How Long Can Steak Sit Out?

Steak, an all-time favorite meal for meat lovers, can be grilled, pan-fried or cooked in sauce. The steak is generally a part of meat cut across the muscles. It can either be made as steak or chopped and made into patties for hamburgers.

Steak is commonly referred to as beef meat, but it is not limited to beef. You can also make it from sheep, deer, fishes, pigs and elks. Steaks of some meats are often called ‘chops,’ including mutton, pigs, and lambs.

As steak, in most cases, is quite expensive, you would not want it to go to waste just because you let it sit out for longer than necessary. This article will emphasize the sitting out period of steak in different situations.

How Long Can Steak Sit Out?

Meat is quite sensitive when it comes to storage conditions, a little delay in its service, and it doesn’t go well really quick. No matter what type of meat it is, you will have to keep it in the refrigerator at all times or freeze it for longer storage. 

The two-hour rule also applies to steak, whether cooked or uncooked. If you have bought raw meat for steak, make sure not to let it sit on the counter for more than two hours. Cooked, leftover steak when left to sit out should be consumed within two hours or be kept inside the refrigerator.

What Happens if Steak Sits Out Too Long?

There are times when you forget to refrigerate your favorite leftover steak, and it sits on the counter overnight. At times like this, you might wonder if your steak is still edible or has it been long enough for it to turn bad.

Steak, or any other type of cooked meat, contains certain bacteria, the level of these bacteria keeps increasing the longer you leave it out at a temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If steak is left for more than two hours, the bacteria levels become too high, which is unsafe to consume.

What Should You Do If Steak Is Left Out Too Long? 

Foodborne illnesses are much more serious when it comes to eating spoiled meat. The cases of food poisoning and diarrhea can be quite unpleasant. Any meat, including steak, should be discarded if left out for too long.

It does not matter if the steak is cooked or raw; the meat begins to spoil once it crosses the two-hour limit of exposure to a temperature greater than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Long Can Steak Be In The Car For? 

You must have noticed, and the steak meat is kept in the refrigerated section at each grocery store. It will begin to go bad after sitting for more than two hours. The same applies to the cooked steak.

If your car is warmer and the temperature is higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, do not let the steak sit in the car for more than an hour. If you are not going straight home and have a long way, keep a cooler containing ice in your car for storing meat for the whole ride. 

Does Steak Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

Just like other meats, steak can also go bad if not refrigerated. The steak will remain safe for only two hours or less if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do not want your steak to go to waste, make sure to keep it refrigerated at all times when not being consumed.

Does Steak Go Bad If You Lose Power? 

Losing power is noticeable when you have a generator to light up your place after a power cut instantly. However, you will need to keep in mind when the refrigerator is not running, and the things stored in it might begin to turn bad. Starting from raw meat and dairy products, which spoil quicker than the rest. 

Never keep raw meat in the refrigerator during a power outage. Please keep it in the freezer to maintain its temperature because once the meat is spoiled, you cannot be unspoiled by refrigerating or freezing.

What Temperature Is Safe For Steak?

The steak will be safe for 3 to 4 days when kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerator. Above this temperature, it will remain safe for two hours. The steak will remain safe for a few months in the freezer when kept frozen.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Still tasty
• Our Everyday life
• Daily Delish