If you purchased a flank steak but didn’t get a chance to use it right away, don’t worry! You can safely store your flank stank in the fridge, but how long will it stay good?
You can store cooked flank steak in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. Raw steak will last a similar amount of time (or even a bit longer), but check the expiration date to be sure. To determine if the meat has gone bad, check for a bad smell and a slimy texture.
As long as you store your flank steak properly, you’ll be able to use it at the right time to prepare a very tasty meal. Let’s take a closer look at the proper storage techniques and how to check that your steak is still good before you dig in.
How Long Does Flank Steak Last in the Fridge?
How long your flank steak can last in the fridge depends on when you purchased or cooked it. Whether you bought it from a supermarket or a butcher, be sure to check the expiry date and ensure you stay within it.
In most cases, you can safely store the steak in the fridge for three to five days. If there’s no expiration date on the package, it’s a good idea to mark the date on the package or container referencing when you put it in the fridge.
If you can’t remember when you bought the flank steak, it’s probably been too long — and you should avoid eating it.
Cooked Flank Steak
Cooked flank steak can last three to four days in the fridge. You should store it in an air-tight container to prevent it from becoming contaminated with bacteria.
Raw Flank Steak
Raw flank steak can last at least a similar time to cooked steak. It might last a little longer — between three and five days.
You should stick by its expiry date, as this will indicate when it’s still safe to eat.
What’s the Best Way to Store Flank Steak?
The best way to store flank steak, raw or cooked, is to keep it in its original vacuumed packaging until you decide to cook it. If the pack contains multiple steaks, wrap them in heavy-duty aluminum foil, like this (on Amazon), or air-tight bags to keep it fresh.
It’s best to place the steak in the coldest part of the fridge so that it lasts as long as possible.
If you wish to store the steak in the freezer, it’s safest in its original packaging. Again, you can also use foil or air-tight bags. In the freezer, steak can last up to six months. Surpassing this could result in bad-tasting steak.
It’s essential to thoroughly defrost the steak before cooking it for up to 24 hours. Larger steaks might take longer to defrost, so make sure they’re fully thawed before use.
It is essential to check the original packaging for tears and holes when purchasing. Most steaks will be sold suction-packed, and the packaging needs to remain fully sealed to avoid contamination.
How Long Can Flank Steak Sit at Room Temperature?
Although many people like to marinate their flank steaks for 12 to 24 hours, storing them in the fridge during this time is advised.
Ideally, steaks shouldn’t be left outside the fridge for longer than two hours. After two hours of exposure, steaks can develop bacteria, making it unsafe to eat.
Bacteria start to proliferate rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. When the flesh is kept at these temperatures for an extended period, it may become home to numerous bacteria, including those that can lead to food poisoning.
After the meat has been cooked, similar rules still apply. Any leftovers should be refrigerated within 1 to 2 hours, depending on the outside temperature. Reheating the flesh will stop the growth of new bacteria but won’t eliminate any that already settled in.
How to Tell if Your Flank Steak Has Gone Bad
It should be pretty clear when a steak has gone bad, especially if it’s many days past its expiry date. Some of the signs to look for include the following:
Sliminess
A steak that has gone bad will usually have a slimy appearance. A slimy steak will likely have a yellow tone, which is the slimy film.
If you can’t distinguish whether it’s slimy by looking at it, try touching it. If there’s a slimy feel, it’s gone bad.
A Bad Smell
A bad steak will have a bad smell. A spoiled raw or cooked steak will have a potent smell similar to ammonia.
Some steaks have a peculiar smell, however, so always perform the other tests to double-check that it has gone bad.
Dryness
Steak that has gone bad will have lost its moisture, making it look and feel dry.
A dry steak might not mean it has passed its expiration date. It could still be safe to eat. However, a dry steak will have lost its flavor, and the texture will likely be somewhat off-putting.
Lack of Juice
When a steak dries out from sitting in the fridge or freezer for too long, it will be juiceless and dry.
A dry steak will never taste its best, so it’s usually better to dispose of it instead of trying to eat it.
Store a steak in vacuumed packaging to avoid losing its moisture and juice.
Color
After a few days in the fridge, the steak may turn grayish or brown, so be aware of this. A gray steak is not necessarily a bad steak, however.
To determine if the steak is safe to consume, examine its expiration date, smell, and feel.