Can You Freeze Cooked Beef Tenderloin?

Yes. Freeze cooked beef tenderloin within 3 to 4 days of cooking, and use it within about 2 to 3 months for the best quality. The challenge is reheating it without overcooking, so reheat it gently, or serve it cold.

How to freeze it

  1. Cool it and refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking.
  2. Leave it whole or in large pieces if you want to reheat it. Slices dry out faster. Slice it before freezing if you’ll serve it cold.
  3. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then foil or a freezer bag, or vacuum-seal it.
  4. Freeze any juices or sauce separately, then label everything with the date.

Thawing and reheating

  • Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
  • Reheat it gently: in a covered dish with a splash of stock at 250 to 275°F (120 to 135°C) until just warmed through. Or slice it thinly and pour hot sauce or gravy over it.
  • Or serve it cold, thinly sliced, in sandwiches or salads with horseradish sauce.

Medium-rare tenderloin will cook further as it reheats, so expect it to come out a little more done.

How long does it keep in the fridge?

3 to 4 days, wrapped. That’s the same as other cooked meat leftovers.

Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Leftovers and Food Safety; FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (cooked meat leftovers: 3 to 4 days in the fridge, 2 to 6 months in the freezer).