Just like any food, bacon can quickly get spoiled if it is not stored properly. It must be discarded right away if it has passed its expiration date (indicated on the package).
Bacon’s shelf life depends on a lot of things, like the type, how it’s stored, and whether it’s been opened or cooked. Youll notice that most varieties have a sell-by date printed right on the package.
To be clear, this date doesn’t always show how long bacon can be used and eaten without getting sick. It may simply mean the date till which bacon can be kept on the shelves for sale.
Can You Eat Bacon After the Use By Date?
Bacon lovers rejoice! Most bacon can be safely consumed even after passing its use by date as long as it was properly stored. But how can you tell if that pack hiding in the back of your fridge is still good to eat?
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about eating bacon after its use by date. You’ll learn:
- The different types of food expiration dates
- Safety risks of eating expired bacon
- How to check if bacon is spoiled
- Proper storage to maximize shelf life
- Creative ways to use up bacon past its prime
Follow these tips to stop needlessly tossing bacon and enjoy every delicious bite without regret!
Decoding Expiration Dates on Bacon Packaging
Before determining if post-dated bacon is safe, it helps to understand what those stamped numbers really mean.
There are two main kinds of expiration dates:
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“Sell By” dates are for retailers to know when a product will reach peak freshness. Bacon can still be consumed 1 week after this date if properly stored.
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“Use By” dates indicate the final day the manufacturer recommends eating the bacon for flavor and safety.
The use by date is the one to pay closest attention to. But even bacon a few days past this date typically just loses some freshness rather than becoming unsafe.
Assessing Safety Risks of Eating Expired Bacon
Eating bacon past its use by date comes with some safety risks to consider:
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Increased risk of foodborne illness if bacteria grows. Properly frozen bacon stays safe much longer.
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Off-flavors develop as fats oxidize and rancidity increases.
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Nitrates added as preservatives can break down into carcinogens over time.
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Salt content makes it difficult for dangerous bacteria like E. coli to grow, but mold is still possible.
For highest safety, it’s ideal to cook or freeze bacon by its use by date. But you can minimize risks by properly assessing bacon freshness before cooking.
Checking Your Bacon for Freshness
Since bacon can look and smell fine even when expired, here are some ways to discern if it’s still fresh:
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Check the color. Grayish hues or dark spots indicate spoilage.
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Give it a sniff test. Rancid or sour odors mean throw it out.
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Feel the texture. Dry, slimy, or sticky bacon is well past its prime.
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Look for glossiness. A slick sheen or wetness shows bacterial growth.
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Watch for mold. Fuzzy spots mean the bacon has spoiled.
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Consider the fat color. If it looks yellowish rather than white, discard the bacon.
If in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe than sorry. But bacon that looks, smells, and feels normal can be cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria.
Maximizing Bacon Shelf Life Through Proper Storage
Storing bacon correctly helps extend its shelf life and reduce safety risks:
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Keep it refrigerated at 40°F or below. Freezing at 0°F is ideal for long-term storage.
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Leave bacon in its original packaging until ready to use. Reseal packages tightly.
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Place bacon on a shelf or meat compartment rather than the door where temperature fluctuates.
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Cook or freeze bacon within 5-7 days of opening the package.
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Let bacon thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking frozen bacon. Don’t microwave frozen bacon.
Proper refrigeration and minimal air exposure keeps bacon fresher for longer. Following these guidelines allows enjoying bacon up to a week past its printed use by date.
Creative Ways to Use Up Post-Dated Bacon
If your bacon is past its prime, try these creative ways to use it up:
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Make bacon bits. Crisp it up in the oven then crumble over salads, baked potatoes, or pasta.
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Chop it into pieces to add smoky flavor to soups, beans, and Brussels sprouts.
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Mix crumbled bacon into ground beef or turkey for juicy burgers.
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Toss it in the food processor to make bacon salt, a tasty popcorn or veggie topper.
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Whip up a carbonara pasta sauce using bacon, eggs, cheese, and pepper.
With some inspiration, you can transform bacon lingering past its date into something delicious!
The Bottom Line
Thanks to its high salt content, bacon can typically last a week past its printed use by date if it looks and smells normal. For optimal safety, freeze bacon by this date and thaw overnight before cooking. With proper storage and close inspection before eating, expired bacon doesn’t have to go to waste. Just be sure to cook it thoroughly and use your best judgment to reduce foodborne illness risks.
Can you get food poisoning from tainted bacon?
The U. S. The Department of Agriculture has rules that say food cooked at 40 degrees can only be kept for a short time, about two hours. Bacteria will begin to grow and spread on it after this period.
Food poisoning can occur after consuming tainted food. To avoid unfavorable circumstances, you should adhere to the standard guidelines for cooked bacon.
Bacon that has been used up after a meal should be put in the fridge instead of being left out at room temperature. Additionally, leaving bacon outside the refrigerator will alter the texture from the start. It will lose its freshness and turn chewy.
How will I know if bacon has gone bad?
A general guideline is provided by the expiration date printed on a package of unopened bacon. The date usually serves as a reliable guide for when to use fresh meat products. The printed date on the original package is no longer useful information, though, if the sealed package is broken or stored in less-than-ideal conditions.
- If the bacon smells bad, changes color, or feels slimy, it’s probably going bad. If you’re not sure, throw it away.
- Bacon may go bad if it is left out at room temperature or in the fridge for too long. So, when you buy bacon or bacon that has already been cooked, look at how dry or wet it looks.
- Check how much moisture is still present on the surface. If the bacon looks slimy and smells bad, you know it’s gone bad.
- The meats color should also be noted. Spoiled meats are darker in color.
Four common signs of bad bacon include:
- Dryness
- Sour smell
- Dark brownish-red color
- Smell like rotten eggs
Sometimes, overnight storage of cooked bacon is possible without it spoiling. Although its not always the case, you should double-check. Its very simple to identify spoiled cooked bacon. To tell if bacon is bad, you can use your gut, your sense of smell, or your sense of touch.
- Smell: Cooked bacon that has gone bad has a smell that is both unpleasant and reminiscent of rotten chicken.
- Color: Bacon strips that have gone bad will turn a gray or green color. Mold or spots of black and white will sometimes show up on the surface.
- Feel: The slimy feel is another sign that the bacon isn’t good.
- When you pick up raw bacon, it should feel sticky because it is made of raw meat. However, raw bacon shouldnt feel slimy.
- If your hands have a white film from being too wet when you put the slice down, it is too late. The bacon already has bacteria on it that will make you sick and could even give you food poisoning.
- The smell of bacon, which can be very sour and bitter, can help you tell if it is bad. When it’s cold, raw meat shouldn’t smell like meat.
- If you don’t cook the bacon right away, it will turn blue, green, and sometimes even gray brown. If you take the bacon out of the package and see any of these colors, throw it away and wash your hands.
Can You Use Bacon After Use By Date?
FAQ
How long can you use bacon after use by date?
How can you tell if bacon has gone bad?
How long is uncooked bacon good for in the fridge?
How long is meat good for after use by date?
Can you eat bacon past its use-by date?
The short answer is no, you should not eat bacon past its use-by date. The use-by date is there for a reason – to indicate when a product may no longer be safe to eat. Even if the package is unopened, bacteria can still be present and may continue to grow beyond the use-by date.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Does Bacon have a date?
While the USDA doesn’t require manufacturers to label bacon with a date, many companies choose to add a “use by” or a “sell by” date. This date may appear in a variety of formats, including the sometimes mysterious Julian date code, which utilizes a five-digit number in the format XX-XXX. The first two numbers refer to the year.
Can you eat bacon past its expiration date?
The short answer is no, you should not eat bacon that’s past its expiration date. The expiration date is there for a reason – to indicate when the bacon is no longer safe to consume. However, it’s important to note that there are two types of dates on bacon packaging: “sell by” and “use by”.