How to Freeze Steak: 3 Tips for Freezing Steak

Freezing is a relatively simple method for preserving steak, whether it is fresh from the butcher or leftovers from dinner. Follow the steps below to freeze raw steak and cooked steak without harming the flavor or texture:

1. 1. Wrap the steak. To properly preserve the steak, protect it from the environment of the freezer with two layers. The first layer can be a plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Wrap the steak tightly, with little to no air exposure to prevent freezer burn.
2. 2. Package the steak. After tightly wrapping your steak, place it in a second wrapping or bag. This can be a freezer bag, parchment or freezer paper, or simply another layer of plastic wrap. This provides an extra layer of protection against freezer burn.
3. 3. Press out the air. If using a freezer bag, carefully and thoroughly press out any excess air that remains in the bag before sealing it fully.
4. 4. Label your steak. Freezing will keep any cut of beef almost exactly like it was before freezing if it’s wrapped thoroughly. Labeling your steak can come in handy when you’re ready to defrost, especially if you’re freezing your steaks for a long time. Many freezer bags come with a label area where you can indicate if the frozen steak is a T-bone, filet mignon, hanger steak, flank steak, ribeye, sirloin, etc.

Consider these tips for easing the process of freezing and defrosting steaks:

1. 1. Consider a vacuum sealer. If you’re planning on doing a lot of freezing, you might consider using a vacuum sealer. This machine mechanically removes air from a freezer bag. Vacuum-sealed steak is very unlikely to have any freezer burn.
2. 2. Store your steaks flat. When you place your steak in the freezer, be sure to lay it flat. When the time comes to defrost the steak, it will be in its original form, not bent or lopsided from uneven freezing.
3. 3. Defrost your steak in the fridge. If you properly wrap it, frozen steak can last up to a year or longer in the freezer. When it’s time to defrost, thaw meat in the refrigerator or a bowl of cold water and not at room temperature, where there is a much higher chance of spoilage. After a steak is thawed, you should not refreeze it. If you do need to refreeze meat you have defrosted, it’s best to cook it first, then wrap it, and then place it back in the freezer.

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