temperature to store roast beef
1 Use cooked beef within 2 hoursâ1 hour if the air temperature is above 90 Â°F (32.2 Â°C) or refrigerate it at 40 Â°F (4.4 Â°C) in shallow, covered containers. 2  Eat within 3 to 4 days, either cold or reheated to 165 Â°F (73.9 Â°C)--hot and steaming.3  It is safe to freeze ready-prepared beef dishes. To defrost beef in cold water, do not remove packaging. 2  Be sure the package is airtight or put it into a leakproof bag. 3  Submerge the beef in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes so that it continues to thaw. 4  Small packages of beef may defrost in an hour or less; a 3- to 4-pound roast may take 2 to 3 hours.