How Long Does Raw Steak Last in the Refrigerator?

We did a five-day shelf life test in the refrigerator.

The two test subjects were a:

1. Steak bought from the butcher counter wrapped in plastic and then sealed with butcher paper and a rubber band
2. A Pre® vacuum-sealed steak

Each went into the refrigerator for 5 days. Watch to see what we discovered and why we choose to keep our beef airtight and vacuum-sealed. 

Raw steak can last anywhere from 2 days to two weeks in your refrigerator. It all depends on how it is packaged. 

From the butcher counter, steaks may be wrapped in plastic wrap and butcher paper, and then sealed with a rubber band or tape. Often these steaks have been sitting in the meat case exposed to oxygen throughout the day. 

The presence of oxygen results in a bright red color in beef.The reason why beef at the meat counter is usually bright red instead of a deep red or purple is that it's in constant contact with oxygen. 

Next to your grocery store’s butcher counter is the pre-packaged meat section. Here you’ll find meat that is vacuum-sealed. When a steak is vacuum-sealed, oxygen is removed, which is why it is not bright red but a deep red or purple.The seal keeps oxygen out of the package, which equals a longer shelf life. 

Our beef at Pre® is vacuum-sealed. We chose to vacuum seal our meat to preserve freshness for our consumers. The cardboard backing on our packaging is 100% recyclable and the film we use is free of synthetic chemicals. In addition, we never use nitrate film to enhance meat color or gasses to extend shelf life – vacuum sealing works just fine.