When you’re done eating a meal with bacon, if no one has already taken the leftover savory strips as a snack, you may have some leftovers that you shouldn’t throw away. What should you do with leftover cooked bacon?.
Some people might think that cooked bacon isn’t worth storing to eat later, but that’s not true! If you store your crispy bacon the right way, you can eat it in a few days or even a month from now. Table of Contents.
Bacon lovers rejoice! With the right reheating techniques, you can revive frozen cooked bacon to be just as delicious and crispy as when it was first cooked. Whether you made a large batch for meal prepping or have leftover bacon from breakfast, you don’t have to miss out on those crave-worthy crispy and salty flavors
Reheating frozen cooked bacon properly is key for food safety as well as preserving texture and taste. Under-reheating can lead to foodborne illnesses from bacteria while overdoing it gives you chewy, burnt bacon that loses its magic.
In this guide, you’ll learn foolproof methods to reheat frozen cooked bacon in the oven, microwave, skillet and more for mealtime success anytime. Let’s dive into the step-by-step processes so you can be munching on perfectly reheated bacon in no time!
Why Proper Reheating is Essential for Frozen Cooked Bacon
Frozen cooked bacon requires special care when reheating compared to raw bacon. Since it has already been cooked once the reheating process brings it up to a safe internal temperature without overcooking. There are a few key reasons why proper reheating methods matter
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Food Safety Bacon can harbor harmful bacteria when frozen. Thorough reheating to 165°F kills any dangerous pathogens that may be present.
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Texture: Reheating unevenly can lead to chewy, dried out or burnt pieces. The right techniques ensure evenly crispy and tender bacon.
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Flavor: Improper reheating dulls flavors. With the proper process, you’ll get back the full smoky, savory, salty taste of the bacon.
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Appearance: Bacon can appear unappetizing and off-putting when reheated incorrectly. Proper techniques yield bacon that looks delicious enough to dive into.
So let’s go over some of the best practices for safely thawing and reheating frozen cooked bacon.
Safely Thawing Frozen Cooked Bacon
Always thaw frozen cooked bacon fully before reheating. This helps it cook evenly for the best results. Here are two safe thawing methods:
1. Thaw in the refrigerator
- Place frozen bacon in a single layer on a plate or in a covered container
- Refrigerate 8-12 hours or overnight until fully thawed
- Keep at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth
2. Thaw in cold water
- Seal bacon in a plastic bag submerged in cold tap water
- Change water every 30 minutes so it stays cold
- Thaw for about 30 minutes, or until pliable but still icy
- Cook immediately after thawing
Once thawed, dry bacon thoroughly with paper towels before reheating. Extra moisture leads to steaming instead of crisping.
Oven Reheating – The Hands-Off Way
The oven allows you to reheat large batches of bacon evenly with minimal effort.
Step-by-Step Oven Reheating
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
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Arrange thawed bacon slices in a single layer, without overlapping.
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Bake 10-15 minutes, until sizzling hot and browned at the edges.
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For extra crispness, turn bacon and bake 2-3 minutes more.
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Blot excess grease with paper towels.
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Enjoy your reheated crispy bacon!
Tips for Oven Bacon:
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Use tongs or a spatula to flip and handle bacon to avoid grease splatter burns.
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Watch closely to avoid burning at high temperatures.
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Bake at 400°F for quicker reheating if you prefer very crispy bacon.
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Bake frozen bacon 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through, but thawed is ideal.
The oven yields consistently crispy reheated bacon every time with minimal hands-on effort.
Skillet Stovetop Reheating – Fast and Crispy
For quick yet crisp reheated bacon, the stovetop skillet method can’t be beaten.
Step-by-Step Skillet Reheating
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Heat a skillet over medium heat. Use nonstick for easy release.
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Add just enough bacon to fit in a single layer. Overcrowding causes steaming.
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Cook 2-4 minutes per side, adjusting heat as needed to prevent burning.
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Flip frequently until crispy and sizzling on both sides.
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Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain grease.
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Repeat to reheat remaining bacon in batches.
Tips for Skillet Bacon:
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Use metal tongs or a bacon press to keep bacon flat against the skillet.
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Pour out excess grease between batches to prevent smoking and splattering.
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Cook over medium-low heat for tender middles and crispy edges.
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Preheat and re-grease the skillet between batches for even reheating.
With just a skillet and a few minutes, you can enjoy hot, crispy bacon any time.
Microwave Reheating – The Speedy Method
When you’re in a rush, the microwave reheats frozen cooked bacon in mere minutes.
Step-by-Step Microwave Reheating
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Place thawed bacon between paper towels on a microwave-safe plate.
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Cover with another paper towel to prevent splatters.
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Microwave in 30 second bursts on medium power until hot.
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Allow to rest 1 minute before eating.
Tips for Microwave Bacon:
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Use paper towels under and over bacon to absorb grease for less mess.
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Microwave in short bursts to avoid overcooking into chewy jerky.
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For extra crispness, finish in a hot skillet or oven for 1-2 minutes after microwaving.
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Let bacon rest before eating so heat distributes evenly.
The microwave provides fast reheating but may yield slightly less crispy bacon. Finish in a skillet or oven if you prefer it extra crunchy.
Other Handy Ways to Reheat Bacon
Beyond the oven, skillet and microwave, here are a few more reheating methods for crispy bacon:
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Toaster oven: Cook at 400°F 5-8 minutes until hot and sizzling.
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Air fryer: Cook at 400°F for 4-5 minutes, shake basket halfway through.
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Bacon press: Squeeze bacon between the grooved plates to flatten and heat.
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Grill: Cook over medium direct heat 1-2 minutes per side. Watch closely to avoid burning.
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Broiler: Place bacon 3-4 inches under heating element for 1-3 minutes, checking frequently.
Get creative with these bonus reheating methods for freshly crisped leftover bacon.
Serving and Storing Reheated Bacon
Once you’ve revived leftover frozen cooked bacon to crispy perfection, a few final tips will keep it mouthwateringly delicious:
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Eat reheated bacon immediately for the best texture and flavor.
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Store cooled leftovers up to 5 days in a sealed container in the fridge.
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Freeze extra reheated bacon up to 2 months for longer storage.
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Crumble reheated bacon on salads, pizza, pasta and more for a tasty topping.
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Make baked potatoes, soups or greens extra decadent with crumbled spicy reheated bacon.
With the proper reheating tricks, you can enjoy defrosted cooked bacon anytime for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just snacking. Now that you know how to reheat frozen cooked bacon to crispy perfection in the oven, microwave, skillet and more, you can savor every last bit of that irresistible bacon flavor. So grab those tongs and get reheating for warm, crunchy, crave-worthy bacon magic.
Short Term Storage: The Oven Is Your Friend
When you hear the word “storage,” you probably think of a longer-term plan to keep your bacon fresh for a few days or weeks. But even proper short term storage is essential if you want to avoid that dreaded soggy effect. If you follow a few easy steps, you can make crispy bacon that tastes just like that it was just cooked.
Let’s say you cooked bacon for a hearty weekend brunch or a tasty snack, but your guests are 30 minutes late. Don’t fret! Instead, turn to the oven to keep those tantalizing strips crunchy and warm.
Your bacon will stay crispy for up to a few hours in the oven, whether you cook it in the microwave, a pan, or the oven. Set the temperature to 200ºF and center a baking rack. Put your cooked strips on a baking sheet and keep them there until you’re ready to eat them.
You can still keep your bacon crispy until it’s time to eat without turning on the oven. First off, avoid covering your warm, cooked bacon with a lid, bowl, or any other airtight device. The covering will trap the steam that the warm bacon gives off, making the bacon less crunchy. Instead, forgo covering your bacon entirely, or use a breathable towel.
If you have bacon bits left over after the meal, try adding them to recipes like Corn and Bacon Chowder or Brussels Sprouts with Bacon.
Medium Term Storage: Turn to the Refrigerator
You might have some bacon left over from breakfast, or you might have cooked a few too many strips for your Sun-Dried Tomato Veggie Stack. In any case, you need to store your bacon so that you can eat it a few days from now.
If you leave bacon out at room temperature for too long, it can go bad, even if it is naturally cured or cured. To help keep it fresh for the next few days, rely on the refrigerator. When stored at or below the ideal temperature of 40ºF, the growth of harmful bacteria is slowed. This helps prevent your bacon from going bad.
Before you pop your bacon strips in the refrigerator, allow them to cool to room temperature. In this way, condensation won’t form on the bacon after you seal it, so it stays as crispy as possible.
Once the meat is cool to the touch, place it in an airtight bag. Remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag and placing it in the refrigerator. By following this method, your bacon should stay fresh for up to five days.
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