Will storing salted steak overnight ruin the meat?
I've salted the steaks, but I can't get the grill going. If I store them in the fridge and cook them tomorrow, will the fact they are salted already ruin the meat?
Best Answer
It's quite possible that meat might even be improved. From an article at Serious Eats :
Indeed, the absolute best steak I had was one that I had salted on both sides then allowed to rest on a rack overnight in the refrigerator uncovered. It appears to dry out slightly, but it's only superficial—the amount of drying that occurs from an overnight rest (about 5% moisture loss) is negligible compared to the amount of moisture driven off during cooking anyway (upwards of 20%, even more in the hard-seared edges). As the salt makes its way back into the meat, you'll probably also notice that it becomes a deeper color. That's because the dissolved proteins scatter light differently than they did when they were still whole.
The 'uncovered' is important in the discussion of 'dry brining', as you want the surface to dry out without needing to blot it (which would remove salt with it) ... it doesn't have to be completely uncovered, but whatever cover it has should allow sufficient air flow for it to dry out.
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Quick Answer about "Will storing salted steak overnight ruin the meat?"
It appears to dry out slightly, but it's only superficial—the amount of drying that occurs from an overnight rest (about 5% moisture loss) is negligible compared to the amount of moisture driven off during cooking anyway (upwards of 20%, even more in the hard-seared edges).Can you leave salt on steak overnight?
Moral of the story: If you've got the time, salt your meat for at least 40 minutes and up to overnight before cooking. If you haven't got 40 minutes, it's better to season immediately before cooking. Cooking the steak anywhere between three and 40 minutes after salting is the worst way to do it.How long can you leave steak salted?
If you can't seem to find a spare 24-72 hours to deep season your steak, I recommend salting right before you plan to cook your meat. Salting anywhere between 10-60 minutes prior to cooking will just result in a withdrawal of moisture without enough time to have it return into the meat.How do you store a steak after salting it?
You'll then place the steak on a rack set inside a baking sheet and refrigerate it, uncovered, overnight, which lets air circulate around the meat as it dries and gives the salt time to penetrate and season the inside, instead of just sitting on the surface.Can you refrigerate salted meat?
You should always refrigerate commercial salt pork when it is not in use and you have the option to refrigerate it. While it can last up to two weeks unrefrigerated, salt pork can last for 4-5 months refrigerated and even longer frozen.Ask the Test Kitchen: How Long Will Meat Last in the Fridge?
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Answer 2
You weren't intending on removing any salt while cooking immediately, so the amount you have salted should be enough for eating it now or later.
If you're worried about being too heavy handed with the salt, you could always rinse it off and then wrap it in paper towels to dry in the fridge overnight. Or wipe it off with a paper towel.
Accurate salting overnight (not too much) should result in a better sear, as the salt draws the moisture out of the meat.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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