What is the proper way to store steak at home?
When you buy steak from the market it is usually wrapped up under shrink wrap and the meat usually sits on top of a moisture absorbing pad. When you get it from the butcher, it is wrapped up in waxed paper and/or brown paper.
Once you get it home, if you're not going to eat it for a few days, what is the proper way to store it?
The reason I ask is that if I let it sit in the waxed paper for a few days, when I open it up, it looks slightly discolored on the surface, with a slightly slimy texture. I'm assuming that this is okay because I've cooked may steaks that looked like this and have not gotten sick.
Should I take it out of the packaging and have it just sit on a plate? Does this emulate dry-aging? Taking it out will definitely prevent meat from getting the slimy texture.
Best Answer
The discolored surface is a product of oxidation, the same thing that happens when you leave apple slices in the open air. Oxigen is a highly reactive molecule and it binds to anything it can find, in this case your steak.
It is not rotten or unsafe to eat in any way, it just has an unpleasant color/texture when raw. Meat packaging is often filled with carbon dioxide, and since the oxygen is already binded to carbon it no longer reacts with the steak. The side effect of this is that your steak could have gone bad, but it still looks good. The pad just collects any fluid that might drip off the steak, again for aesthetic purposes.
I'd suggest to remove the wax paper and shrinkwrap it, this will prevent it from oxidizing.
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Quick Answer about "What is the proper way to store steak at home?"
Remove beef from plastic packaging If you're planning to store beef beyond the day you bought it, transfer it to a dish and cover loosely with plastic wrap or foil. This allows airflow and ensures your beef doesn't sweat. It's fine to use a plastic container if air can circulate the meat.How should steak be stored?
Raw beef should be stored in a bowl or on a platter in the bottom of the refrigerator. Your refrigerator temperature should be at 40 \xb0F or less. Store whole-muscle fresh beef cuts for three to five days in the refrigerator.Where should I store my steak in the fridge?
Make sure your refrigerator is between 34\xb0 and 40\xb0F. Store raw meat on the lowermost shelf or in its own drawer. Store meat with a plate underneath \u2013 especially when thawing \u2013 to collect run-off juices.How long can you keep raw steak in the fridge?
Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days. After cooking, meat, poultry and seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.Can steak be kept in the fridge?
Steaks can last three to five days in the fridge and six to 12 months in the freezer; roasts, too, can last three to five days in the fridge and up to four to 12 months in the freezer, if you want to keep some ready.Freezing and Thawing Beef 101 | How-To Tips from a Chef
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