This article was co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Chef Jennifer Levasseur is a Personal Chef and the Owner of The Happy Cuisiniere based in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has over 12 years of culinary experience and specializes in Mountain and Contemporary Rustic cuisine. Moreover, she can craft dishes and modify menus to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and dairy-free diets. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston, Chef Jennifer holds Associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts from Houston Community College.
There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Do you want to cook up the steak in your fridge or freezer but aren’t sure if it’s still safe to eat? Eating steak that’s spoiled could lead to foodborne illness, but it’s easy to recognize when it’s time to toss the meat out. Whether you’re cooking fresh or frozen steak, or reheating some leftovers, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading all the signs of spoiled steaks so you know if they’re safe to cook or if they belong in the trash.
Things You Should Know
- Toss steaks out if they’re passed their use-by date or have been in your fridge for longer than 4–5 days.
- Check raw steaks for a slimy or sticky texture, foul odors, discoloration, and dry, juiceless meat.
- Get rid of frozen steaks that are older than 12 months or have tough, discolored sections of freezer burn.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
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Cook your steak so it reaches an internal temperature of at least 145 °F (63 °C) to avoid any harmful bacteria.[16]Thanks
Warnings
- Avoid eating steak that shows signs of spoilage so you avoid developing food poisoning or other foodborne illnesses.[17]Thanks
- If you experience stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever, treat food poisoning with over-the-counter medication and plenty of fluids. If your symptoms last longer than 3 days or if you can’t keep liquids down, contact your doctor.[18]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Jennifer Levasseur.
References
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-catfish/beef-farm-table
- ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Does-the-color-of-beef-indicate-freshness
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/if-meat-changes-color-has-it-gone-bad-222538
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4872334/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/5wHTmACN2n4?t=25
- ↑ https://dailyssportsgrill.com/how-to-tell-if-steak-has-gone-bad/
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-catfish/beef-farm-table
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/freezing-and-food-safety
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fXe1YUQ3SN0?t=178
- ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16504
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-02/Molds_on_Food.pdf
- ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts
- ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-cooked-beef
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-catfish/beef-farm-table
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/tips-for-cooking-frozen-steak-on-the-grill-article
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart
- ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/how-temperatures-affect-food
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-symptoms/