Letting your steak rest after cooking is critical to preserving its tenderness and flavor.

The temperature of the meat will slowly decrease and retain all its juiciness, allowing you to enjoy a perfectly sliced and tasty steak. However, letting your steak sit out too long can result in a cold piece of meat.

You can always reheat the steak, but it won’t have the same impact as if it was fresh out of the oven or grill. Here are some helpful tips to keep your steak nice and warm while resting. 

How do you keep a steak from getting cold while resting?

Rest the steak on a warm plate

You can warm up a heat-proof plate in the microwave for one minute before transferring your freshly cooked steak onto it.

If you do not have a microwave, you can use your oven to heat your plate on the lowest setting for a few minutes before taking it out and resting your steak on it.

Allowing the steak to rest on a warm plate is an easy way to minimize heat loss. You’ll be able to enjoy your steak without needing to reheat it in the oven again. 

Tent with foil

If you would rather not leave your steak exposed, try covering it with aluminum foil.

Create a “tent” by loosely laying a sheet of aluminum foil over the steak, leaving some space between the meat and the foil for the steam to vent.

You can also poke or tear a small hole in the center of the foil for better steam ventilation. Avoid covering the steak completely or too tightly if you wish to preserve the steak’s tenderness and crust.

Wrapping up your hot steak entirely in foil will trap in all the excess heat, leaving you with tough and overcooked meat. 

Where you should place the steak

When you are finished cooking, it is important to consider an optimal surface for letting your steak rest. After taking the steak off the grill or out of the oven, you can transfer it onto a warm plate, tray, or even a cutting board before putting a foil tent over it.

You can also rest the steaks on a wire rack. 

Will my steak get cold if I let it rest?

There is no need to wait a very long time for the steak to rest.

You only need to let it rest for 5-10 minutes for it to reach a good internal temperature. As long as you follow the tips listed above, your steak should remain warm enough to eat. 

Temperature to let the steak rest to

The ideal temperature for a resting steak to come down to is 120°F (49°C) at its center.

Depending on the cut and thickness of the steak, letting it rest for at least 5-10 minutes will allow it to reach the right temperature and retain its juices.

Having a meat thermometer will come in handy here. Use the thermometer to check the temperature of your steak after it has been resting for five minutes. If it has not come down to the right temperature, wait another 3-5 minutes before checking again.

All of the juices should remain in the steak once you finally cut into it. 

Final thoughts

You can cook the most wonderfully delicious steak, but if you do not let it rest properly, all of your efforts will be wasted.

It is crucial to allow the meat ample time to cool and keep its flavor. With these methods, you can prevent the steak from getting cold while resting. Now you can enjoy your warm and succulent steak!