There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning. If you’re anything like us, there probably won’t be any leftover bacon. But in the off chance that you need to store bacon in the fridge for a few days, here are some tips!
Uncooked bacon
If you are storing unopened uncured bacon in the fridge, it will last about one week past the “sell by” date on the package. In the freezer, unopened bacon could last up to six months. Unopened bacon may last roughly two weeks in the fridge and eight months in the freezer.
Once the package has been opened, as long as it is well stored in a sealed container, uncooked bacon is good for a week. Sealed in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer, the bacon could last for about a month.
Cooked bacon
If you’ve cooked up more bacon than you can eat, you can store it in a well-sealed container for five to seven days in the refrigerator before it goes bad. If you don’t think you’ll be able to eat it in that time, you can freeze cooked bacon for about a month.
How to know if your bacon has gone bad
As soon as a package of bacon has been opened, it is exposed to bacteria in the air. This bacteria instantly begins a chemical reaction on the meat that leads to it going bad. Even if you are able to reseal it well, chances are it will be bad after about a week. But there are some signs you can look for when checking to see if your bacon has gone bad.
Discoloration
Bacon should have vibrant pink-colored meat and white streaks of fat. If it has started to go bad, its color will be off. If the bacon in your fridge has a grayish, greenish, or brownish shade, it’s time to throw it out.
Smell
Bacon should not have a strong smell. It may have a smoky scent or smell like the seasonings used on it, but it should not be very distinct. If you open the package and smell a sulphuric or sour smell, that means the bacteria has spread throughout the meat, and the bacon has gone bad.
Slime
If bacon is good, it will be soft and slightly moist. If your bacon feels slimy at all, it is definitely bad. This slimy feeling is not water, but rather bacteria that has started breaking down the meat. If it is slimy, it isn’t worth the risk.
Mold
Sometimes, mold may start growing on bacon that has gone bad. It may be tempting to cut off the moldy part and eat the rest of the strip, but don’t do it! Any mold that you can see is an indicator of fungi growing that you may not see. The safest bet is to throw moldy bacon out.
The Best Bacon Around
When you are ready to restock your bacon supply, Pederson’s has you covered! We have several bacon options for you to enjoy. As always, all of our bacon is uncured, humanely raised, and gluten, lactose, and MSG-free.
