Bacon
Quick answer: Raw unopened bacon lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge; once opened, use it within 1 week. Cooked bacon keeps 4-5 days refrigerated. In the freezer, raw bacon holds for 6-8 months and cooked bacon for about 1 month.
Bacon is one of those things that lives in the fridge for a week, then quietly becomes a science experiment behind the eggs. The good news: it freezes beautifully, and a little upfront effort (we're talking two minutes) can stretch a $6 package into months of use. Here's what you actually need to know.
Pantry
Refrigerator
Freezer
How to store bacon
Keep raw bacon in its original sealed package in the coldest part of the fridge at 40°F or below. Once you've opened the package, re-wrap it tightly or move it to an airtight freezer bag, and if you're not cooking it within a week, just freeze it now (we listen and we don't judge). Cooked bacon goes into an airtight container in the fridge, or straight to the freezer if you made a big batch.
How to spot spoilage
Toss it if it smells sour or rancid, feels slimy or sticky to the touch, or has turned dull gray or greenish. Any one of those is enough.
Use it up before it spoils
- Crumble cooked strips over a baked potato or soup before it hits the 5-day mark.
- Wrap a handful of strips around Brussels sprouts or asparagus and roast them off tonight.
- Chop and render it down into bacon jam, it keeps longer than the raw strips and makes everything better.
- Stir crispy crumbles into deviled eggs or potato salad for a fast upgrade.
- Cook the whole package, freeze the strips flat on a baking sheet, then bag them, future you will be grateful.
Recipes to try
allrecipes.com
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
A dead-simple way to use up a few strips before they turn, the Brussels sprouts do most of the heavy lifting.
allrecipes.com
Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Skillet
One pan, whatever's left in the fridge, done in under 15 minutes, the classic use-it-up move.
allrecipes.com
Bacon Carbonara
A proper use for the last few strips: pasta, eggs, and bacon doing exactly what they were born to do.
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Best ways to preserve
- freeze
Frequently asked questions
Can you freeze bacon?
Yes, bacon freezes well. Raw unopened bacon lasts about 8 months in the freezer; opened raw bacon keeps for about 6 months. Cooked bacon is best used within 1 month of freezing. Press out excess air, label the date, and you're set.
Does bacon need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Raw and cooked bacon should always be kept refrigerated at 40u00b0F or below, or frozen. Leaving bacon at room temperature is not safe and is not recommended.
How long does bacon last after opening?
Once the package is opened, raw bacon lasts about 1 week in the fridge. If you're not going to use it within that window, move it to the freezer immediately.
How can you tell if bacon has gone bad?
Bad bacon smells sour or rancid, feels slimy or sticky on the surface, or has turned a dull gray or greenish color. If you notice any of those, throw it out, rinsing it won't make it safe.
How long does cooked bacon last in the fridge?
Cooked bacon keeps for 4-5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. If you've cooked more than you'll eat in that window, freeze the rest flat and bag it for later.