You opened a package and did not cook all of it? Find out how long bacon can last in your fridge.
Right? Wrong. You probably won’t eat the entire package in one breakfast if you are single or live in a small household. You may have stored bacon in an area you could not see and found it in your fridge. Now you want to know if the strips are safe to consume.
As with other refrigerated food, the bacon package has a “sell-by” date. However, its shelf life can be longer or shorter, depending on how you store it.
The shelf life of bacon depends on several factors, including the type, if the package was opened, and the way you store it in the fridge. Learn how long bacon will last in your fridge or freezer, how to store it and how to know if it’s gone bad.
How Long Does Bacon Last In The Fridge?
Unopened packages of bacon can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. The same conditions should also be used for other types of bacon such as turkey bacon and pancetta.
If you open the package, it will be less than a week in the fridge. Raw, resealed bacon can last for up to one week in the refrigerator. Cooked bacon can last from four to five days when stored properly.
Bacon can be stored in the freezer. The freezer can store uncooked, unopened, bacon for up to 8 months. Leftover raw bacon, if stored properly, will last six months. Properly stored cooked bacon will last for up to one-month in the freezer.
How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?
Properly stored bacon grease in an airtight container should last six months in the fridge and nine months in a freezer. If it is rancid, it will smell bad. Throw it away if you notice any mold or a bad odor.
Bacon: How To Store It
It’s best to store it in an airtight container, such as the unopened package or a plastic or glass container. It should be kept in an airtight package, like the original unopened package. Wrap a previously opened package in aluminum foil or place it inside a zip-top plastic bag.
How to store bacon in the fridge
Raw, opened bacon can be stored in the original packaging, with a zip-top bag, or several layers of aluminum foil. Bacon can be stored in an airtight container up to one week. Storing cooked bacon in an sealed container for up to four or five days is possible.
How to store bacon in the freezer
Wrap the bacon tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. To prevent bacon from becoming rancid, squeeze out any air in the package.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation suggests that you immediately remove the raw bacon after it has been opened and place it in a zipper-top bag. Before placing the bag in the freezer, squeeze out any air in it.
To freeze cooked bacon, place the strips between layers and flatten the towels in a large zip top bag. Squeeze out all the air in the bag before placing it in the freezer.
To defrost bacon, place the package in the refrigerator and let it thaw over night. The bacon can be thawed in a zip-top plastic bag with cold flowing water. It will defrost in 30 minutes.
You can thaw frozen bacon in your microwave using the defrost feature. However, don’t let the package sit unattended for too long.
Important Note: Although bacon can be stored in the freezer for several months, the Food Marketing Institute suggests storing it for a short period to avoid the quality and taste of the bacon deteriorating.
Bacon Gone Bad?
Bacon can quickly go rancid due to its high fat content. If it is not stored correctly, this will happen. Bacon gives clear signs that it has gone rancid.
Changes in appearance are the most obvious sign of rancidity. The color of rancid bacon will change. It will no longer be red, but will take on a grayish, brownish, or greenish tint. The bacon may also have an unpleasant smell and become slimy or sticky.
