What to Do with Leftover Steak That Is Too Tough

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There is no sense in tossing out leftover tough steak or even feeding it to your dog because there are so many food creations you can use it for. 

From a delicious stir fry to a yummy salad featuring steak, this article includes several recipes you can try out with leftover tough steak.

Before we delve into the recipes, though, let’s take a look at some ways you can make already-cooked, tough steak more tender.

How to Make Cooked Steak More Tender

Is your cooked steak tough and dry? Don’t worry—there are several techniques to revive leftover steak and make it more tender. 

First, cut the steak against the meat fibers to loosen the muscle fibers. Doing so makes each bite more tender and easier to chew.

Pounding the meat with a tenderizing mallet can likewise improve the texture of leftover steak. 

Many are under the impression that this only works prior to cooking steak, but this isn’t the case. Pounding leftover steak with a tenderizing mallet breaks down any tough fibers that may have developed during cooking or reheating, resulting in a softer steak.

Another way to soften up your steak is by adding marinade or a tenderizing sauce to it. 

Most marinades contain acidic liquids (such as vinegar or citrus juice) or enzymatic agents (like pineapple or papaya) that can break down tough muscle fibers. 

Let your steak marinade in the sauce for a few hours or overnight before cooking/reheating.

Adding your meat to a stew or braising it can also help it become more tender since being submerged in juices adds moisture to the steak.

7 Mouthwatering Recipes You Need to Try for Leftover Steak

Now that you know of some ways to get your tough leftover steak more tender, try out one or more of the delicious recipes below to use up that leftover meat.

Recipe 1: Steak Stir Fry

There aren’t many people in this world who don’t love a good stir fry. 

You can add your leftover steak to a skillet or wok with some veggies and soy sauce (or a different Asian-inspired sauce) and put it over rice or noodles.

My favorite combination is carrots, snow peas, mushrooms, broccoli, and onion. If you want to add a bit more crunch and flavor to the dish, include water chestnuts, yellow and red peppers, and baby corn. And don’t forget the garlic—garlic always makes stir fry a lot tastier!

One great feature of this dish is that it’s so versatile. You can use some or all of these vegetables, or think of your own recipe. 

Recipe 2: Philly Cheesesteak

You just can’t go wrong with a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Since leaving Philadelphia, it has reached all regions of the United States because it is simply that scrumptious.

There are not many ingredients to this beloved sandwich. Aside from your leftover steak, you will only need a couple of slices of provolone cheese (or any cheese you want, really), a sliced onion and green pepper, and a hoagie roll.

Want some extra heat? Include some jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes. Sriracha sauce works, too.

Caramelize the onion and green pepper slices to make them tender and add an extra burst of flavor to the sandwich. 

As far as the steak goes, you can cut it into thin pieces to stack on the hoagie roll.

Put the pepper and onion slices, as well as jalapeños, if you would like, on top of the pieces of steak, and top it all off with a couple of slices of cheese.

To melt the cheese, put the sandwich in your oven set to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about five minutes or pop it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Recipe 3: Steak Quesadillas

It’s so simple to make a quesadilla of any kind, so why not use your leftover steak for one? 

Having your steak already cooked eliminates a good deal of time from the process of putting together a quesadilla, making this an extremely quick meal to prepare.

First, cut your leftover steak into narrow strips, and roll them around in a bowl with some chili pepper and a bit of red cayenne pepper. 

Take a quarter of an onion and a jalapeño, and dice them up.

Next, throw a flour tortilla into a frying pan over medium-low heat. Add a little butter or oil to the pan beforehand to help it brown and keep it from sticking.

Add your steak strips, diced onion, and diced jalapeño to the tortilla, and then sprinkle a hefty amount of shredded chihuahua cheese on top. 

Cover the pan with a lid, and let the cheese melt for a bit.

Now, add another tortilla on top of the quesadilla. Press it down to help it stick to the cheese. Turn the quesadilla over, adding more butter to the pan before placing it down.

After both sides of the quesadilla have crisped and browned, remove it from the pan. 

Steak quesadillas go great with lettuce, sour cream, and salsa.

Recipe 4: Steak Stroganoff

Although stroganoff is best when you get the meat partially cooked in the stew, you can still easily utilize leftover steak for this recipe. While the steak is sitting in the stew, it should help it become more tender.

These are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

• 1.2 pounds of steak
• 10 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 1 sliced onion
• 2 or 3 cups sour cream
• 2 cups beef broth
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Pinch of salt and pepper

First, use a tenderizing mallet to pound your leftover steak as flat as possible before cutting it into strips. Using the mallet will help soften up the tough meat.

Next, heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it has melted, add the diced onion and cook it for a minute or so.

Add the sliced mushrooms and cook them until they are a nice golden color. Then, put flour in the pan and stir the mixture for about a minute. Continue stirring while you add half of the beef broth, then gradually whisk in the remaining broth. 

To add a touch of tang and creaminess, stir in Dijon mustard and sour cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low to gently cook the flavors together.

After about three to five minutes have passed, the mixture should have thickened up to the consistency you need it to be. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper to taste, and add your leftover steak to the mixture.

Let the mixture simmer for a minute, and then remove it from the heat right away. 

Your beef stroganoff is now ready to eat!

You can pick up a type of short noodle, such as egg noodles, or whip up a couple servings of mashed potatoes to put the stroganoff on top of. You can also sprinkle freshly chopped chives over your meal.

Recipe 5: Hearty Stew with Steak

Although many people opt to buy meat that is specifically for stew, you can just as easily use your leftover steak to make this hearty dish.

He’s what you’ll need:

• 2 pounds of leftover steak
• 8 ounces halved mushrooms
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 diced celery ribs
• 2 diced carrots
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 diced onion
• 1 russet potato, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2-1/2 cups beef stock
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Heat up the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat on the stovetop.

Add the onion, celery, and carrots, and stir every so often for three or four minutes until vegetables have browned.

Next, add the garlic and mushrooms. Stir the vegetables until the two newly added ingredients have browned for another three or four minutes.

After that, use a whisk to stir in the tomato paste and flour. Stir the mixture for a minute or so.

Add the red wine, making sure to scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pot. Put the bay leaves, beef stock, and thyme, and bring it to a boil after combining the ingredients.

Once boiling, lower the heat to get the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for a half hour.

Next, add the potato chunks and steak strips into the mixture, and let it simmer until the potato pieces have become tender and the stew’s juices have thickened up. This should take around 20 minutes.

Finally, remove the thyme and bay leaves, add the parsley and any salt and pepper you would like to add, and enjoy your hearty stew with steak.

Recipe 6: Steak and Egg Breakfast Hash

You can create an absolutely delicious breakfast hash with leftover tough steak. It’s just as good—if not better—than the hash you’ll find at breakfast diners!

Here are the ingredients:

• 1 pound of leftover steak
• 4 eggs
• 2 chopped and peeled Russet potatoes
• 1 chopped red bell pepper
• 2 cups sliced white mushrooms
• 1/2 of a yellow onion
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• Pinch of salt and pepper

Put your chopped potatoes into a medium-sized pot. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the potatoes.

Bring the water to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. 

Once tender, take the potatoes out of the pot, set them aside to cool off, and pour the water from the pot.

Then, take a big iron skillet and place it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add the onions, red peppers, and mushrooms to the skillet, and cook the food until the mushrooms have softened. This should take about five or six minutes.

After that, add the cooled potatoes, the smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper to the mix. Cook the food for five minutes until the potatoes begin to turn brown.

Next, cut your leftover steak into cubes about an inch in size, making your cuts against the grain of the meat to help make it more tender. 

Cook the food for a few more minutes, making sure your steak gets warmed up.

One way to warm up the leftover steak faster is by leaving it out of the fridge for about 30 minutes before heating it. This will help you avoid burning the vegetables while you wait for the steak to get warm.

As your hash sizzles in the skillet, use the back of a spoon to create four wells. Gently crack an egg into each well, letting the yolk settle in. Sprinkle a touch of salt and pepper over each egg and season to taste.

Put the lid on the skillet and let the hash cook until your eggs are done to your preference. This should take between four to seven minutes.

Recipe 7: Salad with Steak

One way you can incorporate your leftover tough steak into something healthy is by using it in a salad.

To create a salad that is fresh and full of flavor, use arugula and spinach as the base and top it with strips of your leftover steak. 

Then add cherry tomatoes cut in half to get juices flowing onto your salad, sliced cucumbers, and chunks of avocado. The avocado adds a creamy texture to the salad.

For the dressing, balsamic vinegar is the perfect choice as it works well in combination with the salad’s ingredients. However, feel free to get creative with both the dressing and vegetables you use.

No matter what you opt for in the salad, since steak is involved, you probably can’t go wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is leftover steak good for?

According to the USDA, leftover steak is safe to use for three to four days if kept refrigerated. In the freezer, it can last up to six months but it’ll dry over time so it won’t taste as good as when it was fresh or stored in the refrigerator.

How do you properly store leftover steak?

To properly store leftover steak, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or place it in an airtight container. Then, store it in the refrigerator at 40°F or below to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.

Can I freeze leftover steak marinade along with the meat?

Absolutely! In fact, I recommend you do so. Freezing leftover steak marinade along with the meat is a convenient way to preserve both the flavor and moisture of the steak. When it’s time to reheat, the steak will remain juicy and flavorful. 

Final Thoughts

Using your tough leftover steak is easy and incredibly delicious. 

You might even find yourself wishing you had more leftover steak all the time after trying out the recipes in this article! 

Just remember to use up your leftover steak within three to four days to make sure it’s safe to eat. 

Bon appétit!

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