With the expectation of some hungry eaters at your table, you’ve filled your grill with marinated steak. You’ve taken advantage of the value pricing of a larger package of sirloin or ribeye. You may have even questioned if you’d have enough for everyone.
But then the end of dinner rolls around and you’re staring at a pile of uneaten, freshly grilled steaks. Now what?
While steak still continues to be flavorful and rich in its leftover form, it still is just not the same taste as straight from the grill. Yet that doesn’t mean that any uneaten steak can’t be reused in other ways. In fact, leftover steak can be a very versatile and easy to use protein included in other meals throughout the week.
To help you get the most out of your leftover steak, we’re here to help. Next, we share some delicious and creative recipes you can enjoy with all that leftover steak you’ve got sitting in your fridge. No matter the cut of steak you’ve grilled up or pan-seared, you can continue savoring the great flavors for days to come.
Keeping the Steak Tasty
An important step in getting the most out of your leftover steak is in the reheating process. Keep in mind that you can certainly enjoy leftover steak cold. It can be great sliced up for salads or on top of sandwiches.
Reheating Steak
However, if you choose to cook your leftover steak, it requires a bit of caution. There’s often the concern that once a steak is reheated, it loses its flavor, juiciness and taste. Or, you end up with hockey puck-like slabs of meat that are tough to cut and eat through. While there’s no doubt that fresh from the grill steak does taste a bit juicier and flavorful, you can still amp up the taste of leftover steak.
If at all possible, avoid using the microwave. This cooking method can quickly dry out steak, making it tough and not as tender to enjoy. Instead, try warming it up in a low temperature oven and then searing it to get that nice crust over the steak. While it may take a bit more time to cook than in a microwave, it helps to retain more of its natural flavor and juices that make the steak so delicious. Just be sure that you don’t overcook the steak, which can lead to it drying out even further.
Storing Steak
When storing leftover steak, you’ll also want to keep as much of the natural juices with the steak as possible. In your storage container, be sure to pour in the extra juices that have run off from the just grilled steaks. Keep the excess air out of contact with the steak by using things like vacuum sealed bag or other fitting container. Leftover steak can be kept in the fridge safely between three and six days, depending on the storage method.
Delicious Recipes to Use Up Your Leftover Steak
That steak you worked so hard on to grill or pan-sear does not have to go to waste. With the right cooking methods and other ingredients added in, leftover steak can be transformed into multiple dishes that can be enjoyed for days to come. Get started in leftover cooking with these easy and delicious ideas for your uneaten steaks.
Beef Burgundy - The combination of red wine and earthy mushrooms make this a great way to use up leftover sirloin or other steak. The added moisture from ingredients like the Vinoso vinegar, mushroom soup and beef broth will help revive the leftover steak to its former juiciness. This steak dish is great on top of rice or noodles.
Grilled Stuffed Green Peppers - Fill a green pepper with all the good stuff, including cheese, hummus, veggies and of course, leftover steak. By grilling the peppers both before and after filling, you can bring out the sweetness and melt all the ingredients together.
Cheesesteak Potato Skins - A new take on a cheesesteak, this easy dish brings in the flavors of potato and the classic cheesesteak to bring you a great way to use up your leftover steak. Amp up the flavors with veggies, herbs, cheese and the sweetness of Iron Fish Honey vinegar.
Tacos with Spicy Aioli - Kick up the flavor in your tacos with a spicy sauce made with Tajjn, lime, mayo and Habanero Agave Agrodolce. Fill up your tacos with veggies and that leftover steak you’re waiting ot use. Be sure to slice it finely or chop it up so it’s easier to eat in taco form.
Tri-Color Fajitas - Bring on the color with your leftover steak with these fajitas. Peppers and onions are brought together with the vibrant flavors of Chipotle olive oil and Iron Fish Honey vinegar to create a zesty and flavorful mix.
Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packs - Grill up these packets that include savory ingredients like peppers, onion and leftover steak for an easy dinner. Top it off with some cheese and Organic Tuscan Herb spice blend and you’re good to go, whether you’re home or off traveling and camping.
Other Ideas
Experiment on your own in including leftover steak in all kinds of dishes. Slice it up and serve it cold on top of a salad with all your other favorite veggies. Toss sliced steak pieces in a quesadilla filled with gooey cheese and peppers. Layer on slices in a panini with cheese and creamy sauces. Slice them up and toss them in a lettuce wrap with peppers, onions and rice. Chop the leftover steak up finely and throw it in with your fried rice with vegetables and egg. With the immense versatility of this protein, there’s really no limit to what kind of flavorful ways to save that leftover steak.
Savor the Leftover Steak
While you may have been hoping you had enough steak for your family, sometimes you end up with leftovers that you’re just not sure what to do with. After so much work and effort put into preparing and grilling or pan searing your steak, you’d hate to see it go to waste. But as it turns out, there are many ways you can still take advantage of that rich steak flavor in a plethora of other great dishes. Try out these recipes and explore on your own how you can incorporate leftover steak into your meals to come.