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.
Bacon is a breakfast staple in many households. Who doesn’t love the smell of sweet, smoky bacon when they wake up? But bacon has a short shelf life, like all foods that go bad. Maybe you’re not sure if it’s still safe to eat bacon that has passed its use by date.
The use by date is the manufacturer’s recommendation for when the bacon should be eaten by for best quality But does eating bacon past its use by date pose any health risks? Let’s find out.
How to Read Bacon Date Labels
Date labels on bacon come in two types: sell by dates and use by dates:
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The “sell by” date tells stores when to take the item off the shelves. If the bacon has been stored properly, you can eat it up to seven days after the “sell by” date.
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Use by date – Recommends when you should eat the bacon for best flavor and quality. Don’t eat bacon past the use by date.
So if you wake up hungry on a Sunday morning with a pack of bacon that expired the previous Saturday, is it still okay to cook up? Let’s explore further.
Can You Eat Bacon Past Its Use By Date?
The use by date is an indicator of safety and quality rather than an absolute expiration date Bacon may still be safe to eat for some time after the use by date, but its quality begins deteriorating.
Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to eat bacon past its use by date:
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How it looks and smells – There should be no slime, sticky residue or foul, rancid odor. Discard if any of these are present.
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How it was stored – Bacon stored continuously at 40°F or below is safe for longer versus bacon left out on the counter.
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How long past date – Bacon that’s a few days past its date is safer than bacon that’s 2-3 weeks past its date.
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Cooking method – Thorough cooking can destroy harmful germs, but it won’t improve the quality of spoiled bacon.
The bottom line is that you can eat bacon 1 to 2 days past its use by date if it looks and smells fine and has been properly refrigerated. But it’s best not to risk eating bacon more than 3-5 days past its use by date.
Signs Bacon Has Gone Bad
Watch for these signs that indicate spoiled, unsafe bacon:
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Slimy texture – Bacon will have a slippery, mucus-like feel due to bacterial growth.
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Off smell – Rancid, sour or sulfur-like odor.
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Change in color – Grayish, greenish, brownish hues.
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Mold – Cottony, fuzzy white, blue, green or black mold.
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Discolored or swollen package – This indicates bacteria got inside the packaging.
Bacon exhibiting any of these signs should be discarded right away. Don’t taste it “just to check.” Eating rotten bacon can cause food poisoning.
How To Extend Bacon’s Shelf Life
Here are tips to make your bacon last longer:
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Store unopened bacon in the original packaging at temperatures below 40°F.
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Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or place bacon slices in a resealable plastic bag with air squeezed out.
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Don’t let raw bacon juices touch or drip on other foods which can cause cross-contamination.
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Cooked bacon can be frozen for up to 1 month. Let cool completely before freezing.
-Freeze uncooked bacon if you don’t plan to use it within 1 week. It will keep 6 months frozen.
Following safe storage practices maximizes bacon’s shelf life and reduces food waste.
Is Frozen Bacon Past Its Use By Date Safe To Eat?
Frozen bacon remains safe to eat long past its use by date if it has been continuously frozen solid at 0°F. However, the quality and texture will deteriorate over time.
Signs that frozen bacon is spoiled and should be discarded:
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Unpleasant, off odors when package is opened
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Ice crystals inside package or bacon feels hard and dried out
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Bacon has become discolored or tastes rancid
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Mold anywhere on the bacon
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Packaging has tears, holes or is swollen with air pushed inside
For best quality, use frozen bacon within 2-3 months. Bacon stored beyond 6 months in the freezer will progressively decline in flavor, juiciness and moisture.
Can You Get Sick From Eating Bad Bacon?
Eating spoiled, bacteria-laden bacon that is well past its use by date can certainly make you sick. Consuming bad bacon introduces harmful germs including salmonella, listeria, E. coli and other toxins into your body and can cause food poisoning.
Symptoms of food poisoning from bad bacon include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Fever, chills, body aches
- Headaches, dizziness
- Dehydration
Seek medical help if food poisoning symptoms are severe or persist longer than 48 hours.
Play It Safe With Bacon
Now that you know you shouldn’t mess around with bacon too far past its prime, you can enjoy your bacon breakfasts and bacon-wrapped appetizers with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Be diligent about checking use by dates and properly storing uncooked and leftover bacon. If in doubt, remember, safety trumps eating possibly spoiled bacon. It’s better to be safe than sorry to avoid getting sick from expired bacon.
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.
What measures should I take while handing and cooking bacon?
When handling and cooking any kind of bacon or meat, you should be very careful because it could be contaminated, which could cause many diseases, including food poisoning.
- Bacteria may be present when handling raw bacon. A clean, soapy cloth or bleach wipe is all that is needed to get rid of all bacteria on countertops. Wash your hands well with soap and water.
- However, you don’t have to rinse the raw bacon before cooking it.
- Anything germs that were on the meat will be killed by the heat from the stove or microwave.
- It’s bad for your stomach to eat meat that is raw or not cooked all the way through.
- A recent study found that bacon cooked in the microwave is more fully cooked than bacon cooked in the fryer.
- The study actually found that more potentially harmful chemicals were released into the air when bacon was cooked on the stove for longer.
- It is suggested that the bacon be cooked at 275°F for 30 minutes (medium well) to make sure it is fully cooked.
Expired Bacon Experiment
FAQ
How long is bacon good for after use by date?
How to know if bacon has gone bad?
How long is uncooked bacon good for in the fridge?
Is meat still good after the use by date?