Bacon ingredient

All About Bacon

proteins

Your complete guide to bacon - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.

5 storage methods
23 substitutes

How Long Does Bacon Last?

Storage times and freshness tips for bacon in different conditions.

Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.

unopened raw in fridge
1-2 weeks past 'sell-by' date, or until 'use-by' date

Signs of Spoilage

Sour, strong, or ammonia-like smell; slimy or sticky texture; dull, grayish-brown, or greenish discoloration; visible mold.

How to Check

  1. Smell Test: Open the package and take a sniff. Fresh bacon has a mild, slightly smoky, salty aroma. A strong, off, sour, or putrid odor is a clear sign of spoilage.

  2. Visual Inspection: Examine the color. Fresh bacon is pinkish-red with white fat. Any significant discoloration to gray, green, or brown, or the presence of fuzzy mold, indicates it's gone bad.

  3. Touch Test: If it feels slimy or sticky to the touch, it should be discarded.

Storage Tips

Always store bacon on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator to prevent any potential drips onto other foods. Ensure the fridge temperature is maintained at or below 40°F (4°C).

opened raw in fridge
5-7 days

Signs of Spoilage

Sour, strong, or ammonia-like smell; slimy or sticky texture; dull, grayish-brown, or greenish discoloration; visible mold.

How to Check

  1. Smell Test: Even if it looked okay, always do a quick sniff. Any off-odor means it's time to discard.

  2. Visual Inspection: Look for color changes (gray, green, brown) or mold.

  3. Touch Test: Feel for sliminess or stickiness.

Storage Tips

To minimize air exposure and prevent cross-contamination, re-wrap opened bacon tightly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. This also helps prevent it from absorbing odors from other foods.

raw in freezer
4-6 months for best quality (safe indefinitely if kept consistently frozen)

Signs of Spoilage

Significant freezer burn (dry, discolored patches on the surface) indicates quality degradation, though it remains safe. After thawing, if it exhibits typical raw bacon spoilage signs (sour smell, sliminess, discoloration), it was likely compromised before freezing or during thawing.

How to Check

  1. Visual Inspection (Frozen): Check for excessive freezer burn. While safe to eat, heavily freezer-burnt bacon will have a poor texture and flavor.

  2. Post-Thaw Inspection: Once thawed, treat it like opened raw bacon. Perform smell, look, and touch tests before cooking.

Storage Tips

For optimal quality, wrap the original package of bacon tightly in an additional layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place it in a heavy-duty freezer-safe bag, squeezing out as much air as possible. Label with the date. Thaw bacon slowly in the refrigerator, never at room temperature, to maintain safety and quality.

cooked in fridge
3-5 days

Signs of Spoilage

Off-smell (sour, rancid, or generally unpleasant); slimy or sticky texture (even if it was crispy when cooked); visible mold growth (white, green, or black fuzzy spots); dull or faded color compared to freshly cooked.

How to Check

  1. Smell Test: Cooked bacon should still have a pleasant, smoky aroma. Any sour, rancid, or 'off' smell means it's spoiled.

  2. Visual Inspection: Look for mold or any unusual discoloration.

  3. Touch Test: If the bacon feels slimy or sticky, even slightly, it's best to discard it.

Storage Tips

Allow cooked bacon to cool completely within two hours of cooking before storing it in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or foil in the refrigerator. This prevents condensation and keeps it fresh longer.

cooked in freezer
1-2 months for best quality (safe longer, but quality degrades)

Signs of Spoilage

Heavy freezer burn, leading to a dry, brittle texture and potential off-flavors. If thawed and it has an off-smell or feels slimy, it was likely not stored properly or was old before freezing.

How to Check

  1. Visual Inspection (Frozen): Check for significant freezer burn.

  2. Post-Thaw Inspection: After thawing, perform a smell test. While the texture might be slightly different, it shouldn't have any off-odors.

Storage Tips

To freeze cooked bacon effectively, let it cool completely. You can then lay individual strips on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. This prevents clumping and allows you to take out just what you need. Reheat thoroughly before serving.