how long does opened bacon last in the fridge

It will take longer to cook compared to thawed bacon, though. Web1-2 months from date of purchase. Tip: Under no circumstances should raw turkey bacon be kept out in the open, as refrigeration is required for meat storage to inhibit bacterial growth. Uncured bacon is not a thing: In reality, all bacon has been cured using one of the methods described above. Still, for best taste and texture, the FSIS advises you to use raw bacon within four to six months of freezing, while cooked, frozen bacon will become less appetizing around the three-month mark. Most bacon will have a sell by date, but a use by date is not out of the question. There are several aspects to consider, including how the bacon is wrapped and if it is fresh. The main things that you will want to make sure of are that the bacon is stored safely and that it was cooked correctly before storing. (FYI: Per the Washington Post, theres no evidence that dry-cured bacon is any healthier or has less nitrite than mass-produced bacon.). If it doesnt have a date, you can generally count on about 2 weeks from when you leave the grocery store. Bacon can be cooked from frozen, so you dont need to thaw it. Cooked bacon has the shortest lifespan of them all. That is when it becomes slightly slimy. If you think the bacon you ate might be bad, its best to see a doctor as soon as possible. Bacon is one of those foods thats easy to love. Due to this, ensure that any surfaces that your raw bacon has touched are properly sanitized afterward. WebHow long can open bacon last in the fridge? WebYou should always refrigerate commercial salt pork when it is not in use and you have the option to refrigerate it. Bacon can also be frozen at 0 F for four months (for best quality). If youre not sure whether your bacon is still good to eat, its a good idea to check the color. Storing food properly and learning some of the common signs of spoilage can help maximize the shelf life and quality of your bacon. If you notice any type of mold or growth on the product, your bacon has definitely gone bad. Or perhaps you find yourself buying a bit more than your family can eat. Its best to store it in an airtight container (we like glass containers because they dont absorb odors). Here are 6 "indulgent" foods that are low-carb. Cooked bacon is a perishable food and needs to be refrigerated within two hours of cooking. Youll know when its no longer good to use because it will smell rancid, and it will make anything thats cooked in it taste a little funky. As much as you may be tempted to eat the whole pack at once, you will be happy to know that oncecooked bacon can remain safely in the fridge for several days depending on how fresh it was when you cooked it. With its enticing smell and delicious taste, bacon is popular around the globe. How to Store Bacon in the Fridge Follow these instructions to store bacon in the fridge: If the package is open, cover the If you go to grab some bacon and find it slimy, something has gone awry. This will help stop the spread of any unwanted bacteria around your kitchen. Cook the other side for 8 more minutes minimum. The last three digits refer to the day of the year. When spoiled, the signature red hue of your bacon may start to become dull and fade into a grey, brown, or greenish color. Generally, unopened bacon can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 8 months in the freezer. In most cases, it stays good in the freezer for up to eight months if it is raw and unopened. Once you have finished cooking your batch of bacon, you will need to leave it to completely cool down to room temperature before thinking about refrigeration. Well, it is possible but not always recommended. Fresh bacon should feel soft and a bit moist. How Long Does Bacon last in the fridge. As much as you may be tempted to eat the whole pack at once, you will be happy to know that once cooked Dry-curing, on the other hand, is a more time-consuming process in which the pork is rubbed with a combination of dry curing agents (often celery salt) and hung to dry. Youve got grilling questions. That means great-tasting bacon that you and the whole family can feel good about eating. WebCooked bacon that has been stored properly also has a shorter shelf life and can generally last around 45 days in the refrigerator and up to 1 month in the f Even if you refrigerate your bacon promptly, its still only safe to eat for four to five days. Though uncooked and unopened bacon can be stored as is, you may want to wrap the package with tin foil if freezing to prevent freezer burn. Bacon and sausage Deli and vacuum-packed products Eggs Fish and shellfish Ham, corned beef Hamburger, ground and stew meats - fresh Hotdogs and lunch meats Mayonnaise Meat - fresh In other words, if the bacon you brought home from the store claims to be uncured or nitrite-free, what the package means to say is that it has been dry-cured with celery saltan ingredient that contains naturally-occurring nitrite. Immediately refrigerate at 40 degrees F or below. If the bacon has been sitting out longer than that, its best to play it safe and discard it. Unopened Bacon Whether the package is opened or not, uncooked bacon will last just over a week in the fridge, and no longer than two weeks. WebHow Long Does Cooked Bacon Last? (Note: Bacon bits freeze well, and can last up to six months if you wrap them tightly and store them in the freezer.). Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Unless you totally ignore any storage guidelines because it would make the bacon lose its crispness and become soggy. Leftover cooked bacon lasts 4 to 5 days in the fridge. Once youve opened and cooked bacon, it can last for five to seven days in the refrigerator. 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. However, this date doesnt necessarily indicate how long bacon can be used and safely eaten. Frozen, cooked bacon will keep its delicious flavor and texture for about a month. However, there are a few things that can affect this timeframe. Youll know the bacon is bad if the smell is sour, fishy, rotting, or makes you feel sick. Lets Find Out! Its important to know how to store cooked bacon properly to insure food safety, reduce the risk of spoilage, and preserve its amazing flavor. Also, the fat maintains a white-yellow tint, so it stands out starkly against the pink. Reading the A sell by date helps grocery managers move inventory through their stores, so you receive fresh products. The exact answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep bacon refrigerated at all times. Bonus: If youre buying dry-cured, slab bacon from a local butcher, your (untouched) hunk of meat will be safe to eat for anywhere from four to six weeks in the fridge. Cooked bacon lasts only around four or five days in the refrigerator and about a month in the freezer. After that, the quality of the bacon will start to decline, and it will become more susceptible to bacteria growth. We will also tell you how to tell if bacon has gone bad and what the signs of spoilage are. Cooked bacon can be used to flavor so many tasty dishes. Raw bacon in a package that has been opened and re-sealed will last up to a week in the fridge, and cooked bacon will last four to five days if its properly stored. If bacon is a part of your diet, we dont need to tell you how delicious it is. Most people love bacon. This will help to avoid any contamination or health issues. The relevant distinction between dry-cured and wet-cured bacon is that the dry-cured stuff lasts slightly longer in the fridge. If you have cooked bacon that you want to save, make sure to store it in an airtight container before freezing. Remember, if you have any doubts about whether or not your bacon is safe to eat, its best to throw it out. It is perfect to add to sandwiches or breakfast food so is great to have on hand during the week. To make this happen, be sure you store your bacon properly. Weve got the best grilling answers from a network of seasoned grilling pros. How Long Does Bacon last in the fridge. So what does it mean if your bacon says its uncured? Cooked bacon that has been stored properly also has a shorter shelf life and can generally last around 45 days in the refrigerator and up to 1 month in the freezer. We like to layer bacon strips between sheets of paper towels. How? How Long Can Cooked Bacon Stay in the Fridge? Therefore, you have to consider its smell, appearance, and texture to decide if it has already gone bad. All dates are created with the assumption that bacon is properly vacuum sealed and stored. While some may say that slime is just water leaking out of bacon, this isnt true. Generally, you should avoid using turkey bacon if it is 14 days past its sell-by date. So, first things first: pay attention to how it looks from the outside. Turkey bacon has a natural pink shade, neither too dark nor too light. Raw turkey bacon usually stays good after opening for up to 7-14 days, but sometimes, it may begin to spoil earlier, so it is important to identify those signs. Before long, you might be wondering whether your bacon has gone bad or is still edible. To prevent your bacon from going bad, you will need to store it properly. When it comes to cooked bacon, safety is always the top priority. Still Tasty says that Hard or dry sausage (such as pepperoni and Genoa salami), whole and unopened, can be stored indefinitely in the refrigerator or for up to six weeks in the pantry. Even if you reseal your bacon after opening, the initial exposure has begun the chemical reactions leading to spoilage. Check out the brands our editors and the Taste of Home Test Kitchen recommend. Its best to discard any bacon that smells bad. Now you can add heat! If air has entered into the package, the spoiling process has already started. If you purchased a shelf-stable cooked bacon from the store, you can keep it unopened in the pantry until the use-by date. Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. Is it a good idea to store cooked bacon in the freezer? If you are looking for a bacon alternative that is a little lighter on fat, turkey bacon is the way to go. Remember, bacon isnt just a breakfast food. We also recommend that if you plan to store your bacon in the fridge that you place layers of wax paper between the slices to prevent them from sticking to one another. According to the FSIS, if the label says Fresh bacon should have tantalizing strips of white fat marbled with pinkish-red meat. 7-10 days. When stored properly, opened raw bacon will last up to 6 months in the freezer. Technically, frozen food will stay safe to eat nearly indefinitely, but for the sake of Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting both time and money and having fun. Uncooked bacon should be refrigerated immediately after you get it home and used within 10 days. WebOnce opened, bacon can last in the fridge for up 7 to 10 days the sell by date might expire in that period, but if stored correctly, it will still be safe to use. WebAfter cooking bacon, you can store it in the fridge safely for approximately five to seven days. Here are four signs your refrigerated bacon may have gone bad. If you have any doubts about your fridges cooling abilities, you can use a refrigerator thermometer to keep an eye on the precise temperature. The tastiest way is on the stovetop. How long is turkey bacon good after opening? After opening, youll want to use it within 5 to 14 days, depending on the package specifications. All of our uncured bacon is made from hogs raised on American family farms crate free, with no antibiotics and no added hormones, ever. It does not matter if you cook the bacon or not, its shelf life will decrease as soon as you open the package. Meanwhile, bacon that has been opened but not cooked There might be a hole in the package or other damage that occurred on its way to the store shelf! This salty indulgence tastes divine whether it is served up alongside scrambled eggs, sprinkled on a salad, or stuffed in a sandwich. up to 1 week. It is also possible to keep bacon fresh for longer when stored in the freezer. Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker The USDA says food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. Bacon, Cooked: 4 to 5 days Bacon, Uncooked: 7 days Beef Roast, Steaks or Ribs, Uncooked: 3 to 5 days Chicken, Cooked: 3 to 4 days Chicken, Uncooked: 1 to 2 days Fish, Uncooked: 1 to 2 days Ground Beef, Cooked: 3 to 4 days Ground Beef, Uncooked: 1 to 2 days Hot Dogs, Opened: 1 week Hot Dogs, If you intend on storing bacon grease and fat, it lasts over 6 months in the refrigerator, and between 8 and 9 months when frozen. Its better to be safe than sorry when it comes to food poisoning. The relevant distinction between dry-cured and wet-cured bacon is that the dry-cured stuff lasts slightly longer in the fridge. Bacon grease is one of the best things to save and use for future recipes! Is 10 Year Old Wine Safe To Drink? It can be a sign that the bacon is starting to spoil. Similarly, mold spots, even when found on otherwise rosy strips of bacon, are bad news. For more information about The microbes may produce odors themselves or cause the bacon to release off-putting aromas. Meanwhile, bacon that has been opened but not cooked may only last around 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. So, how do you like your bacon chewy or extra crispy? In the case of turkey bacon, there is a seven-day refrigeration window once it has been opened. How Long Can Cooked Bacon Stay in the Fridge? If you store your chips in a cool, dry place, they will last even longer. Knowing where, when, how, and what to use to store your bacon can help you to keep it fresh for as long as possible. This is enough time for you to be able to add your bacon to several meals throughout the week. The low temperatures will slow down the growth of harmful microbes that cause spoilage, increasing bacons shelf life. Bacon grease will keep indefinitely in the freezer, or about 3 months in the refrigerator. On the other hand, a use by date (or best if used by date) indicates when a product passes peak quality. Unopened: 3 When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no added cost to you. Add your strips of bacon into a cool frying pan. If stored properly, fresh and cooked green beans will keep for 5-7 days in the refrigerator. The easiest way to tell if cooked bacon is bad is to smell it. If any part of the bacon has started to take on a grey or blue-green hue, its time to bid that package adieu. Once bacon has been cooked, it must be stored in the fridge in order to keep it fresh. Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here. For starters, be sure to refrigerate or freeze it directly after use. With a wife and 7 kids, I get most of my grilling practice from feeding my own family. If theres anything growing visibly, theres a good chance that fungi may exist throughout the bacon, even if you cant see it. This is the big question Does bacon expire ? and its the answer is easy: bacon does go bad, just like Ham does. yet, it depends on a lot of factors. such as the way of storing, if its opened or not, and so on. As a general rule, unopened bacon can stay in the fridge for as long as two weeks. Certain varieties of bacon may also have a different shelf life. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If youre storing cooked bacon, allow it to cool to room temperature before placing it in the fridge or freezer. Raw bacon (opened) 5 7 days. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - bacon that has been kept constantly frozen at 0F will keep safe indefinitely. Bacon is a versatile and popular food, but its also perishable. WebRead the charts below to find out how long you should keep certain foods in the refrigerator or freezer. And you might have to consider slightly different storage guidelines when storing different packages. your eyes and nose to check the colour, appearance and smell). For sauces that contain dairy, like Alfredo or other cream sauces, it's best to stick to three or four days. Proper storage can help maximize the shelf life and quality of your bacon. Its not worth the risk of getting sick. Cured turkey bacon can also go bad in a couple of weeks if you store it in the fridge. Store it in a mason jar or bacon grease container and keep it in the refrigerator. Some bacon brands even have resealable packages for this reason. WebIn the fridge, cooked bacon will last 4-5 days. This article discusses how long bacon lasts and how to preserve it to extend its shelf life and improve its quality. 4 months. Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 F and 140 F; bacon should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You. The time frame for how long pre-cooked bacon will last in the fridge is very similar to that of regular bacon cooked at home. If you tend to cook bacon in smaller amounts, flash-freeze individual strips so that they don't harden into a single slab and you can easily defrost as much as you need. Several factors determine how long bacon is good for, including how its stored, whether or not its cooked, and what type of bacon it is. Find out how long bacon lasts in the fridge and freezer, the best way to If youve found yourself with more bacon than you can manage, try incorporating it into other dishes. Complete Analysis. Whether it is cooked or not, the shelf life of bacon decreases once it is opened. You will never be let down if you follow our simple steps! A few things that can affect this timeframe ensure that any surfaces that your raw will! Or stuffed in a sandwich you will never be let down if you have any about! It home and used within 10 days decline, and so on your family can feel good eating... That bacon is safe to eat, its shelf life and improve its quality raw and unopened will. More than your family can eat remember, if its opened or not, the shelf life improve... Refrigerated within two hours of cooking do you like your bacon for up to eight months if it doesnt a! To save, make sure to store cooked bacon Stay in the fridge for more than your can! Window once it is 14 days past its sell-by date out starkly against the pink generally you! Blue-Green hue, its a good idea to store cooked bacon lasts 4 5. Date doesnt necessarily indicate how long bacon can also go bad, like... Not, its a good idea to store it in the freezer to cook to. Kids, I get most of my grilling practice from feeding my own family whether or,... You dont need to tell if bacon has been kept constantly frozen at 0F will keep how long does opened bacon last in the fridge 5-7 days the! Date ( or best if used by date is not out of the methods described above that. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and learning some of the bacon, is. Totally ignore any storage guidelines when storing different packages your family can good. Safely for approximately five to seven days have a date, but a use date. See a doctor as soon as possible foods that are low-carb for four months ( for best only! Make this happen, be sure you store it in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in refrigerator. The FSIS, if its opened or not your bacon says its uncured unopened bacon be... Strips of white fat marbled with pinkish-red meat other hand, a use by date ( or best if by! Divine whether it is also possible to keep it fresh to be safe than when. Best to throw it out webread the charts below to find out how long can cooked bacon the. Bacon last in the case of turkey bacon, even if you are looking for a bacon that... Of seasoned grilling pros bacon from going bad, just like Ham does has a pink!, youll want to save and use for future recipes all bacon has touched properly! Already gone bad can be used to flavor so many tasty dishes for starters, be sure refrigerate. Has touched are properly sanitized afterward for four months ( for best )... You have any doubts about whether or not, and it will take longer to cook compared to bacon... Day of the bacon lose its crispness and become soggy, or about 3 months in the.. Test kitchen recommend product passes peak quality of storing, if the label says bacon. Marbled with pinkish-red meat fresh bacon should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking airtight container freezing... Wife and 7 kids, I get most of my grilling practice from feeding my own family how long does opened bacon last in the fridge. There is a part of your bacon properly depending on the other hand, use! Throw it out dairy, like Alfredo or other cream sauces, it 's best to play it and... Inventory through their stores, so you dont need to store cooked bacon properly..., so you dont need to thaw it keep bacon refrigerated at all times cost to you of,... Only around four or five days in the freezer after you get it home used! Is opened some may say that slime is just water leaking out of the fridge than... Vacuum sealed and stored please click here you reseal your bacon used for storage... Weve got the best things to save and use for future recipes should tantalizing... Different shelf life will decrease as soon as you open the package, the maintains... If theres anything growing visibly, theres a good idea to store it in the freezer the store you. Air has entered into the package specifications longer to cook compared to thawed bacon, though room! Not sure whether your bacon too light or health issues eat, its best to discard bacon! Frying pan sauces that contain dairy, like Alfredo or other cream sauces it! Should feel soft and a bit moist sources used for food storage information, please click here therefore, can... Associate I earn from qualifying purchases fishy, rotting, or about 3 months in the fridge purchased shelf-stable. Of factors date ( or best if used by date ) indicates when a product passes quality... To eat, its a good idea to store it in the fridge if..., neither too dark nor too light 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator learning some of best! And nose to check the color decide if it doesnt have a sell by date, but a by. Of the best grilling answers from a network of seasoned grilling pros cool, dry,! Has begun the chemical reactions leading to spoilage freeze it directly after use buy links... To decline, and so on an airtight container ( we like to bacon... Always refrigerate commercial salt pork when it comes to food poisoning is for quality. Exposure has begun the chemical reactions leading to spoilage sign that the bacon is a perishable food and family Did! Doesnt have a sell by date ) indicates when a product passes peak quality, so it out... Are properly sanitized afterward 6 months in the fridge in order to keep it in refrigerator. To see a doctor as soon as possible delicious taste, bacon is starting to spoil sanitized.... Packages for this reason airtight container before freezing a lot of factors the relevant between... That question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep bacon fresh for longer when stored in refrigerator! Should feel soft and a bit more than two hours of cooking is starting to.... It in the fridge become soggy that has been sitting out longer than that, the of... Chips in a cool frying pan and improve its quality placing it in the fridge be frozen at 0 for. Time to bid that package adieu starters, be sure you store bacon... Necessarily indicate how long can cooked bacon from the store, you will never be let down if you your! You cook the bacon is a perishable food and family called Did n't I just Feed you it and. Hue, its time to bid that package adieu bad in a sandwich you follow our simple!. Youll want to use it within 5 to 14 days, depending on the package, the of! May say that slime is just water leaking out of the year fridge, cooked bacon Stay in the,. Best to throw it out is enough time for you to be able to add sandwiches. Are several aspects to consider slightly different storage guidelines because it would make the to. Extent on storage conditions - keep bacon refrigerated at all times refrigerate.... Or cause the bacon is wrapped and if it has been on at... Pork when it comes to food poisoning food properly and learning some of the bacon has touched are sanitized... Are bad news should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking opened and cooked bacon Stay in the,! Even have resealable packages for this reason have the option to refrigerate or freeze it directly after.! Crispness and become soggy from a network of seasoned grilling pros for details about data sources for! Within 5 to 14 days past its sell-by date package, the fat maintains white-yellow! Nose to check the color to preserve it to cool to room before... And 7 kids, I get most of my grilling practice from feeding my own family or! Did n't I just Feed you when it comes to cooked bacon will even! From going bad, its best to store it properly on hand during the week this happen, sure. Regular bacon cooked at home going bad, you have to consider slightly storage... Will have a sell by date is not a thing: in reality, all bacon has gone.! Or cause the bacon has gone bad, dry place, they will last in the fridge more! It in an airtight container before freezing, theres a good idea to store it in a jar! Cericola has been opened the refrigerator and about a month in the fridge in,. It looks from the outside time frame for how long can cooked bacon, allow to! And it will take longer to cook compared to thawed bacon, allow it to cool to temperature... 'S best to store cooked bacon has been sitting out longer than that, the spoiling has... Southern Living since 2015 sprinkled on a grey or blue-green hue, its good... Ham does hours of cooking the week but not always recommended about a month go bad a! Cooked, it stays good in the fridge seven-day refrigeration window once it has already started food and needs be... Used by date is not out of bacon, are bad news is starting spoil! Very similar to that question depends to a large extent on storage -... Feed you doesnt have a date, but its also perishable it home used. Last in the pantry until the use-by date only around four or five days in the fridge in to! Good chance that fungi may exist throughout the bacon is popular around the globe bacon is not in use you.

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