Just so you know, your bacon can chill in the fridge for a week, max. But ensure the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or else, it might go bad quicker than you think. So, don’t store your bacon for any more than a week, otherwise you just might have to toss it out.
That being said, as a trained chef myself, with more than a decade of experience under my belt, I’ve got the inside scoop on how to make sure your bacon stays fresh and tasty for as long as possible. So, buckle up, my bacon buddy, because I’m about to share with you the best bacon storage secrets!
Yes, definitely!
As much as we all love our fresh, crispy bacon, it has a limited shelf life and can spoil if you don’t store it properly.
So, before you whip up that bacon and egg breakfast, make sure to check for any signs of spoilage. You will know that it’s gone bad if your bacon feels slimy, has a funky smell, or appears discolored.
Oh, and don’t forget about the freezer burn! If you’ve had bacon in the fridge for too long, it can develop freezer burn, which can seriously affect taste and texture. Trust me, you don’t want to bite into that!
You can usually count on your leftover bacon staying fresh for 4-5 days, tops. This is what the USDA says.
However, you should also make sure you always store bacon in an airtight plastic bag or wrap it up tightly in aluminum foil to keep it from drying out or getting any funky smells from other food in the fridge.
If you’ve got more than you can handle, no worries! You can freeze bacon for longer storage – up to four months.
You can freeze it by separating the slices, laying them flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freezing them individually. Once they’re frozen, I wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag. This way, I can easily pull out as many slices as I need without having to thaw the whole package.
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It’s not a great idea to eat bacon that’s been in the fridge for more than a week. If you’ve had your bacon in there for two weeks or more, whether it’s opened or unopened bacon, it’s definitely time to toss it out. Eating old bacon can increase your chances of getting sick, so, better safe than sorry!
So, you’ve opened up that package of bacon, and now you’re wondering how long it will last before you toss it. Well, you’ve got about a week to chow it down, as long as you have it properly stored in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below.
If you want to be extra careful, stick it in an airtight container or leave it in the original packaging to keep it from getting any funky smells or contamination from other foods.
If you’re wondering how long you can freeze cooked bacon, it really depends on whether you cooked it yourself or bought it pre-cooked. Your leftover cooked bacon can last up to 1 month in the freezer, according to the USDA.
But pre-cooked bacon that is shelf-stable can last up to three months! If bought refrigerated, you should eat it within three months.
However, always ensure to store bacon only in an airtight container or wrap it in aluminum foil. This helps to keep it tasting fresh and delicious and prevents freezer burn.
Your leftover bacon grease will last in the fridge for up to three months. Although a few others believe you can leave it for up to a year in the freezer.
This is good news since I don’t recommend storing bacon along with the grease in the first place.
If you see any signs of spoilage, like a gross smell, slimy texture, or color changes, then your bacon has gone bad. Do yourself a favor and throw it out. It’s not worth risking your stomach over, trust me!
You could otherwise get food poisoning if you go ahead and consume any of that. A spoiled pork product like bacon is often host to a colony of bad microorganisms like Trichinellosis.
After a couple of minutes of consuming that bad bacon, you could start experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or abdominal discomfort, according to the CDC. Won’t be nice betraying your stomach for just a plate of bacon!
Here’s how you can store bacon that has been cooked:
Alright, here’s the deal on how to store your uncooked bacon:
How I like to store my uncooked bacon is to keep it in its original packaging or stick it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
Just make sure to chuck it in the coldest part of the fridge, usually the bottom shelf, and keep the temperature below the recommended maximum to prevent any bacterial growth or spoilage.
Remember, if you’ve cracked that package open, you’ve got about a week to use it up.
And if you’re feelin’ like saving some for later, frozen bacon can last up to 4 months. But, whatever you do, always check for any signs of spoilage before cooking up a storm. Nobody likes to eat bad bacon!
Bacon is a total crowd-pleaser, but you must know how long it can hang in your fridge before it goes bad. Usually, you can keep your bacon fresh for around a week if you store it right at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. To give it an even longer lifespan, wrap it up in some foil or plastic wrap and put it in a container that seals up tight.
Keep an eye out for funky smells or slimy textures, and always trust your gut when deciding whether to eat it or pitch it. With these tips, you’ll be chowing down on bacon for days to come!
