How Long Is Cooked Bacon Good For?

Bacon is a real treat for many of us and it’s an ingredient in numerous delicious recipes. If you happened to prepare an extra large batch and you have leftovers you might be wondering how long is cooked bacon good for? Keep reading to find out how long it stays safe to eat, signs of spoilage, storage tips, and more!

You might be surprised to find out there are various types of bacon besides American bacon, and you can see the most popular ones in our pork belly vs. bacon guide.

Nevertheless, classic bacon is made from pork belly that’s smoked and cured. These two processing methods are good for preserving meat but even so, it won’t last forever!

How Long Does Uncooked Bacon Last?

As far as safe eating is concerned, it’s just as important to know if your bacon is still good BEFORE you cook it, not just after.

Uncooked bacon in the original, sealed packaging stays safe to eat for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, and up to 8 months in the freezer.

Once you open the package, it will be exposed to oxygen and bacteria and the process of degradation can’t be stopped. Of course, if you reseal it, it will be slowed down.

As a result, uncooked bacon in an opened packaging stays good for one week in the fridge.

With no plans for immediate use, it’s a good idea to seal it in a vacuum bag and freeze it. This way it will stay safe to eat for up to 6 months.

How Long Is Cooked Bacon Good For?

Cooked bacon has a much shorter shelf life even when stored correctly. It will stay safe to eat for 4-5 days in the fridge and up to 30 days in the freezer.

Let’s not forget about that delicious bacon grease we can use to add flavor to so many dishes! You can save it and keep it in the refrigerator up to 6 months or up to 9 months in the freezer.

As I already mentioned, there are many bacon varieties and some of them will have a different shelf lives.

Beef bacon, pancetta, and turkey bacon can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for the same amount of time as regular bacon.

Canadian bacon stays safe to eat in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for 1-2 months.

How To Tell If Bacon Has Gone Bad

Like most foods, bacon has a limited shelf life and even if you took all the necessary precautions to store it correctly, it will spoil eventually.

We already discussed how long is cooked bacon good for. If the recommended safe eating period is almost over, you might wonder if it’s gone bad or not.

Here’s how to tell if it’s still safe to eat:

Odor

All spoiled meat smells nasty, or at least unappealing in initial stages. This happens when bacteria, fungi, and yeast contaminate the bacon.

Fresh bacon has a smoky odor and that could prevent you from sniffing the spoilage. If you’re not sure about the smell, look at the other signs below.

Texture

If your bacon has a slimy texture, it has probably gone bad. Don’t mistake that slime with the moist and soft texture fresh bacon has. The slime is produced by contaminating bacteria breaking down the meat.

Rinsing the bacon with water to remove the slime won’t make it safe to eat. Bacteria will still be present in the meat so your best bet is to get rid of it.

Discolorations

It’s easy to see when bacon is fresh: the strips of fat are white and the layers of meat are a bright shade of pink.

If your bacon has brown, gray, or green hues it means bacteria and/or fungi have taken hold and should be discarded.

Mold

In some cases, the bacteria, yeasts, and fungi colonizing the bacon can be visible on its surface. It doesn’t happen all the time, but if you see any kind of mold or growth on the bacon it’s definitely not safe to eat anymore.

Simply removing the moldy areas is not enough. It’s probably spread throughout the bacon even if you can’t see it.

Bacon Storage Tips To Prevent Spoilage

For the bacon shelf life guidelines above to stand true, you’ll need to store it properly.

Here are some tips you should follow to make sure it stays safe to eat for as long as possible:

• Never leave bacon at room temperature whether it’s raw or cooked. Refrigerate or freeze it as soon as possible.
• When freezing uncooked bacon in its original sealed packaging it’s a good idea to wrap it with aluminum foil or cling film to avoid freezer burn.
• Opened uncooked bacon should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped in foil before freezing or refrigerating.
• A whole slab of bacon will last a few weeks in the fridge if wrapped in foil and place in an airtight container. Vacuum-sealed bags would also work.

Depending on the type of bacon you’re using here’s how to handle it after cooking for proper storage.

• Regular bacon slices – Let the bacon slices cool and place them in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in cling film or aluminum foil. The goal is to minimize exposure to air and bacteria so you’ll want to make the wrapping as airtight as possible.
• Thick-cut bacon – This type of bacon is best stored in the freezer tightly wrapped in several layers of wax paper. You can also freeze it in a heavy-duty freeze bag.
• Bacon bits – Small pieces of bacon are used in so many recipes and they can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for 5-6 days. In the freezer, they can last up to 6 months.

How To Reheat Cooked Bacon Stored In The Fridge

It makes sense if you stored cooked bacon leftovers in the fridge, you won’t want to eat them cold.

You can reheat bacon in several ways:

• In the microwave – Place the bacon in a microwave-save dish or plate, cover it with a paper towel and heat it on the highest setting for 15-20 seconds per slice.
• In a skillet – Reheat the bacon over medium-high heat in a single layer. The slices should be warm in a few minutes.
• In the oven – Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet. Let it reheat for about 5 minutes (you should hear it sizzle).
• In the air fryer – Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook the bacon in a single layer for 3 minutes.

Favorite Bacon Recipes

Looking for ways to use that opened pack of bacon? We’ve got your back!

These recipes are well loved in my family, easy to make, and the chances of having leftovers are slim to none.

• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
• Asian Bacon Green Bean Bundles
• Bacon Wrapped Smoked Pork Tenderloin
• Bacon Wrapped Grilled Bison Meatballs
• Bacon Wrapped Mushroom Kabobs
• Grilled Bacon On A Stick
• Grilled Twisted Bacon
• Grilled Chicken Livers Wrapped In Bacon
• Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Bombs
• Grilled Bacon Brussels Sprouts Kebabs
• Honey Mustard Glazed Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites
• Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

If you have a smoker, you definitely need to try home cured and smoked bacon! My family loves it so we try to make our own bacon at least once in a while.

F.A.Q.

Final Words

As a bacon fan, I’m sure you’ll be more at peace when eating it now that you know how long is cooked bacon good for.

Cooking and storing bacon correctly is extremely important if you want to keep it fresh for as long as possible.

Be sure to refrigerate or freeze cooked bacon as soon as is cools completely. If there are any signs of spoilage, the only safe option is to toss it.

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