How to Reheat Tri Tip? 

Tri-tip is one of my favorite beef cuts for most BBQ occasions. It’s tender, juicy, and pretty inexpensive, compared to other beef cuts! So, I tend to purchase several tri-tip cuts for a BBQ event and end up with leftovers. 

If you also end up with tri-tip leftovers, the best option is to store it well and reheat it on the next day. I’m sure none of us mind eating tri-tip even the next day!

There are many ways to reheat tri-tip without making it dry or flavorless. You can use an oven, grill, air fryer, or microwave. You can also opt for the classic sous vide method. 

In this guide, I’ve discussed some of the best methods to reheat tri-tip!

Can You Reheat Leftover Tri Tip?

Reheating meat is always a controversial topic. It is because if the temperature is too low or too high, meat can often become a hotspot for bacterial growth. 

Hence, the United States Department of Agriculture considers any temperature between 40 °F and 140 °F as the “Danger Zone”. 

Now, if you’ve stored the tri-tip steak in proper temperature conditions (below 40 °F), you can reheat it again for safe consumption. 

On the other hand, if you kept the tri-tip steak out (at room temperature) for more than two hours, you should throw it away, unless you want food poisoning! 

You should also avoid reheating or consuming leftover tri-tip or any cooked beef three to four days after storing it. 

Signs of a Stale Tri Tip

Before you reheat the tri-tip, you should always ensure that the tri tip steak hasn’t gone stale. There are some signs to check whether your cooked tri-tip is safe to eat or not. 

Category	Fresh Cooked Tri Tip	Stale Cooked Tri Tip
Appearance	Has the original appearance with no major change in color, or signs of mold formation	May have greenish-yellow mold formations, or brown coloration
Smell	Gives out a smoky and fresh smell	Generally has a sour, pungent, and acidic smell
Texture	Has a dry or original texture	Has a slimy or abnormally moist texture
Days Past Cooking	Usually 3-4 days	Usually more than 4 days

If you notice any signs of stale tri-tip, simply discard it. 

Best Ways to Reheat Tri Tip

There are some obvious disadvantages of reheating tri-tip – it may become dry, or lose some of its original flavors. With the below-mentioned methods, you can significantly reduce the dryness and loss of flavors.

Note that you should only reheat tri-tip once, as frequent reheating may cause the steak to lose its flavor and even staleness.

1. Sous Vide – The Best Way to Reheat Tri-Tip

If you’re not in a rush, I highly recommend using the sous vide method to reheat the meat. This method ensures that your tri-tip remains moist, and also gets warmed up. 

The reheating process is simple, but a little time-consuming. So, I only suggest following this method when you’ve spare time on your hands to get the best results. 

Instructions: 

1. First, place the meat in a vacuum-sealed bag.
2. Next, remove any air from it. 
3. Then, take a saucepan and place it on the stove. 
4. Take another pot and fill half of it with water, and place it in the saucepan. 
5. Keep your vacuum-sealed bag inside the pot, and let the tri-tip roast warm up. 
6. Ensure that you set the stove to medium heat, and allow the tri-tip to warm for at least 40 to 50 minutes. 

Pros: 

• Keeps your tri-tip moist 
• Won’t burn the outside areas 
• Warms up the insides perfectly 

Cons: 

• Requires a lot of time 
• Needs extra utensils 

2. Using an Oven – The Most Convenient 

If you’re looking for a convenient option that will also keep your tri-tip flavorful, using the oven is the way to go. It’s not as time-consuming as the sous-vide method, and will also keep the flavors intact. 

The only problem? Well, I’ve noticed that the oven tends to dry out the meat. You’ll have to take some extra measures to avoid that. 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to a low temperature, around 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Take a baking tray, and fill it with water. Place it below the roasting rack. 
3. Keep your tri-tip in the oven on the roasting rack, and wait for about 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Use a food thermometer to check whether the internal temperature is around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 
5. Remove the tri-tip once the internal temperature of the meat reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros: 

• Quick and convenient 
• No need for additional utensils 

Cons: 

• May dry up the meat, if you don’t keep a baking tray with water. 

3. Using a Grill – For Smoky Flavor 

If you want to keep the smoky flavor of your tri-tip or just want to enhance it, grilling will give you the best results. This approach may take some time but prevents the tri-tip from drying. 

Instructions: 

1. First, cut two layers of aluminum foil. 
2. Next, wrap the meat with aluminum foil. This step is essential to prevent the tri-tip from losing moisture. 
3. Then, place it on the grill. 
4. Go for indirect grilling, as that’d prevent the tri-tip from drying or charring. 
5. Use a thermometer to check the tri-tip’s internal temperature (around 140 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal).  
6. You can also check for doneness, and remove it from the grill. 

Pros: 

• Retains the original flavor of the tri-tip
• Keeps the crispy outer layer to some extent 
• Imparts a smokiness to the steak 

Cons: 

• May cause drying or charring 
• Requires constant attention 

4. Using a Microwave – The Quickest Method

Microwave is my go-to option for reheating tri-tip on my busy or lazy days. However, note that it isn’t the best approach out there. 

Reheating your tri-tip in the microwave can make it lose its texture and flavor. 

You’ll have to take additional care unless you want to be stuck with a dry and chewy piece of meat! So, I suggest placing a damp paper towel on the tri-tip before reheating it in the microwave. 

Instructions: 

1. First, keep your tri-tip on a microwave-safe plate. 
2. Keep a damp paper towel on the tri-tip to retain moisture. 
3. Microwave the meat in 30-second intervals. 
4. After every 30 seconds, flip around the tri-tip for even heating. 
5. Continue doing this for 90 to 120 seconds. 

Pros: 

• The quickest option to reheat tri-tip

Cons: 

• Uneven heating, if not flipped
• Requires constant attention 
• May cause drying

5. Using a Stovetop – For Extra Flavors 

If you don’t have any kitchen equipment like a microwave or oven, you can always go for a stovetop. 

The only drawback is that you’ll need to have additional sauces ready to cook the tri-tip in it. Simply heating the tri-tip on the stovetop isn’t ideal, and may cause it to lose flavor and texture. 

Instructions: 

1. Take a saucepan, and add half a cup of gravy or broth. 
2. Set the stove to medium heat, and place the saucepan on it. 
3. Once the sauce starts boiling, add your tri-tip to it. 
4. Cover the saucepan with a lid. 
5. Flip the tri-tip in 15-minute intervals. 
6. Let the tri-tip cook for 30 to 40 minutes.

Pros: 

• Best for people who don’t have additional kitchen equipment. 
• Adds flavor to the tri-tip. 

Cons: 

• Requires time
• May require additional prep for the sauce 

6. Using an Air Fryer – Quick Alternative to Microwave

If you’re more comfortable with an air fryer than a microwave, go for this method. It’s equally quick and hassle-free. 

Again, there’s a risk of drying out the meat. So, ensure that you reheat the tri-tip quickly. 

Instructions: 

1. First, keep the air fryer’s temperature around 370 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Next, place your tri-tip on the frying tray. 
3. Let the tri-tip heat in 3-minute intervals and flip it around.
4. Remove the tri-tip once it has reached the internal temperature (around 140 degrees Fahrenheit).

Pros: 

• Quick method 
• Alternative to microwave 

Cons: 

• Requires your attention 
• Not as effective as other methods 

How to Store Tri Tip Correctly?

If you want to have a juicy and moist tri-tip even after reheating it, I also recommend storing it correctly. So, here are some of the best tips I’ve found to store tri-tip correctly.  

• Wrap the meat in a vacuum sealer or freezer paper. 
• Add some cooking juices to the tri-tip. 
• Use a heavy freezer bag to store all the pieces together. 
• Consider keeping the tri-tip on the refrigerator’s bottom shelf. 
• Provide enough space around the freezer bag. 
• For defrosting, place your tri-tip in the fridge, and let it thaw overnight or for 24 hours. 

Final Thoughts

Tri-tip is one of the most flavorful cuts. Hence, it is a crime to reheat it improperly, and make it lose all its delicious flavors! 

If you’ve some time and want to go for the perfect method to reheat tri-tip, go for sous vide. Else, you can also go for an oven, grill, or stovetop. However, if you’re short on time, microwave and air-fryer are the best options. 

Related Questions

How long can you eat leftover tri-tip?

You can eat leftover tri-tip for three to four days, as long as you stored it properly in less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit conditions. 

Can you eat leftover tri-tip cold?

You can eat leftover and cold tri-tip if it wasn’t exposed to the danger zone (temperature between 40°F and 140°F) for more than two hours. Note that you may not get the original flavor and texture if you eat it cold.