Do you know how long is bacon good for after opening? I’ll show you the turkey, pork and chicken bacon expiration date (before and after opening).
Bacon has six naturally occurring compounds that produce umami flavor. Umami taste, which is a Japanese word that loosely translates to “deliciousness,” is responsible for that meaty, savory flavor that we all adore. Bacon fat degrades while cooking, releasing flavor components that are sweet, buttery, and salty at the same time. These are the main reasons bacon has such a unique flavor.
Adding that flavor to foods we already enjoy, such as french fries or hamburgers, creates a sensory explosion. The taste is derived from the pig belly before curing, smoking, and thinly slicing. It also contains oleic acid, which has been linked to decreased levels of depression in women.
Bacon’s popularity may be traced back to the late 1990s, when high-protein meals became a more prominent diet focus, thanks in part to the Atkins diet. Bacon-related events and gatherings have been reported since then, and bacon-related escapades have been highlighted in media stories. Like most people, you probably cook bacon daily and want it to last as long as possible while still tasting great. This article discusses how long bacon keeps — and how to store it to maximize its shelf life and quality.
Does bacon go bad?
While fresh bacon is tasty, improperly stored bacon spoils quickly and can cause disease due to bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Knowing if the bacon is of good quality is a vital aspect of healthy home cooking and eating.
Bacon is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, both of which aren’t as terrible as previously thought. Furthermore, the typical serving size of bacon is tiny.
Cooked bacon has a shorter shelf life when properly stored, lasting 4–5 days in the refrigerator and up to 1 month in the freezer.
The usual bacon expiration date
Several factors influence how long bacon lasts, including how it’s stored, whether or not it’s cooked, and the type of bacon. The usual expiration date for unopened bacon is 2 weeks in the fridge and 8 months in the freezer.
Always check the expiry date on the bacon package. If the “use by” date has passed, the bacon is no longer safe to eat. Always use bacon within seven days of purchase (“sell by”) or by the manufacturer’s “use by” date. You can also thaw and cook the bacon safely within four months of freezing it.
Take care not to mix up the “sell by” and “use by” dates. The first is the store’s recommendation, and the second is the manufacturer’s expiration date.
The “sell by” date indicates that you should consume the bacon sooner rather than later, but the bacon is still safe to eat (provided no other factors of poor storage are present).
How long is bacon good for after opening?
Meanwhile, opened but uncooked bacon will only keep in the refrigerator for about a week and up to 6 months in the freezer.
If you want to store the bacon grease after cooking, you can refrigerate it for 6 months or freeze it for up to 9 months before it gets rancid.
To ensure freshness, uncooked bacon that has been unsealed should be wrapped in tin foil or placed in an airtight container before keeping it in the refrigerator or freezer. Meanwhile, break opened cooked bacon into tiny bits and wrap in paper towels before freezing.
Unsliced bacon chunks can be refrigerated for several weeks by wrapping them in foil or storing them in an airtight container. However, keep in mind that they should not be refrigerated because they will go rotten rapidly.
How long is turkey bacon good after opening?
Certain bacon types may also have a shorter shelf life than others. Turkey bacon is made in the same way as ordinary bacon is.
So it should keep in the fridge for approximately a week. It might still be good after that, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Wrapping your bacon in groups of two or three slices and freezing it is occasionally worthwhile. Then simply grab a few frozen slices and cook as desired.
Turkey bacon will be usually fine to keep in the freezer for 3 months, and in the fridge for 7-14 days.
These are accurate dates only if you store it properly wrapped and don’t take it out to room temperature for longer periods. Turkey bacon lasts longer than plain cooked turkey since it is already seasoned and cured. To be safe, I never use it for more than 10 days.
Regular bacon
You can keep the bacon in the fridge (40 degrees Fahrenheit) for two weeks if it is unopened.
You have seven days to eat the raw bacon after you open it.
If the bacon in your fridge has a sell-by date written on it, you can safely keep it for two weeks until opened. If the “use by” date has passed, the bacon is no longer safe to eat.
Always use bacon within seven days of purchase (“sell by”) or by the manufacturer’s “use by” date. You can also thaw and cook the bacon safely within four months of freezing it.
Chicken bacon
You can safely keep and consume chicken bacon from the fridge for up to 2 weeks and freeze it for up to 8 months long.
Meanwhile, opened but uncooked bacon may only last about a week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.
If the package is unopened and the chicken bacon is stored properly, it can survive up to two weeks past the sell-by date.
It can also be securely frozen and stored in the freezer for up to 8 months. Fresh bacon can be stored in the fridge for a week after it has been opened, but cooked bacon should be consumed within 10 days.
Precooked bacon
Precooked bacon with proper storage also has a shorter shelf life, lasting 4–5 days in the refrigerator and up to 1 month in the freezer. If you want to keep the bacon grease after frying, it can be refrigerated for 6 months or frozen for up to 9 months before it goes rancid.
The package’s best before date is around four months from the date we purchased the bacon. That is a very long time! The box is resealable, which is quite convenient because you can simply take some bacon out as needed.
Refrigerate your precooked bacon for no more than 4 to 5 days. If you’re going to defrost your bacon strips, put them in the refrigerator for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to chill them and keep them from thawing other items in the freezer.
Tips to preserve bacon longer
Bacon can be stored properly for a few days to several months in the fridge or freezer, depending on the type and whether it has been cooked or opened. If you bought a package of bacon last week but didn’t use it, it may be still edible. The same could not be said if you had opened it, taken a whiff, and then resealed it, but if it is still sealed, it should last a little longer.
Freeze the bacon to keep it fresh for a long time. Bacon can be safely frozen at 0ºF/-17ºC or lower for up to 1-4 months. However, the USDA warns that frozen bacon loses quality after 1-2 months because bacon rancidity continues to develop in the freezer.
If you’ve already prepared the bacon, cook it and then store it in an airtight, resealable container in the fridge (dab the grease off first). Bacon can be stored for varying amounts of time depending on the type.
Cooked bacon in strips will keep in the fridge for about a week after cooking. It will keep for up to 6 months if frozen. Simply cook it a little less than you like it so that it doesn’t overcook when you heat it up. Bacon bits will keep in the fridge for about 6 weeks, and in the freezer for 6 months.
So, what did you think about our article? If you still have any questions, feel free to leave your comments below!
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