For steak lovers, it’s easy to make way more than you can actually eat in one sitting. But what do you do with those leftovers?
You probably don’t want to try to simply reheat it and hope it turns out as good as the original. So, let’s discuss your options because there are so many.
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Can You Use Leftover Steak?
First, you might be wondering if it’s even possible to turn steak into leftovers. Of course it is!
You can reheat (or not) pretty much any food and use it for leftovers. Steak is a particularly good food for this because you already know it was good the first time, and it’s really easy to reheat.
Indeed, you can reheat virtually any food that has been refrigerated or frozen. It’s only a matter of using the right appliance with the right approach.
For foods that have been breaded or fried, you’re often better off with the air fryer or the oven and getting it reheated quickly. With foods that have been baked or grilled, you’re typically going to be best off going low and slow in the oven or on the grill.
With steak, especially when you’re turning it into another dish, your best bet is going to be to chop it up and get it reheated on the stovetop in some olive oil. You’ll get hot and crispy steak bites, perfect for so many dishes.
Should You Use Leftover Steak?
But wait, is it even safe to use steak to make leftovers? What about food safety?
Yes, you can absolutely use steak as leftovers. Again, you’ve already eaten the steak the first time, and ideally you did not get sick, which is why you’re going back for more.
In most cases, you can eat your steak leftovers cold from the fridge and have no problems. However, most people aren’t excited about cold steak.
The general guidelines say to reheat steak, or any other leftovers, to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and by the time your steak is hot and crispy in the olive oil on your stovetop, it will certainly have reached that temp.
Now, let’s get cooking.
Steak Tacos
Who doesn’t love tacos? No one. That’s who.
They’re a quick and easy dish you can whip up and still feel like you’re having an entirely different meal.
And leftover steak is perfect for making tacos because once you chop it up and reheat it, it’s even more tender and delicious on your tortilla than it was the night before with a baked potato. Follow these easy steps to make steak tacos:
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of the pan.
- While your pan is heating up, chop your steak into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the steak pieces to the pan and toss around for several minutes until the steak gets a nice, crispy exterior.
- While you’re doing that, heat up some tortillas however you normally would.
- Now, add the steak to the tortillas and toss with your favorite guacamole, salsa, onions, cilantro, and anything else you add to your tacos.
- Enjoy!
Steak Salad
Some people enjoy a cold steak salad, but I would argue that warm steak on a cold salad is much better. You can even turn this into a taco salad if you have beans and guacamole!
- Heat up your steak as instructed above and while it’s heating, prepare a salad.
- I love nice, crispy greens that hold up well with warm ingredients. Romaine is usually best for this purpose.
- Top your greens with heated up refried beans, guacamole, cheese, salsa, and sour cream if you like it.
- When your steak pieces are done, add the steak to the top.
- You’ll feel like you’re sitting for a meal at Chipotle, but the ingredients will be all your own!
Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is typically a dish that takes a while to make because you want the steak to be tender. But in this case, you’re already halfway there.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- Cut your steak into pieces and put them in the pan to reheat.
- Meanwhile, prepare pasta, usually egg noodles, according to the package directions.
- Once the steak is heated, add about a cup of red wine to the pan to deglaze it, picking up bits of steak from the bottom of the pan. When the wine starts bubbling, add two tablespoons of flour to the wine and steak and stir to get a paste consistency.
- To this paste, you’ll add either beef broth or beef consommé until you get a thin gravy, whisking all the while.
- Now, allow the steak in the gravy to cook on low for about 20 minutes, adding extra broth or consommé as the gravy gets thick.
- Finally, add a dollop of sour cream to the gravy, stir in, and serve the gravy over noodles.
- Enjoy!
Steak Stir Fry
Stir fry is a really easy dish to make with leftover steak!
- Follow the instructions above to reheat the steak in a cast iron skillet and just add some chopped up veggies to the mix.
- Before you start the steak, be sure to put some rice on the stove to cook, so it will be ready when the stir fry is.
- Add a sauce of your preference, like Trader Joe’s Soyaki sauce, to the steak and veggies, and simmer until everything is firm but tender.
- Serve your steak stir fry over rice and enjoy!
Steak and Eggs
Now this one is a no-brainer, which is why I saved it for last. In fact, you’ve probably already thought of this one.
- Steak and eggs are the best! You can, and probably do, use fresh steak, of course, but why not use leftover steak?
- Simply heat your skillet over medium, add some olive oil, and throw your whole steak in the pan.
- Cook it on both sides for a couple of minutes, just to get it heated through, and put it on a plate to rest.
- To that same pan, with all the delicious steak juices still inside, add two eggs.
- Salt your eggs and allow them to cook for a couple of minutes.
- Once the eggs come free from the pan, flip them over and cook for another minute, just to get your whites firm.
- Serve the steak and eggs with a piece or two of toast, loaded up with butter, and a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
What’s your favorite dish to make with leftover steak? Let me know in the comments. I’m always looking for more good food!
