How Long Does Bacon Last In The Fridge?

Bacon is an easily loved breakfast item that everybody enjoys. Bacon comes in a big package, and one finds completing all the bacon in one sitting difficult. People might want to store it for a long time, either in a pantry or in the fridge.

Bacon can be stored in the fridge for 2 weeks or even 3 weeks straight. This is the case for uncooked bacon. However, cooked bacon lasts for 4 or 5 days in the fridge. 

It doesn’t last in the pantry for a long time as it may turn bad over time. Usually, a package of bacon has a best-by date that must be abided by diligently.

Some bacon brands are packaged tightly where there can be no leeway for the air or moisture to enter. This would invariably protect the bacon, whether stored in the fridge or freezer, for a long time.

In this article, we will clearly elaborate on the shelf life of bacon in the fridge or in the freezer. We will also uncover details on how you store them perfectly so that they have a longer shelf life by all means.

How Long Does Uncooked Bacon Last In The Fridge?

Usually, unopened uncooked bacon has a best-by date in the package. You have to complete it within that timeline to enjoy its fullest potential.

You can calculate and keep it for 2 weeks if it does not have a date. If the bacon is processed with nitrites, it could be kept in the fridge for 3 weeks.

If you have opened the package, you can just keep it for 7 days maximum. More than that, it is liable to go bad.

How Long Does Cooked Bacon Last In The Fridge?

Leftover cooked bacon lasts in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. It has to be stored in an airtight container or in a sealed bag where there is no leak or holes for the moisture to invade.

Buying shelf-stable bacon from the store can be kept unopened until the best-by date sets in. If you have opened it, then try finishing it within 5 to 14 days without fail.

How Long Does Bacon Last In The Freezer?

If the bacon has to be stored longer than intended, shoving it in the freezer deems necessary. Both cooked and uncooked bacon can last in the freezer for 4 months together. This will make sure that the bacon is of the best quality.

The entire package has to be thawed before consumption. If you want to freeze bacon strips, lay them on the baking sheet and line them up so they don’t overlap.

Once all the bacon strips have been frozen, they can be transferred to a freezer bag with a seal. The sheet pan will work for cooked bacon as well.

How To Cook Frozen Bacon?

Frozen bacon can be cooked directly and does not necessarily have to be thawed. Frozen bacon will take time to get cooked, but it will be as good as fresh bacon when taken necessary steps to cook it.

Thawing bacon can be done in the refrigerator. It can be kept overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed fully, it has to be used within a week.

This kind of thawing will be conducive to refreezing the bacon. However, you can also thaw the bacon with cold water or in a microwave.

It will be faster to defrost the bacon, but it cannot be refrozen again. Refreezing the bacon that has been thawed in cold water or a microwave can attract microbes and bacteria to a large extent. 

How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?

If the bacon is done for the day, people just squander the grease as it will no longer be used. This grease can be stored in a mason jar or in a grease container and can be refrigerated. 

In the fridge, it will become hard, and it can be scooped out to be applied to the bacon. Grease can be kept in the freezer indefinitely and can be refrigerated for about 3 months without any problem.

You will also learn when the grease has turned bad through its smell, and the taste will also be repulsive.

How To Store Bacon?

In The Fridge

Open uncooked bacon can be kept in an airtight container or plastic wrap in the fridge. It can also be wrapped in aluminum foil for posterity.

Once the bacon is cooked, storing it in an airtight container is better. The bacon strips are arranged in such a way that they are layers with paper towels in the middle.

The strips might be stuck to one another otherwise, so keeping paper strips in the layers is better.

Freezer

Frozen bacon must be kept in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag. Resealable bags are great in a way that helps lock the bacon strips in the freezer safely.

Applying the baking sheet method explained above; you will need freezer-safe bags to keep the bacon strips safe.

How To Identify Whether The Bacon Has Gone Bad?

If the bacon has been sitting at home for a long time in the fridge or pantry, it is time to keep a tab on its condition. The signs below will warn you enough to tell you that the bacon has turned bad.

1. Smell

A normal healthy bacon would smell smoky in flavor. However, if you start smelling something off radiating from the bacon, then it is time to toss it out.

2. Slimy

If the surface is slimy and slippery, throw it out, as it may not taste that well.

3. Discoloration

If there are gray, green, or brown spots on the surface of the bacon, then it is good enough to be tossed out. The discoloration indicates that the bacon has become the victim of moisture.

4. Molds

Molds on any meat’s surface are harmful and should be duly avoided. In the case of bacon, the same holds.

You may be tempted to remove the molds and use the rest of the bacon, but there are chances that the molds have cleaved through the inner layers of the meat as well. So it is better discarded without second thoughts.

Conclusion

Bacon is a lovely piece of meat invariably included in many recipes. However, you must enjoy fresh bacon. It cannot be tolerated if it has turned sour or bad.

So it is better to store it right or have it before it has hit the reef with regard to its shelf life. This article will explain how long you put up with the bacon and how you preserve it effectively to retain its freshness intact. 

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