Bacon is a breakfast staple in many households. The crispy, salty, smoky flavor of bacon just seems to make any dish better. Hormel Black Label bacon is a popular brand of bacon that can be found in most grocery stores. But if you’ve bought a pack of Hormel Black Label bacon, you may be wondering where to locate the expiration or “use by” date.
As a long-time bacon lover and home cook, I’ve bought my fair share of Hormel Black Label bacon. Through trial and error in my own kitchen, I’ve figured out how to easily find the expiration date on packs of this popular bacon. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned so you can quickly locate the expiration date on Hormel bacon in your own fridge or when shopping.
Why Finding the Expiration Date Matters
Before jumping into where to find the expiration date on Hormel Black Label bacon, let’s review why paying attention to expiration dates matters when it comes to food safety. The expiration date tells you the last day the manufacturer recommends using or consuming the bacon for peak quality and freshness.
Eating bacon past its expiration date increases your risk of foodborne illness. Bacon can grow harmful bacteria over time, so it’s important not to use bacon that’s expired. Consuming spoiled, expired bacon that contains toxins from bacteria can cause symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
Some people may be more susceptible to foodborne illness than others. This includes young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
So clearly, paying attention to expiration dates on bacon and other foods helps avoid foodborne illness But it also ensures you get the freshest, best tasting product when cooking up this savory breakfast treat
Where to Find the Expiration Date
Now that you know why the expiration date matters when it comes to bacon, let’s discuss where to find it on packs of Hormel Black Label bacon.
Hormel prints the expiration date on the upper right corner of the front label on each package of their Black Label bacon. It will be clearly marked as the “Use By” or “Best By” date.
Here are some tips on locating it:
-
Look on the front label in the top right corner. This is where Hormel consistently prints the expiry date on their Black Label bacon packs. It will be in a large font size in this spot.
-
Check for a “Use By” or “Best By” heading. The actual expiration date will follow one of these two headings. This helps identify it as the expiry date versus other numbers printed on the label.
-
Look for it near other key info. The expiration date appears in close proximity to the product name, weight, price, barcode, and safe handling instructions
-
Make sure to check every new pack. The date will vary, so be sure to locate it on each new package of Black Label bacon you purchase.
-
Double check sides and top. Occasionally, the date may be printed on a different spot like the top or side. So do a quick double check if you don’t see it in that standard top right corner spot.
-
Watch out for lookalike numbers. Other numbers like lot codes or establishment numbers may appear on the package, so be sure to look for the “Use By” or “Best By” wording.
With a pack of Hormel Black Label bacon on hand, you can practice finding the expiration date using these simple tips. Getting in the habit of locating it each time you buy new bacon makes this important task quick and easy.
What Does Hormel’s Expiration Date Mean?
Now that you know where to find the expiration date on Hormel Black Label bacon, let’s look at what that date actually means.
Hormel’s stated expiration date indicates the last recommended day for use or consumption for maximum freshness and quality. Some key things to know:
-
It is not a safety date. The safety of the product depends on proper storage.
-
The bacon may still be safe to eat for a period after the expiration date. Use your eyes, nose, and common sense to assess.
-
The flavor and texture quality will start declining after the printed date.
-
The date is based on the product being stored properly unopened at 40°F or below.
-
Once opened, bacon should be used within 7 days for best quality.
So the Hormel expiration date is about optimal freshness and eating quality rather than absolute safety. But it’s still an important date to heed for enjoying bacon at its best.
How to Store Hormel Bacon for Freshness
To get the full shelf life out of your Hormel Black Label bacon, be sure to store it properly. Here are some bacon storage tips:
-
Keep unopened bacon in its original packaging. Don’t rewrap in plastic wrap or bags.
-
Store unopened packs in the coldest part of the refrigerator, ideally at 40°F or below. Keep away from the door where temps fluctuate.
-
If you buy in bulk, divide into smaller packs and freeze extras until ready to use.
-
Let bacon thaw in the fridge overnight vs. countertop to maintain quality.
-
Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap, bag, or container. Limit air exposure.
-
Use opened bacon within 7 days. To extend life, consider freezing in portions.
Proper refrigeration and freezing preserves freshness and slows bacteria growth. Be sure to maintain recommended fridge and freezer temps.
What to Do With Bacon Past Its Expiration
Say you find a lost pack of Hormel bacon tucked away in your fridge past its printed expiration date. Should you automatically toss it out?
If it’s just a few days past the date, the bacon is likely still safe if it was stored properly at 40°F or below. Give it a sniff test – it should not have an off or sour smell. Check the appearance – there should be no slimy texture or discoloration. Cook up a small test piece to check for off tastes. If it passes these checks, it should be fine to cook and eat.
Bacon that’s more than 1-2 weeks past its date or doesn’t pass the sight and smell tests should be discarded. Don’t risk getting sick from spoiled, old bacon.
If bacon is only slightly expired but you’re unsure about eating it, consider cooking it thoroughly until crispy to kill any possible bacteria. Use it in cooked dishes like carbonara or mac and cheese rather than eating plain.
Other Key Bacon Food Safety Tips
To wrap up, here are some other important food safety tips for handling bacon:
-
Cook bacon thoroughly until crispy to kill harmful bacteria.
-
Don’t let raw bacon or its juices touch other foods to avoid cross contamination.
-
Wash hands, utensils, dishes, and counters that have touched raw bacon.
-
Serve cooked bacon on a clean plate – not one that held the raw bacon.
-
Refrigerate cooked bacon within 2 hours and use within 4 days.
-
Discard bacon that smells bad, is slimy, or has an odd color.
So there you have it! With this guide, you should be able to easily locate the expiration date on Hormel Black Label bacon to enjoy this breakfast meat safely. Be sure to store bacon properly for maximum freshness and follow safe handling practices. Let the delicious bacon cooking commence!
More Advice From Our Experts
This article was featured in Issue VI of Inside Hormel Foods magazine. Click here to read these one-of-a-kind collections of stories, recipes, and features about our employees and the different parts of our company. They come in a beautifully designed digital viewer just for you.
Trust Your Senses
Last but not least, people who buy food should always read the directions on the package and use their best judgment.
“Use all of your senses, especially eyes, nose and touch. “If something doesn’t look, smell, or feel right, it’s better to throw it away than to have a bad experience with it,” Carlson said.
An additional way to make sure a food item is safe is to call the number on the package. “We’re here to help. People can call us, email us, or message us on social media if they have questions about a product. ” Anderson added. “We’ll have the answer. ” .
What does it all mean? This quick reference guide is a good way to figure out code dates, even though the formats may be different from one product to the next.
- Sell By Date: This date tells the store how long to keep the item on display for sale. You should buy the product before that date. You should always follow the directions on the package and use your own judgment to decide when to eat the food.
- Best by Date: This date is suggested for the best taste or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. These words are usually used for things like chips and sodas that lose their taste and texture long before they become unsafe to eat.
- Use by Date: This is the last day that the product should be used to get the most out of it. This date was set by the company that made the product.
- Date It Ends: This is the last day you can use a product. These words are often used on foods that go bad quickly, like milk and eggs. These are goods that might not be good after that date. This term is also used on infant formula, which is one of the few things the federal government makes you put an expiration date on.
- Use or Freeze By Date: Some items can be frozen to make them last longer. This date tells you the last day you can either prepare the food or freeze it. For the most part, things can be frozen for up to six months, thawed in the fridge for two to three days, and then cooked.
- Dates That Are Closed or Coded: “Closed dates” or “coded dates” are markings on the package that the maker can use. These aren’t meant to be used by consumers, so they might be hard to figure out or look like a random string of numbers and letters. Different companies use different ways to code these on packages, but these dates can sometimes tell you more, like when the product was made. Most of the time, these codes come with one of the date descriptions above. L18325: “L” stands for lot code, “18” for the year made, and “325” for the day of the year made.