There is nothing better than the smell of bacon cooking in the morning, and it’s a mainstay in many breakfast dishes.
Because bacon comes in many varieties and has different expiration dates, it can be hard to tell when to throw it away or if it’s still safe to eat.
This article will be about Oscar Mayer bacon, which is one of the most popular brands, and answer the important question: when does Oscar Mayer bacon go bad?
Bacon is one of those meat products that seems to disappear quickly in most households. Sizzling hot bacon is a delicious addition to everything from breakfast sandwiches to burgers and BLTs With its smoky flavor and satisfying crunch, it’s no wonder bacon is so popular.
But like any perishable food, bacon has a limited shelf life. And when it comes to packaged bacon like Oscar Mayer, the expiration date isn’t always easy to locate. If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out where to find the expiration or “sell by” date on packages of Oscar Mayer bacon, you’re not alone.
At VeryMeaty, we did some investigating so you’ll know exactly where to look. Keep reading for a breakdown of how to locate the expiration date on various types of Oscar Mayer bacon packaging
Why Is the Oscar Mayer Bacon Expiration Date Hard to Find?
If you’re used to seeing clear, printed expiration or “use by” dates on other food packages, you may be puzzled when you first look for this information on Oscar Mayer bacon. There are a couple reasons why Oscar Mayer prints their dates differently:
-
They use a coding system, not a standard date format. This code indicates the date the bacon was packaged.
-
The code is often small and printed in an inconspicuous spot on the packaging. For some types of bacon, it’s printed along the crimped edge or seam.
-
Oscar Mayer tends to promote their logo and images of sizzling bacon more prominently on packaging compared to the date code.
-
Different types of Oscar Mayer bacon have date codes printed in different spots.
While this can make the dates tricky to find, they are on there! You just need to know where to look for each style of packaging.
How to Find Expiration Dates on Oscar Mayer Bacon Packages
To make things easier, we’ll break things down by a few of the most common types of Oscar Mayer bacon packaging and where to look for the date code on each style:
Plastic Packages of Sliced Bacon
This is probably the most common type of Oscar Mayer bacon you’ll find. It’s their typical slender plastic package containing a stack of pre-sliced bacon.
To find the date code, turn the package over to the backside. Look near the bottom, close to where the nutrition facts panel is. Printed along the seam or crimped edge of the plastic, you should see a 4-digit code.
The first digit will be a letter indicating the month (A=January, B=February, etc). The next three digits indicate the day of the month. For example, a code of A123 would mean the bacon was packaged on January 12.
So it’s not an explicitly printed expiration date, but you can use this packaging date code to gauge the freshness.
Vacuum-Sealed Packages
Oscar Mayer’s “Bacon Bits” come in a vacuum-sealed pouch with chunks of ready-to-cook bacon inside.
Again, you’ll find the date code printed in tiny type along a seam edge of the package. It may be printed vertically along the side seam, or horizontally along the bottom seam.
Check both locations carefully until you locate the 4-digit code. As on the sliced bacon packs, it will start with a letter for the month followed by 3 digits for the day.
Maple Bacon Packages
For bacon flavors like maple-coated or brown sugar bacon, Oscar Mayer packages these in plastic bags with a window to see the seasoned bacon inside.
Here, you’ll find the date code printed on the back, near the top of the package, above the nutritional information. It will be horizontally printed along the crimped seal at the top. Again look for the 4-digit code starting with a letter.
Thick-Cut and Center Cut Bacon Packages
Thicker, meatier styles of bacon like Oscar Mayer’s Thick Cut or Applewood Smoked varieties often come in flat, rectangular vacuum-sealed packaging.
These packs will have the date code printed either:
- Vertically along a side seam
- Horizontally along the crimped seal on the back
- Vertically along the back seam above nutritional info
So you may have to hunt around the seams a bit before you locate the date code on these packs.
Frozen and Microwaveable Bacon
For frozen Oscar Mayer bacon intended for microwave cooking, or pre-cooked bacon, the date will be in the same 4-digit coded format. But it’s typically printed on the bottom of the package, down by the standardized cooking instructions.
Flip these types of packages over and look on the underside, near the seam by the adhesive strip, to find the date code.
How to Interpret Oscar Mayer’s Bacon Date Codes
Once you locate the 4-digit code on your package of Oscar Mayer bacon, you can use that information to gauge the freshness. Again, these aren’t explicitly printed “sell by” or “use by” dates though. Here’s how to interpret Oscar Mayer’s date codes:
-
The first digit (a letter) indicates the month the bacon was packaged. A=January, B=February, C=March, etc.
-
The next three numbers indicate the calendar day. For instance, 045 would mean the 45th day of the year, or February 14.
-
The date codes can give you a general idea of the age and how long the bacon has been sitting around.
-
For unopened bacon, you can typically trust the freshness for 1-2 weeks beyond the package date in the fridge.
-
Once opened, use Oscar Mayer bacon within 5-7 days.
As with any food, it’s smart to also rely on your senses. Give the bacon a smell and look it over before cooking. If anything seems off or questionable, play it safe and toss it out.
Quick Tips for Locating Oscar Mayer Bacon Expiration Dates
Since Oscar Mayer doesn’t make their date codes obvious, here are some quick tips for locating them fast on any package:
-
Look along the sealed seams or crimped edges first.
-
Check the front, back, sides, top and bottom of packaging thoroughly.
-
Seek out small, vertically or horizontally printed codes of 4 digits.
-
Watch for the first digit to be a letter for the month.
-
Note the 3 numbers that follow indicate the day of the month.
-
Check areas near nutrition facts panels.
-
Don’t rely solely on the date codes. Inspect bacon closely and toss if any smells or signs of spoilage.
Storing Oscar Mayer Bacon Properly for Freshness
Once you’ve located that elusive date code, be sure to store your Oscar Mayer bacon properly to maintain optimum freshness and flavor:
-
Keep unopened packages in the original packaging. Don’t rewrap in the fridge.
-
Store Oscar Mayer bacon on a shelf in the fridge, not in the door.
-
If freezing extra packages, rewrap them tightly in freezer bags or foil.
-
Don’t let bacon linger at room temperature more than 2 hours before refrigerating.
-
Cooked bacon can be stored in the fridge 3-4 days in a sealed container.
-
For maximum flavor, try to cook bacon within 1 week of opening the package.
Following the date codes and adhering to safe storage methods will help you enjoy Oscar Mayer’s convenient, tasty bacon while it’s at peak quality. Because few things are more disappointing than spoiled or rancid-tasting bacon!
So now that you know where to check for those date codes, you can gather your breakfast ingredients with confidence that your Oscar Mayer bacon is fresh. Let the sizzling commence!
Where Is The Expiration Date On Oscar Mayer Bacon?
If you like Oscar Mayer bacon, you may have noticed that it can be hard to find the date it goes bad. Some brands put the date on the package in a place that is easy to see, but Oscar Mayer bacon puts the date in a place that is less obvious.
You can find the expiration date on Oscar Mayer bacon by looking for a set of numbers and letters on the package. This code is typically located on the bottom of the package, near the nutrition information.
The code will usually start with a letter, followed by a series of numbers. The letter represents the month that the bacon was packaged (A for January, B for February, etc. ), while the numbers represent the day and year (for example, 12319 would indicate December 3rd, 2019).
This code is not the same as a “use by” or “sell by” date. Don’t forget that. This can help you figure out how old the bacon is, but it doesn’t always mean that it’s still safe to eat.
Why It’s Important To Check The Expiration Date On Bacon
Checking the expiration date on bacon is crucial for ensuring that you are consuming safe and high-quality food. The code on Oscar Mayer bacon packaging can help you figure out when the product was packaged, but it doesn’t tell you for sure when the bacon will go bad or stop being safe to eat.
If you eat old or spoiled bacon, you could get foodborne illness, which can make you sick and give you stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, these symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening, especially for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Also, it’s important to check the bacon carefully before eating it, even if it hasn’t passed its expiration date. Signs of spoilage include a slimy texture, a rancid smell, or discoloration. When you see any of these signs, it’s better to be safe than sorry and throw away the bacon.
Check Expiration Dates on Oscar Mayer Products
FAQ
Does Oscar Mayer bacon expire?
How long is Oscar Mayer fully cooked bacon good for?
Where is the expiration date on Oscar Mayer hot dogs?
How long are Oscar Mayer bacon bits good after opening?
Does Bacon expire?
Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember, bacon, like a lot of other proteins, usually has a sell by date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use bacon to compliment your favorite meals even after the sell by date has lapsed.
How long can you keep Bacon in the freezer?
Bacon should be kept in the freezer if it needs to be kept for more than a week. It must be in a setting with a constant temperature of 0°F. In the freezer, bacon will stay fresh for four to six months. To preserve the flavor of the bacon’s freshness, try to eat bacon within a month.
Is it safe to eat expired bacon crumbles?
While the USDA recommends only storing until the “use by date”, we know that those dates don’t mean the food has expired, it’s just when the optimum quality may have been achieved. It may have “expired”, but it didn’t suddenly become bad. However, I do not want to encourage anybody to risk their health by doing so. 2. Bacon Crumbles for Storing
How long do bacon bits last in the fridge?
Bacon bits that are made with real bacon are not going to last in your refrigerator as long as a shaker of bacon bits made from anything but real bacon. Per Eat by Date, bacon bits made with real bacon, once open, can last anywhere from 6 weeks in the refrigerator to 6 months in the freezer.