How long does steak last?
In the fridge, steak keeps for 3 to 5 days from the package date. All 2 kinds are below.
Where these times come from. USDA FoodKeeper has no entry named "steak". The 2 kinds on this page are the USDA entries that cover steak, copied without change from Beef and Lamb. Each row in the table is one USDA entry; pick the one that matches what you have.
No guideline
3 to 5 days
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beef steaks | no guideline | 3 to 5 days | no guideline | 4 to 12 months |
| lamb leg steaks | no guideline | 3 to 5 days | no guideline | 4 to 12 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Does steak go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, steak may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell steak has gone bad
- Fresh beef is bright cherry-red on the surface. The inside of ground beef is often greyish-brown because oxygen has not reached it, and USDA says that is normal.
- After about 5 days in the fridge beef may turn brown throughout. Brown beef that also smells off or feels tacky to the touch has spoiled and should not be used.
- A sticky, tacky or slimy surface, or a sour or off odour, means spoilage bacteria have grown. Throw it out.
- Ground beef keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, steaks and roasts 3 to 5 days, and cooked beef 3 to 4 days.
Sources: Ground Beef and Food Safety (USDA FSIS); Beef from Farm to Table (USDA FSIS); The Color of Meat and Poultry (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other meat: fresh last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.