the steak’s surface. The film is easy to spot as it makes the steak shinier. Other tell-tale signs of a bad steak include a rancid odor reminiscent of ammonia or that the steak has undergone great discoloration. Steak shouldn’t be stored for more than 5 days in the fridge, and never eaten past its expiration date.
If you still have your doubts regarding your steak – continue reading as we’ll dive deeper into the topic. When it comes to discoloration, for instance, it doesn’t have to be spoilage right away.
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3 Signs That Steak Has Gone Bad
Throw your steak away if it exhibits any of the following signs.
1. Unpleasant Odor
Performing a smell test is the easiest way to tell your steak has gone bad.
If your raw or cooked steak has a putrid odor, then it’s not safe to eat. The multiplication of spoilage bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp, on your steak, leads to the change in smell.
Make sure you clean your refrigerator after throwing away your smelly steak to avoid shifting this problem to the other food you are storing.
Sometimes you may never notice any change in scent although your steak has gone bad, so keep reading for other signs.
2. Slimy or sticky texture
Inspecting the texture of your steak is another way to check if it has gone bad. Fresh steak should be firm while you squeeze it between your fingers.
If your steak is slimy, sticky, or tacky, that’s a sign it has gone bad and should be thrown out.
Lastly, ensure you wash your hands after touching meat that displays these signs to avoid spreading bacteria to your food or items.
3. Color change
Fresh steak is cherry red and turns grey, green, or brown when it is spoiled. It is also likely to develop color change, from red to brown, while left for some time under exposure to oxygen.
Oxidation of meat is not spoilage though. So, if your meat has started to develop a light brown or grey color overnight, that doesn’t mean the steak isn’t edible. You should, however, ensure that the steak has been stored properly and that it doesn’t show any of the other signs of spoilage.
If you have your doubts about the color change and can’t determine whether the steak has gone bad or not – then I would recommend disposing of the steak.
The color of other kinds of meat is different, and you must understand these variations to tell whether your meat is good or bad.
Here’s what different types of meat look like while fresh.
| Type of Meat | Color |
| Poultry | Greyish pink |
| Beef | Cherry red |
| Fish | Pure white, greyish red, and dark red in others |
| Mutton | Light red |
| Horse | Dark Red |
| Pork | Greyish pink |
| Veal | Brownish pink |
Freezing steak also changes its appearance. If the change in color is not accompanied by other signs such as bad smell, and sticky texture, the meat should be fine.
How Long Can You Store Steak In the Fridge?
A fridge keeps your steak from going bad, however, there are time limits for refrigerating steak.
The following is the recommended refrigerator storage time for various species of meat (including steak), according to the FDA.
Poultry
Raw poultry, including parts such as breasts, should be kept for a maximum of two days in the fridge. However, cooked poultry can last for up to four days in the fridge.
Beef
It’s safe to store uncooked beef and steak in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, but, there are a few exceptions. Parts like kidneys, the heart, and the liver, as well as ground beef, should only be left to stay in the fridge for one to two days.
If your beef is cooked, you can keep it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Seafood
Uncooked fish can be refrigerated for one to two days, whereas leftover fish can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Smoked fish will last longer in the fridge, so you can keep it refrigerated for 14 days. Canned fish such as Tuna can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days when opened.
Pork
Uncooked pork is safe while refrigerated for 3 to 5 days, and this also applies to roast pork. If your raw pork is ground, keep it for 1 to 2 days in the fridge, just like you would do with ground beef.
These timelines are different for processed pork products. Hot dogs can be stored in the fridge for two weeks, if the package is unopened, and one week if you have already opened the package.
Cooked ham and bacon should be refrigerated for no more than seven days. If you have ham slices you want to preserve, feel free to store them in the fridge for up to four days.
How Long Can You Leave Steak Out at Room Temperature?
Steak, whether cooked or uncooked, should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. If this happens, let’s say by mistake, discard the steak immediately.
There’s a misconception that reheating steak after leaving it out at room temperature will make it safe for consumption. The reality is that steak develops various heat-resistant toxins while it sits at room temperature, and these bacteria are difficult to destroy using high temperatures.
Is Cooked Meat Okay to Leave Out Overnight?
Cooked meat is only safe when left out of the fridge for less than two hours, therefore you should not eat it when it stays out overnight.
But why? Between 40° F and 140°, bacteria multiply fast which is harmful to your health.
How Long Can You Keep Steak In the Freezer?
You can keep steak in the freezer for six to twelve months. Other kinds of beef cuts such as roasts are safe to store in the freezer for four to twelve months.
Beef leftovers should be frozen for two to three months, to maximize quality.
Other kinds of meat have different time limits within which it is safe to keep them in the freezer.
Uncooked pork is OK to keep in the freezer for around 4 to 12 months, whereas chops are safe in the freezer for up to 6 months. If the pork is cooked, it should be frozen for 2 to 3 months.
Poultry such as chicken can last in the freezer for up to a year, however, it would be best if you can consume them in 9 months. Other parts like giblets can only last 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
You need to be careful while freezing seafood. Catfish and other lean fish should be put in the freezer for 6 to 8 months. On the other hand, fatty fish such as salmon can be frozen for 2 to 3 months.
What’s the Best Way to Store Steak?
It’s best to store steak in the freezer since meats last longer in the freezer than they do while kept in the fridge.
Make sure you are freezing your steak properly, otherwise it could be unsafe for consumption.
To freeze steak you need to start by wrapping it with foil, silicone bags, or vacuum seal bags to prevent the steak from freezer burn.
Add another layer of wrapping material, and in this case, the best thing to use is a zip-top bag.
The second layer prevents the cold air of the freezer from coming into contact with your steak.
What Can Happen If You Eat Spoiled Steak?
Eating spoiled steak leads to food poisoning. When you eat steak that has gone bad, the bacteria continue growing in your digestive tract which later leads to an infection.
The most common types of bacteria in steak include Salmonella and Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens.
If you suspect you have food poisoning from eating spoiled steak, check whether you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fever
- Bloated stomach
- Fever
- Headache
- Diarrhea
Some of these symptoms are also common in other conditions, hence you should consult a physician to be sure you are facing food poisoning.
Can You Tell If Steak Has Gone Bad After Cooking?
You can tell a steak is bad by examining its color and smell before you cook it.
Spoiled steak produces an ammonia-like smell while you are cooking it. Its color could also change to green rather than turning grey-brown.
Steak that has gone bad tastes sour and bitter, however, you should never taste any meat you suspect is spoiled, since you risk swallowing harmful bacteria.
It’s always advisable to check whether your steak is spoiled before cooking it, as the signs which include discoloration, strange odor, and sticky texture, will be clearer then.
Can You Cook And Eat Brown or Gray Steak?
The answer to this question may not be a straightforward one.
While raw steak is red, brown or gray patches may sometimes form on the interior of your preserved steak. It usually happens when the steak has been exposed to oxygen for a while. This usually happens during refrigeration – and it can happen within a day or two.
If the color changes appear after an extended period of storage, I recommend disposing of the meat as the color changes most likely indicate spoilage. Because color varies between different cuts of meat, I think you should research your specific cut to find out how it looks when it’s fresh, oxidized, and spoiled.
Doing so will give you an idea about the stage your steak currently is in and whether or not it can be cooked without worrying about falling ill.