As a food retailer, Omaha Steaks International markets and distributes a variety of steaks and prepared foods for their customers. They source great-tasting steaks from ranches in the state of Nebraska.
These steaks are known to be thicker and juicier, and people use the food retailer because they find that the quality is better than what their regular supermarket offers.
The steaks are sold as “flash frozen,” meaning that they are vacuum sealed to stop the rapid aging of the meat.
In fact, the juicy, flavorsome steaks are cut by butchers and then aged for 21 days before they are flash-frozen.
Although Omaha Steaks International guarantees their steak’s freshness for 3 months in the deep freeze, flash-frozen meat can actually be kept in the freezer for up to 2 years.
When you buy Omaha steaks, you’re getting a deliciously tender cut of meat. To make the most of these steaks, proper storage and thawing is required. Omaha steaks in vacuum-sealed plastic make freezer storage simpler.
Also, on the back of the packaging, the company provides detailed instructions on storage and cooking. The Omaha company’s juicy steaks will always prove to be delicious if they are prepared the right way.
They say that you can cook your steaks even while they are frozen, but you won’t get the best results.
How Long Are Omaha Steaks Good For, Once Thawed?
Allow steaks to thaw at a safe temperature
You can safely leave your Omaha steaks in your regular refrigerator for 3 or 4 days before cooking if you remove them from the deep freeze and allow them to thaw. The whole idea behind defrosting steaks in the fridge is that your steaks thaw at a safe temperature.
Omaha steaks should always taste like they were cooked with great ingredients by you.
Let’s take a look at how you would go about getting your Omaha steaks ready once they have thawed:
- Thaw your steaks in the refrigerator.
- Marinate your steak for an hour before cooking.
- Choose your cooking methods, such as baking, frying, or grilling.
- Once the steak’s juices have bubbled up, turn it over to cook on the other side. A good guide is to cook your steak to 145- to 160°F for food-safety purposes. For a rare steak, Omaha suggests 120 to 125°.
- Remove your Omaha steak from the heat and allow it to rest for a short while, allowing the juices to be absorbed back into the steak. This guarantees its juiciness.
So, once your steaks have thawed, you need to know how quickly you have to prepare them. The cool part about Omaha steaks is that each one is individually wrapped. You can take out just what you need without having to thaw the entire package of steaks.
Other ways to thaw Omaha steaks
Some people are impatient, especially if their friends announce that they are coming over when least expected. They want to quickly thaw the steaks in cool water or the microwave. In that case, the steaks shouldn’t be left standing but should be cooked immediately.
- Microwave thawing
True, your microwave probably has a defrost setting, which can be helpful when you need to defrost meat quickly. It isn’t the recommended method, though, as defrosting frozen Omaha steak in the microwave can dry the meat out and strip it of its juices.
Your steak is then tougher than what it should be. If you just have to use the microwave, check your steak often to make sure it’s thawing and not cooking.
After microwaving, you should immediately cook your steak. This is because meat that has been warmed up is vulnerable to harmful bacteria settling in, and cooking it immediately can destroy the bacteria.
- Submerging steaks in cold water
It’s important to always keep your steak at safe temperatures as it thaws. This is to prevent that fast-growing bacteria, which can make you seriously ill.
To defrost steaks faster than you can in the fridge, as suggested already, you can submerge your steaks in cold water, keeping them in their vacuum-sealed packaging.
The water needs to remain constantly cold, but the meat will thaw. This thawing method isn’t the best if you’re in a hurry to prepare your steaks.
This cold water method can take a few hours, depending on the thickness of your steaks. Cook the steaks immediately after this method of thawing.
- Your fridge – the BEST way to thaw Omaha steaks
The best way to defrost your Omaha steaks is to leave them in their vacuum-sealed packaging, and allow them between 12 and 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.
Once your steak has been in the fridge for 12 hours, test it by prodding it a bit. The meat should be firm and have no iciness. Some people swear by a kitchen thermometer, and they place one into the thickest part of the steak.
The danger zone is above 5°C, and if the temperature is 4°C or below, then you can go ahead with the preparation of your steak.
You can’t afford to make a mistake with thawing steak
Steak is such a delicious treat, and you can’t afford to make a mistake with thawing and cooking it. So when all is said and done, the trick to thawing your Omaha steak is to know how to keep the meat at safe temperatures as it thaws.
It just happens that the safest way to thaw your steak is also the slowest way – in the refrigerator. After thawing for 12 to 24 hours, cooking must follow soon after.
Thawing in the refrigerator will keep the steak at a temperature that prevents bacteria growth, while also ensuring that the taste and texture of the steak are soft, tasty, and everything you expect from an Omaha steak.