There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning. If you’re anything like us, there probably won’t be any leftover bacon. What if you need to keep bacon in the fridge for a few days? Here are some ideas!
If you put uncured bacon in the fridge before the “sell by” date on the package, it will last about one week. In the freezer, unopened bacon could last up to six months. Unopened bacon may last roughly two weeks in the fridge and eight months in the freezer.
Bacon that hasn’t been cooked can be kept in a sealed container for a week after the package has been opened. Sealed in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer, the bacon could last for about a month.
Should you make more bacon than you can eat, you can keep it in the fridge for five to seven days in a container that is well sealed. Thought you might not be able to eat it that soon? Cooked bacon can be frozen for up to a month.
There’s nothing better than the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning. But if you don’t use up the whole package, you may wonder – how long is bacon good for after opening the package?
Under proper storage conditions, an opened pack of raw bacon lasts 5-7 days in the fridge. Cooked bacon keeps for 3-5 days. For maximum freshness and food safety, follow these bacon storage guidelines.
Overview of Bacon’s Shelf Life After Opening
Once opened, the shelf life of bacon, whether raw or cooked decreases due to exposure to air and bacteria. Follow these timelines as a guide
- Unopened package: 2 weeks
- Opened raw bacon: 1 week
- Cooked bacon: 3-5 days
The fridge temperature, packaging method and handling practices also impact how long bacon stays fresh and safe to eat after opening.
Always rely on your senses – not just the date on the package. Discard bacon that smells, looks or feels slimy or spoiled. Don’t take chances with questionable bacon.
Maximizing Fridge Life of Raw Bacon After Opening
Follow these tips to maximize the shelf life of raw bacon after opening the package:
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Reseal the original package carefully or wrap bacon strips in plastic wrap or foil. Eliminate as much air as possible.
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Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator, ideally at 40°F or below. Use a fridge thermometer to monitor.
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Use clean utensils each time you handle raw bacon to prevent cross-contamination with bacteria.
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Cook or freeze raw bacon within 5-7 days for optimum freshness and quality. Discard after 1 week.
Proper cold storage gives you a week to enjoy raw bacon after opening the pack.
How To Store Cooked Bacon in the Fridge
Cooked bacon has a shorter fridge life. Follow these guidelines:
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Let cooked bacon cool completely, then refrigerate promptly in a covered container. Don’t leave it out more than 2 hours.
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Store cooked bacon slices in airtight food storage containers or resealable bags.
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Use leftover cooked bacon within 3-4 days for best quality. It’s safe up to 5 days, but texture and flavor decline over time.
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If reheating cooked bacon, heat it fully to 165°F until hot and steaming before eating.
With proper storage, cooked bacon keeps 3-5 days after cooking.
Freezing Bacon For Long Term Storage
For maximum shelf life, freeze any unused raw bacon:
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Wrap fresh raw bacon tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Try to squeeze out air pockets.
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Portion bacon into usable amounts so you can thaw only what you need.
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Put bacon packs in freezer bags or airtight containers. Label with date and contents.
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Maintain freezer at 0°F or below. Use a thermometer to monitor.
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Frozen raw bacon keeps 6 months with minimal flavor or texture loss.
Freezing gives you plenty of time to use up the remaining bacon.
Thawing Bacon Safely
Always thaw frozen bacon properly in the refrigerator or microwave:
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Refrigerator: Place wrapped bacon on a plate to thaw overnight.
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Cold water: Submerge sealed bacon pack in cold water. Change water every 30 minutes.
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Microwave: Use the defrost setting then cook immediately.
Don’t thaw bacon at room temperature or refreeze after thawing. This increases risk of bacteria growth. Cook thawed bacon within 1-2 days.
What To Do With Leftover Cooked Bacon
You have a few options for leftovers:
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Refrigerate cooked bacon in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
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Freeze leftovers for 1 month. Reheat fully before eating.
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Use in recipes like salads, omelets, pasta dishes, etc. Adds great flavor!
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Make bacon bits for garnishes and toppings. Keeps in the fridge 1 week.
Avoid leaving cooked bacon at room temperature more than 2 hours. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly.
How To Know If Bacon Has Gone Bad
Check for these signs that indicate spoiled bacon:
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Slimy or sticky texture
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Grayish, greenish or dull color
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Rancid or unpleasant smell
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Mold growth
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Very dry or white spots of freezer burn
When in doubt, throw it out! Don’t taste questionable bacon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you keep bacon after opening the package?
Raw bacon keeps 5-7 days. Cooked bacon keeps 3-5 days. Store in the fridge.
Can you refreeze raw bacon after thawing?
No. Refreezing allows bacteria to grow. Cook thawed bacon immediately and don’t refreeze.
What happens if you eat bad bacon?
Consuming spoiled bacon can cause food poisoning with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Don’t eat bacon that smells, looks or feels bad.
How do you know if bacon is still good after freezing?
Inspect for ice crystals, freezer burn and odors. Thawed bacon should look and smell normal. Cook thoroughly before eating.
Can you get sick from eating old bacon?
Yes, bacon containing harmful bacteria can make you sick. Always inspect bacon carefully and discard any that seems spoiled.
The Bottom Line
With proper refrigeration and freezing, an opened pack of bacon stays fresh for 5-7 days. Cooked bacon lasts 3-5 days. Freeze raw bacon for long term storage up to 6 months. Follow safe handling tips and rely on your senses to determine if bacon is still good.
How to know if your bacon has gone bad
As soon as a package of bacon has been opened, it is exposed to bacteria in the air. This bacteria instantly begins a chemical reaction on the meat that leads to it going bad. It’s likely to go bad after about a week, even if you can seal it well again. But there are some things you can look for to tell if your bacon has gone bad.
Bacon should have vibrant pink-colored meat and white streaks of fat. If it has started to go bad, its color will be off. There is no longer any good bacon in your fridge if it looks gray, green, or brown.
Bacon should not have a strong smell. It might smell like smoke or the spices that were used on it, but it shouldn’t be too strong. If you open the package and smell something sulfurous or sour, the bacteria has spread to the rest of the meat and the bacon is bad.
If bacon is good, it will be soft and slightly moist. If your bacon feels slimy at all, it is definitely bad. This slimy feeling is not water, but rather bacteria that has started breaking down the meat. If it is slimy, it isn’t worth the risk.
Sometimes, mold may start growing on bacon that has gone bad. You might want to cut off the moldy part and eat the rest of the strip, but don’t! Any mold you can see means that fungi are growing that you might not be able to see. The safest bet is to throw moldy bacon out.