Can You Eat Turkey Bacon After the Expiration Date? A Complete Guide

Turkey bacon has become a popular lower-fat alternative to regular pork bacon. But with any meat product, paying attention to expiration dates is crucial for safety Can you still eat turkey bacon after it expires?

While the “sell by” date is not always a firm expiration date it does offer a helpful guideline for maximum freshness and quality. For optimal flavor and food safety it’s best to cook or freeze turkey bacon before its expiration date. However, turkey bacon may still be safe for a short period past its date if properly stored.

This guide covers everything you need to know about turkey bacon expiration dates, signs of spoilage, food safety, and how to get the longest shelf life out of your turkey bacon

Do Expiration Dates on Turkey Bacon Matter?

The expiration date on a package of raw turkey bacon indicates the last date it should be sold by or consumed by for peak freshness. This date is set by the manufacturer based on rigorous lab testing.

While not technically an expiration date, the sell by or use by date is an important benchmark for safety and quality. Turkey bacon is generally still safe to eat for a period after that date, but its texture and flavor will deteriorate over time.

Even though you don’t have to throw away turkey bacon at midnight when the date runs out, expiration dates help you know when to eat it so it tastes its best.

How Long Does Turkey Bacon Last After the Sell By Date?

With proper refrigeration below 40°F, unopened raw turkey bacon maintains top quality for about:

• 7 to 14 days past the sell by date.

Once opened, turkey bacon lasts for:

• 3 to 5 days past the sell by date.

The fridge life depends on storage conditions. If continuously refrigerated, unopened turkey bacon can sometimes last for several weeks past the sell by date before any noticeable decline in flavor or texture.

But for peak freshness and flavor, cook or freeze turkey bacon by its expiration date. Don’t go more than 2 weeks past the date marked on the package.

Signs Turkey Bacon Has Expired

Use your senses as well as the calendar to tell if your turkey bacon has gone bad. Look for these signs that turkey bacon has spoiled and should be discarded:

• Slimy or sticky texture
• Grayish or greenish color
• Rancid or unpleasant smell
• Mold growth
• Dry, cracked appearance

Trust your nose and eyes along with adhering to turkey bacon expiration dates. If in doubt, throw it out. Harmful bacteria can grow even without noticeable changes.

Can You Eat Expired Turkey Bacon if Unopened?

Unopened, properly refrigerated turkey bacon is generally safe for some time after its sell by date, though quality declines over time.

Within 1-2 weeks past the date on the package, it should retain good color and texture if continuously refrigerated below 40°F. But expired turkey bacon runs a higher risk of harboring harmful bacteria.

For the best flavor and food safety, cook or freeze turkey bacon by the expiration date whenever possible. Don’t go more than 2 weeks past the sell by date, even if refrigerated at all times.

Is It Safe to Eat Expired Cooked Turkey Bacon?

Once cooked, turkey bacon has a shorter shelf life and higher risk of harboring bacteria, even when refrigerated:

• Cooked turkey bacon only lasts 3-4 days past the sell by date.

The high salt and low moisture content of bacon helps prevent bacteria growth. But over time, cooked bacon is more prone to growing mold or pathogens, especially if not promptly refrigerated.

Leftover cooked turkey bacon also loses quality quickly. For maximum safety and freshness, consume leftover cooked turkey bacon within 3-4 days and don’t keep any expired cooked bacon.

Tips for Storing Turkey Bacon to Maximize Freshness

Proper storage is key to getting the longest safe shelf life from turkey bacon:

• Refrigerate unopened turkey bacon promptly, always below 40°F.

• Keep the original packaging intact to block oxygen. Re-wrap tightly if opened.

• Store opened packages wrapped in plastic wrap or foil to prevent drying out.

• Use oldest packages first and check expiration dates before use.

• Freeze extra turkey bacon if you won’t use it within a week.

With optimal refrigeration, unopened turkey bacon lasts 1-2 weeks past its date, but don’t exceed this limit. Discard any turkey bacon over 2 weeks past its sell by date.

Can You Freeze Expired Turkey Bacon?

Freezing can safely prolong the shelf life of turkey bacon, but only if it has not already expired. Turkey bacon that has passed its sell by date should not be frozen but discarded.

For best results:

• Freeze turkey bacon by the sell by date for optimal freshness.

• Portion turkey bacon slices into freezer bags or airtight containers.

• Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.

• Label with contents and freeze date. Use within 2 months for best quality.

Freezing stops bacteria growth and decomposition that makes expired meat unsafe. But freezing cannot reverse spoilage if turkey bacon is already expired.

What to Check Before Cooking Expired Turkey Bacon

If you want to test cooking turkey bacon that’s slightly expired, check the following:

• Give it a sniff test – discard any bacon with rancid or off odors.

• Inspect texture and color – discard turkey bacon that’s sticky, slimy, or discolored.

• Double check for visible mold – this requires tossing the bacon.

• Cook thoroughly – fry or bake until crispy to kill any germs.

• If in doubt, throw it out! Don’t risk getting sick from expired bacon.

While not recommended, thoroughly cooked expired turkey bacon presents a lower safety risk than eating it raw when over the sell by date. But your best bet is to just discard turkey bacon more than 2 weeks past its date.

Frequently Asked Questions About Expired Turkey Bacon

Here are answers to some common questions about outdated turkey bacon:

How long does unopened turkey bacon last in the fridge? Up to 2 weeks past the sell by date if kept below 40°F at all times.

Can you get food poisoning from expired turkey bacon? Yes, bacteria like salmonella can grow even without noticeable spoilage signs.

Should you rinse turkey bacon before cooking? Washing raw turkey bacon can increase bacteria spread. Cook thoroughly to a safe temperature instead.

Can you eat turkey bacon a month past its date if sealed? No, don’t use turkey bacon more than 1-2 weeks past its sell by date, even if refrigerated and unopened.

What happens if you freeze, thaw, then refreeze turkey bacon? Refreezing thawed turkey bacon can decrease texture and flavor quality. Only refreeze unthawed turkey bacon.

Can you microwave expired turkey bacon to kill bacteria? Thorough cooking kills some germs but does not make spoiled bacon safe to eat. Discard expired turkey bacon.

The Bottom Line

For safety and quality, stick to the expiration dates on turkey bacon packages. While unopened turkey bacon may last 1-2 weeks past its sell by date if refrigerated properly, don’t go longer than that.

Check for signs of spoilage and reheat thoroughly. But your safest bet is cooking or freezing turkey bacon by the marked sell by or use by date for maximum freshness and taste.