How to store bacon for 7 days in the fridge or 4 months frozen
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 7 days
Refrigerate bacon right away at 40°F (4°C) or below, and use it within 7 days or freeze it.
Watch out Molds can grow on bacon even in the refrigerator, so throw out moldy bacon.
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Freezer
Keeps for 4 months
Freeze bacon at 0°F (-18°C) if you won't use it within 7 days.
Watch out Bacon kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only its quality drops the longer it stays frozen.
Bacon lasts 7 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below and 4 months in the freezer. Bacon you cooked yourself keeps 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer. Bad bacon usually has an off odor or feels sticky or slimy, and moldy bacon should be thrown out. Bacon grease keeps 6 months in the refrigerator.
Buying bacon this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
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Bacon keeps 7 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. Thanks to the added salt and nitrite, it’s far less perishable than other raw meat, yet it still goes bad.
Cooked bacon, Canadian bacon, dry-cured bacon, and bacon grease each have their own times, and the table further down lists them all.
How long does bacon last in the fridge?
Bacon lasts 7 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Take it home right away, refrigerate it, and use it within 7 days or freeze it at 0°F (-18°C).
Beef bacon, turkey bacon, and pancetta keep the same 7 days in the refrigerator and 4 months in the freezer.
Use or freeze bacon with a sell-by date within 7 days of purchase. If there’s a use-by date, follow it. A date that passes after you freeze bacon doesn’t matter, because food stays safe while frozen.
How long is bacon good for after opening?
Opened shelf-stable cooked bacon keeps 5 to 14 days in the refrigerator, canned bacon keeps 3 to 4 days, and bacon bits made with real bacon keep up to 6 weeks. Regular raw bacon keeps 7 days in the refrigerator, so use it or freeze it within that time.
How long does bacon last?
Regular bacon lasts 7 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer, and other types differ. The table follows the USDA’s Bacon and Food Safety page and its FoodKeeper data. Freezer times are for quality, because food kept at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe.
| Type | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon, including beef bacon, turkey bacon, and pancetta | 7 days | 4 months |
| Sliced Canadian bacon | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Dry-cured sliced bacon | 4 weeks | 3 months |
| Dry-cured slab bacon | 4 to 6 weeks | 3 months |
| Bacon cured without nitrites | 3 weeks | 6 months |
| Cooked bacon you made yourself | 4 to 5 days | 1 month |
| Refrigerated cooked bacon from the store | Follow the use-by date | 3 months |
| Shelf-stable cooked bacon, after opening | 5 to 14 days | 3 months |
| Canned bacon, after opening | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Bacon bits made with real bacon, after opening | Up to 6 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
| Bacon grease | 6 months | 12 months |
Which bacon keeps without refrigeration?
Dry-cured sliced bacon keeps 10 days without refrigeration, and dry-cured slab bacon keeps 3 weeks. Canned bacon keeps 2 to 5 years in the pantry, and unopened bacon bits made with real bacon stay in the pantry until the sell-by date.
Uncured bacon is different. It must be kept refrigerated below 40°F (4°C) at all times.
How long can bacon sit out?
Bacon shouldn’t sit out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it’s above 90°F (32°C).
Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. The USDA calls this range the Danger Zone.
Dry-cured bacon is the exception, with the times without refrigeration listed above. Uncured bacon, on the other hand, must be kept refrigerated below 40°F (4°C) at all times.
How long does cooked bacon last in the fridge?
Bacon you cooked yourself keeps 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer.
Refrigerate cooked bacon within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer.
Store-bought cooked bacon has a use-by date to follow. Shelf-stable cooked bacon also stays unopened at 85°F (29°C) or below until that date. Both keep 3 months in the freezer for best quality.
How to store bacon grease
Store bacon grease in the refrigerator for 6 months or in the freezer for 12 months. Those are the times in the USDA’s FoodKeeper app data.
How to tell if bacon is bad
Spoiled bacon usually fades or darkens and also has an off odor, feels sticky or tacky, or is slimy. Bacon with these signs should not be used.
Color change alone doesn’t mean bacon is spoiled, so check the smell and the feel too.
Does bacon go bad?
Yes, bacon goes bad. Molds can grow on cured, salty meats such as bacon, even in the refrigerator. Throw out moldy bacon.
Why does bacon turn gray or green?
Cured meats like bacon can turn grayish or green where light and oxygen break down the color pigments formed by curing. That color change alone doesn’t mean the bacon is spoiled, so check the smell and feel before you decide.
Can you freeze bacon?
Yes, you can freeze bacon at 0°F (-18°C), and it keeps 4 months for best quality. Freeze it if you won’t use it within 7 days.
Bacon kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only quality suffers with long freezer storage. Freezer burn, which shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, doesn’t make food unsafe. Cut those parts away before or after cooking.
Can you cook frozen bacon?
Yes, it’s safe to cook bacon from frozen, so you can skip thawing. If you’d rather thaw it first, use one of the safe methods below.
How to thaw bacon fast
Thaw bacon in cold water or in the microwave, and cook it right after either way. A 1-pound package of bacon may thaw in cold water in an hour or less. Never thaw bacon on the counter or in hot water.
- In cold water, keep the bacon in a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold tap water, and change the water every 30 minutes.
- In the microwave, cook the bacon right away.
- In the refrigerator, bacon stays safe for 7 days before cooking, and you can refreeze it without cooking it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cut mold off bacon?
No, throw out moldy bacon. High-moisture food can be contaminated below the surface, and bacteria can grow along with the mold.
How long does turkey bacon last?
Turkey bacon keeps 7 days in the refrigerator and 4 months in the freezer, the same as regular bacon. Beef bacon and pancetta keep the same times.
How long does Canadian bacon last?
Sliced Canadian bacon keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and 4 to 8 weeks in the freezer.
Can you refreeze bacon?
Yes, if you thawed it in the refrigerator, and you don't need to cook it first. Bacon thawed in cold water or the microwave has to be cooked before you refreeze it.
Can you brown bacon and finish cooking it later?
No. Never brown or partly cook raw bacon and refrigerate it to finish cooking later. Cook it completely.
Can cooked bacon sit out overnight?
No. Refrigerate cooked bacon within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
