Want to know if the bacon you opened last week is still safe to eat? We’ll tell you how long different kinds of bacon are safe to keep.
There’s nothing quite like bacon, and the smell of it cooking makes your mouth water with hunger.
There is, of course, an expiration date on your bacon, but that only tells you how long it will last in the fridge without being opened. So, how long does bacon actually last once opened?.
How you store bacon and whether it’s cooked or not can make a big difference in how long it lasts. Another factor to consider is the type of bacon you have bought.
Most of the time, bacon that hasn’t been opened will last about two weeks in the fridge and up to eight months in the freezer.
If you open bacon but don’t cook it, it will stay good in the fridge for about a week and up to six months for sure.
Cooked bacon can be kept in the fridge for up to five days or frozen for up to one month.
Make sure you know how long your favorite foods will last in the fridge so you don’t waste anything!
Canadian bacon, also known as back bacon, is a popular type of cured and smoked bacon made from the meaty loin of a pig. With its distinctive lean, tender and lightly smoked flavor, Canadian bacon makes an excellent addition to eggs, sandwiches, pizza, salads and more. But like all perishable foods, it’s important to store Canadian bacon properly in the refrigerator or freezer to extend its shelf life and avoid food waste.
So how long does Canadian bacon last in the fridge once opened? Here’s a comprehensive guide on maximizing the shelf life of Canadian bacon and knowing when it’s time to toss it out.
An Overview of Canadian Bacon
Before diving into proper storage times, let’s first look at what sets Canadian bacon apart from other types of bacon:
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Canadian bacon is made from the lean loin muscle of a pig, while regular bacon typically uses pork belly meat which contains more fat. This makes Canadian bacon much leaner.
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It is brined or dry cured using salt, spices, sugar, and nitrites. This cures and adds flavor to the meat.
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The pork loin is then hot or cold smoked to infuse flavor. Hot smoking cooks the meat, while cold smoking does not.
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It is sold in whole loin form or presliced into round medallions. The low-fat content prevents Canadian bacon from being sold in regular bacon strip form.
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When cooked, it has a tender, ham-like texture and is less crunchy than belly bacon. The smoky, salty, cured flavors are milder as well.
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It typically contains fewer calories and less fat per serving compared to regular bacon
Knowing these basics will help you better understand proper storage and handling.
How to Store Canadian Bacon
Because it is cured and smoked, Canadian bacon keeps longer than fresh pork. But it is still perishable and requires refrigeration. Here are some tips for storing Canadian bacon:
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Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below and use by the “use by” date on the package.
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For maximum freshness, use opened Canadian bacon within 1 week. Discard if mold appears.
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Store unopened Canadian bacon in the original store packaging until ready to use. Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in a resealable bag.
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Arrange slices in a single layer with wax/barrier paper between each slice to prevent them from sticking together.
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Keep the surface of the meat covered in cling wrap to protect from air exposure and drying out.
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Don’t freeze Canadian bacon after thawing. Freezing, thawing, and refreezing reduces texture and flavor quality.
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For long term storage, freeze unopened Canadian bacon in the original packaging for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before use.
Follow these tips to ensure your Canadian bacon stays fresh and high quality during refrigerator storage.
Signs Your Canadian Bacon Has Gone Bad
Canadian bacon can last 1-2 weeks beyond any “sell by” or “use by” date if stored properly in the fridge. But there are visual and textural signs that indicate when it’s time to throw out your Canadian bacon:
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Sliminess – The surface feels excessively sticky, tacky, or slimy. This is a sign of spoilage bacteria growth.
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Off odors – An off-putting sour, ammonia, or rancid smell means the bacon has spoiled.
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Mold growth – Signs of fuzzy mold or black spot mold signals spoilage.
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Dryness/hardness – The meat feels overly dry and leathery. Fat portions turn yellow. This indicates the bacon has dried out.
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Discoloration – The meat has turned an unnatural shade of grey, brown, or green due to oxidation.
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Weird textures – You notice pits, hollow sections or soft spots that weren’t originally present. This can indicate gas pockets from bacteria.
When in doubt, remember the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out” applies here. Don’t risk getting sick from eating spoiled Canadian bacon.
How Long Does Canadian Bacon Last In The…
Now that we’ve covered proper storage methods and signs of spoilage, here is a handy table summarizing how long Canadian bacon lasts in the fridge, the freezer, and when cooked:
| Storage Method | Unopened Shelf Life | Opened Shelf Life | Signs it’s Gone Bad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 4-6 weeks | 1 week | Slimy, sticky, off-smell, mold |
| Freezer | 2-3 months | – | Frozen solid, frostbitten |
| Cooked | – | 3-4 days | Dries out, hardens, smells off |
As you can see, keeping Canadian bacon properly refrigerated and using it in a timely manner is important for enjoying it at peak quality.
Tips for Cooking and Eating Canadian Bacon
Once you’ve opened a package of Canadian bacon, try using it up within a week for the best texture, flavor and freshness:
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Add Canadian bacon to breakfast sandwiches, omelets, baked potato toppings and breakfast pizza.
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Wrap it around scallops, shrimp, chicken, or steak for an elevated take on surf n’ turf.
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Fry up Canadian bacon into crunchy bacon bits for topping salads, soups, and casseroles.
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Bake Canadian bacon topped chicken breasts for a flavorful, low-carb option.
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Make a Caesar salad more hearty by swapping in thick slices of Canadian bacon for croutons.
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Use it in place of ham in recipes like split pea soup, green bean casserole, and mustard-glazed Brussels sprouts.
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Roll up Canadian bacon with cream cheese and pickle slices for a quick keto snack.
With proper refrigeration, you can safely enjoy delicious Canadian bacon in all kinds of dishes for a week after opening. Follow the storage and food safety tips in this article to maximize the shelf life of Canadian bacon once opened. Trust your senses – if it smells bad or looks slimy or moldy, it’s time to discard it. But stored properly, Canadian bacon can add its signature smokehouse flavor to meals for days after opening.
Different kinds of bacon
There are actually several kinds of ‘bacon’. All the varieties listed below (except for Canadian bacon) have the same shelf life as mentioned above:
- Irish, English, or back bacon is another name for Canadian bacon. It is similar to ham and is made of thick, lean strips usually from the loin.
- Pancetta is also made from pork belly, but it is cured in a different way. It is usually sold in cubes or very thin slices.
- Turkey bacon is a healthier version of “bacon” made from the dark and light meat of a turkey that has been seasoned to taste like bacon and shaped like bacon.
- Beef bacon is made from the short plate of a cow. It is laden with fat and usually comes in thick wedges.
When stored in the fridge, cooked Canadian bacon only lasts three to four days. When frozen, it lasts up to eight weeks.
How to store bacon
Proper storage is a key factor in making sure that your bacon lasts as long as possible.
To help keep bacon fresh before freezing or putting it back in the fridge, any open package should be tightly wrapped in foil or put into a container that won’t let air in.
To store cooked bacon, cut it up into smaller pieces that can be used right away and put them on paper towels before freezing them.
If you have a piece of bacon that hasn’t been sliced, put it in foil or something else that won’t let air in. This will keep it fresh for a few weeks. Unlike sliced bacon, slabs of bacon should not be frozen.
How to Cure Back Bacon or Canadian Bacon
How long does Bacon last if cooked?
Once you open that package, bacon’s shelf life shortens whether you cook it or not. Raw bacon in a package that has been opened and re-sealed will last up to a week in the fridge, and cooked bacon will last four to five days if it’s properly stored. You can also store bacon in the freezer.
How long does Bacon last in the freezer?
You can also store bacon in the freezer. Uncooked, unopened bacon will last up to eight months in the freezer, while leftover raw bacon that’s properly stored will last up to six months in the freezer. Cooked bacon, stored properly, will last up to one month in the freezer. How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?
Can Bacon be refrigerated?
Proper storage can help maximize the shelf life and quality of your bacon. For starters, be sure to refrigerate or freeze it directly after use. Though uncooked and unopened bacon can be stored as is, you may want to wrap the package with tin foil if freezing to prevent freezer burn.
Can bacon grease be refrigerated after cooking?
If you choose to save bacon grease after cooking, it can be refrigerated for 6 months or frozen for up to 9 months before going rancid. Certain varieties of bacon may also have a different shelf life. For example, cooked Canadian bacon can be refrigerated for 3–4 days or frozen for 4–8 weeks.
How do you store bacon in the freezer?
You can maximize the shelf life of bacon in the freezer by overwrapping the original store packaging with airtight heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper or place the package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag in order to prevent freezer burn. How long does an unopened package of bacon last in the freezer?
How long does bacon grease last?
Leftover bacon grease, properly stored in an airtight container, should last up to six months in the refrigerator and up to nine months in the freezer. Bacon grease will have a rancid odor after it has gone bad, so if it smells bad or has any visible signs of mold, throw it out.