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.
Smoked bacon is a breakfast staple in many households. The smoky, salty, umami flavor it imparts makes bacon a versatile ingredient to always have on hand. However, like any processed meat, bacon is perishable and has a limited shelf life.
Proper storage is crucial for food safety and preventing waste So how long does smoked bacon last in the fridge? Follow these bacon storage guidelines to keep it fresh and flavorful.
Overview of Proper Bacon Storage
In general, unopened smoked bacon lasts 1-2 weeks beyond the sell by date if kept constantly refrigerated. Once opened it will maintain best quality for about 7 days in the fridge. However maximum shelf life depends on several factors
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Sell by date: Bacon lasts 1-2 weeks after the sell by if unopened.
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Packaging: Unopened vacuum sealed bacon lasts longer.
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Temperature: Storing at a consistent 40°F is ideal.
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Freezer storage: Frozen bacon keeps much longer than refrigerated.
Follow the recommended storage times for optimal quality and safety. Discard bacon that smells bad or looks slimy.
Refrigerator Bacon Storage Timeline
Under proper conditions, smoked bacon will maintain quality for:
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1 week after opening package
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1-2 weeks past sell by date if unopened
Keep bacon tightly wrapped in its original packaging or an airtight container. Exposure to air speeds spoilage. Store in the coldest part of the fridge, not the door.
Freezer Bacon Storage Timeline
For maximum shelf life, freeze excess smoked bacon:
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1 month in fridge freezer section
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2-3 months in self-defrosting freezer
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4 months in deep freezer (0°F or below)
Freeze bacon in the original vacuum sealed package. Or place strips in airtight plastic bags with wax paper between layers. Squeeze out excess air.
How To Tell If Bacon Has Gone Bad
Bacon has a relatively short shelf life. Here are signs that bacon has spoiled and should be discarded:
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Slimy texture and dull or darker color
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Rancid, sour or ammonia-like smell
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Mold growth – dry, fuzzy spots
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Significantly past sell by date
When inspecting bacon, look for a bright pink/red color and meaty smell. Dispose of discolored bacon that smells off. Don’t risk getting sick.
Safety Tips for Storing Bacon
Follow these guidelines for safe handling and storage:
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Refrigerate bacon within 2 hours of purchasing.
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Cook or freeze bacon within 5 days of opening package.
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Defrost frozen bacon in the fridge, not at room temperature.
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Cook bacon thoroughly until crispy.
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Avoid cross-contaminating kitchen tools and surfaces when handling raw bacon.
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Store uncooked bacon separately from ready-to-eat foods.
Bacon Refrigerator Shelf Life FAQs
Get answers to common questions about bacon storage times:
How long can you keep unopened bacon? 1-2 weeks past the sell by date if refrigerated.
Can you freeze unopened bacon? Yes. Freeze by sell by date for longest shelf life.
Can you eat bacon a week after use by date? It’s not recommended. Use within 5 days of opening.
Can I refreeze bacon? Bacon can be safely refrozen but may lose quality.
Can you keep bacon in original packaging? Yes, keep in original wrap for 1 week after opening.
Extending Bacon’s Fridge Life
You can extend the shelf life of bacon with proper storage techniques:
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Keep bacon refrigerated at all times at 40°F or below.
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Seal tightly in airtight packaging or container.
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Freeze bacon if not using within 5 days of opening package.
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Purchase smaller packages if you don’t use much bacon weekly.
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Keep fridge clean and wipe up spills immediately to avoid cross-contamination.
Signs Your Bacon Has Gone Bad
Here are clear signs your bacon has spoiled and should be thrown out:
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Moldy spots or dry white film on surface
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Grayish or greenish tinge
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Rancid or sour smell
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Slimy texture when raw
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Past sell by date by over 2 weeks
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Brown or dull color rather than pink or red
When in doubt, remember it’s not worth getting sick over spoiled food. Play it safe and throw it out.
Storing Other Bacon Products
Besides regular smoked slab bacon, here are fridge shelf lives for other bacon products:
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Bacon bits – 1 week after opening
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Pre-cooked bacon – 10-14 days
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Bacon grease – 2 months
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Vacuum-packed cooked bacon – 6 weeks unopened
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Canned bacon – 1 year unopened
Always refer to packaging for manufacturer’s storage guidelines.
The Takeaway
With proper refrigeration and freezing, you can keep smoked bacon fresh for 1-2 weeks beyond the sell by date. For best results, store in original packaging at 40°F, freeze for long-term storage, and monitor for signs of spoilage. Following these fridge storage tips will preserve bacon’s signature salty, smoky flavor that makes it a breakfast favorite.
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.