How Long Can Raw Steak Sit Out? Useful Knowledge

How long can raw steak sit out? Knowing the correct answer will help you not waste food, save your budget, and ensure food safety for yourself. Once in a while, you may have left your steak sitting out in the kitchen; this article is ideal for knowing when to keep or discard your steak.

In fact, there are many cases where you have to leave raw steak out, and knowing how long it can stay out, along with how to store it is incredibly essential. Don’t worry. I have got you covered by supplying helpful information in this post.

Marbled Beef Steak Sits — Knowing how long raw steak can sit out is essential if you don’t want to waste your money and harm your health.

What You Need To Know About Steak

Before discovering how long raw steak can sit out, it’s necessary to explore its definition. Specifically, a steak is a thick slice of meat cut across muscle fibers and may include a bone. Typically, people grill or fry steak to retain its fresh moisture.

You can cook or mince steak in sauce, as kidney and steak pie, or finely chop and shape it into patties, as in hamburger patties. Steaks come from various animals, including cattle, turkey, sheep, reindeer, and ostrich, as fish, particularly salmon, and large fish like shark and marlin.

These cuts are commonly referred to as chops for some meats, such as lamb, pork, and veal. Some cured meats, like gammon, are frequently served as steak.

How Long Can You Leave Raw Steak Out?

The time raw meat can sit out depends on the environment’s temperature. You cannot sit raw steak at room temperature for more than two hours, as it’s no longer safe to consume.

At temperatures between 40 and 140°F (4.4 and 60°C), bacteria (such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus) grow vastly, which can cause dramatic health issues. ⁽¹⁾

The mentioned temperature scale is considered the Danger Zone for any food variety along with the steak.

Furthermore, bacteria can increase by twofold in the Danger Zone range within 20 minutes. On hot days, when the temperature can exceed 90°F (32°C), you should only leave raw meat out within one hour.

So, what is the perfect period to put your raw steak outside before cooking? Let it rest at room temperature for roughly 20-30 minutes to give your steak a better taste. Doing this will make your meat cook more evenly.

Fresh Raw Tuna Steak — If you want to sit raw steak out safely, remember to follow the two-hour rule.

How Long Can You Store Raw Steak

All kinds of meat have different storage times in various environments. I will provide you with a table showing the particular storage time of various types of raw meats to assist you in remembering how long they can last in multiple conditions.⁽²⁾

Kinds Of Raw Steak	Parts Of Meat	In The Refrigerator (40°F or 4.4°C or below)	In The Freezer (0°F or -17.78 °C or below)	At Room Temperature ( an average of 68°F or 20°C)
Beef	Steak	Three to five days.	Four to twelve months.	One to two hours.
Pork	Steak	Three to five days.	Six to twelve months.	One to two hours.
Poultry Animals	Pieces	One to two days.	Nine months.	One to two hours.
Fatty Fish (salmon, tuna, bluefish, etc.)	Steak, pieces, fillets	One to three days.	Two to three months.	One to two hours.
Lean Fish (haddock, sole, halibut, etc.)	Steak, pieces, fillets	One to three days.	Six to eight months.	One to two hours.

How To Tell If The Steak Go Bad

Once you eat rotten meat, you will suffer from many health problems, which could waste your medical budget and time. To prevent you from eating rancid raw steak, here are some early warning signs of raw steak going sour that you need to consider.

Steak’s Smell

When you doubt whether your steak is edible, using your nose to check is one of the easiest ways. Like milk or any other food, you can check if your raw steak is rancid by the sense of smell.

Any unpleasant or strange smell is a prior sign of rotten meat. Typically, spoiled steak has an ammonia or putrid scent. If the meat has no weird smell, you can ensure that it is still fresh to use.

However, it doesn’t mean that the meat is safe. Having no horrible smell only proves that your meat is still not rotten. Moreover, using your nose to identify whether your raw steak is rancid is not the best and most fool-proof way.

You need to combine the smell result with other methods to find the best answer.

Steak’s Texture

Checking the meat quality by hand is also smart. Simply rub your finger on the steak surface. If the meat is still edible, you will feel a bit wet due to the meat’s moisture.

However, if the tip of your finger feels a bit yucky with a slimy texture, it is rotten. Additionally, bacteria are the factors causing the steak’s slimy texture.

If running your fingers over the raw steak gives you a sticky feeling, you should discard it immediately. Furthermore, the rotten steak will grow yellowish or clear in color with a shinier look than usual a few days before starting to have molds.

Raw Beef Steak — Fresh steak should have a firm texture instead of a slimy or shiny surface.

Steak’s Appearance

In some circumstances, you can simply know whether your steak is rotten by observing its outlook. Raw meat has different ranges of color over varying periods.

After being butchered off, the raw beef steak has a bright purple-red outlook. At this stage, it is at its freshest state. However, the freshness will only stay for a short time, as it will turn into a different color within roughly half an hour.

As it contacts with oxygen for 15 minutes, the steak will have a cherry-red color due to the myoglobin reacting with oxygen. After three days, its cherry-red color remains unchanged but with a reddish-brown appearance.

Your steak is still edible when it has a brown color due to oxidation. Only when the brown steak starts to have more green, brown, yellow, or a bright, purplish red color should you consider discarding it.

There are a few exceptional cases where raw steak is brown but is normal and edible.

Watch this video: Is it ok to eat brown meat?

Steak’s Use-By-Date

Besides all the visible signs of rotten steak above, checking the use-by-date is also essential to ensure whether you can use the steak. The use-by date helps you enjoy the best flavor before this date. Plus, if it is one day after its use-by date, you may still enjoy it.

Dangers Of Sitting Steak Out

When you have left your raw steak out for a long time, there are many risks that you should consider. Stay tuned and keep reading this post to gain valuable knowledge.

Bacteria Growth

The first worrying danger is the proliferation of harmful bacteria in your raw steak. As mentioned, bacteria will grow quickly in the Danger Zone (between 40 and 140°F or 4.4 and 60°C).

After only two hours, the bacteria population will double. Once you cook raw meat containing such harmful bacteria, you run the risk of health problems after consumption.

However, the bacteria are likely to grow less if you maintain the meat outside of the Danger Zone. Hence, pay attention to your raw steak and promptly store it in the refrigerator to avoid unnecessarily wasting food and your budget.

Fresh Piece Beef Steak — You should put raw meat into the fridge within two hours to prevent bacteria’s rapid development.

Food Poisoning Risks

Another danger you need to know when leaving your raw steak out for a long time is food poisoning risk. The risk depends on how long you leave it out.

If you sit it out for a period that exceeds the two-hour rule for a short time, the steak should be fine for cooking. Nonetheless, you should know that food poisoning often threatens the elderly, children, and individuals with weakened immune systems and digestive tracts.

If these people get a foodborne illness, they can experience more severe symptoms. Therefore, do not feel regretful for your money and throw away the raw steak that you have left for too long.

How To Store Steak

Knowing how to store raw steak correctly is the best way to aid you in preventing several dangers of sitting raw steak out, as mentioned above. Here are some easy but sufficient tips for storing raw steak right.

In The Refrigerator

If you intend to cook your raw meat within a few days, you can store it in the refrigerator. Additionally, you need to remember not to leave the steak at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Here are some helpful tips you should know.

You need to make sure your fridge temperature is at or below 40°F (4°C).
To prevent steak juice from getting out of the packaging and contaminating other foods, you should place it on the bottom shelf of your fridge and remember to put it on a sealed container or a plate.
It is essential to take the raw steak out of the grocery packaging and then remember to store it using glass containers or sealed zip bags to avoid contact with the air in the fridge and prevent cross-contamination.

In The Freezer

When you want to preserve your steak for longer, storing it in the freezer is the best option to guarantee its long-term quality. Here are some useful tips to help you freeze steak properly.

You ought to ensure your freezer temperature is roughly 0°F(-18°C). More importantly, remember to check the temperature in the freezer frequently.
You need to wrap it in a sealed bag; if you don’t have a vacuum sealer, try to get rid of as much air as possible by pressing the bag to release excess air.

Steak Vacuum Marbled Beef — It is necessary to seal meat’s package tightly when you store it in the freezer.

Store Steak For A Reasonable Amount Of Time

Another thing you should consider when storing raw meat is to keep it for the proper amount of time. In other words, the longer it is in the fridge or freezer, the more its flavor and texture might change.

However, if you have just stored steak for a short time in the freezer, it will remain tasty. Therefore, writing the date you start to store it in the container is an ideal way to keep track of the steak’s quality.

How To Thaw Steak Properly

Frozen Beef Meat — If you can thaw steak quickly, you might put it into a bowl of cold water.

Once your raw steak has been in the freezer for ages, you need to thaw it properly before cooking. I recommend defrosting your steak using the refrigerator, which will take around 24 hours.

If you desire to speed up the procedure, consider using a cold water bowl. You also need to make sure the steak is completely sealed from water. It‘s best if you don’t let the steak come into contact with the water. The process should take around 15-40 minutes.

You should add cold water to the bowl and keep doing this every half an hour until you have thoroughly defrosted the steak. This process will take around two hours, depending on the size of your raw steak.

It is necessary for you to learn how to thaw raw steak correctly.

Watch this video: The Best Way to Thaw Meat

Fantastic Recipes With Raw Steak

You can make various fantastic recipes with raw steak. Here are the top three of them, which are simple but delicious. It’s time you showed off your cooking skills to your close friends and family.

Blue Cheese Crusted Steak

The steak is sweet and delicious. With the salty and sharp taste of blue cheese, crunchy breadcrumbs, herbs, and balsamic-caramelized shallots, this dish will be flavorful and can become one of your go-to recipes.

You can make the most delicious Blue Cheese Crusted Steak on Earth with a few simple steps.

Watch this video: Blue Cheese-Crusted New York Strip Steak

Porterhouse Steak

If you are a big fan of grilling, I’m sure that this dish will satisfy you. Furthermore, you may be surprised that within roughly 20 minutes with simple ingredients, you can have a wonderful, juicy, and tender restaurant-quality meal.

Butter-Basted Rib Eye

If you want a cozy meal with your family and friends or a romantic dinner with your sweetheart, this dish is the best option. A perfect piece of meat grilled in a mixture of garlic, bubbling butter, sprigs of thyme, and rosemary will win the heart of your beloved ones.

FAQs

Though this post has covered much helpful knowledge concerning how long raw steak can sit out, I have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to ensure you acquire everything about raw steak. I hope these answers will serve you well one day.

How long can raw ground beef stand outside the fridge?

Ground beef is also perishable meat; you can stand it outside the fridge for no more than two hours at room temperature.

Does cooking kill the bacteria growing on meat?

Definitely yes! You can kill the harmful bacteria if you cook your meat thoroughly at a safe internal temperature, about 145°F (62.78°C).

Can you put the room-temperature steak back in the fridge?

Bacteria can grow twice their population every 20 minutes; if your meat sits out for less than two hours and is not rancid, you can put it back in the fridge.

Can steak sit out for 3 hours?

The answer depends on the quality of your meat and the temperature outside. However, it is better to sit it out within two hours.

How long can cooked steak stand outside?

According to the two-hour rule, cooked steak can sit outside for about two hours. After this period, it is unsafe to eat it.

Knowing Time Sitting Steak Out Is Vital For Food Safety

Food safety is the top priority of individuals when buying and consuming food. To protect yourself and your beloved ones from health problems, stick to the guidelines and rules above.

Caution is a parent of safety, so once deciding to leave raw steak out, you ought to pay attention to the two-hour rule and store it properly. Don’t hesitate to share this post to help others gain helpful information. Leave a comment, and I hope to see you next time.