Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon is a family favorite. It tastes salty and is crispy and satisfying. The average American eats about 18 pounds of bacon a year, so it’s not surprising that it’s often gone within a day or two of being brought home from the store or delivered to your door.
However, sometimes your bacon might get pushed to the back of the fridge. Or perhaps you find yourself buying a bit more than your family can eat. Before long, you might be wondering whether your bacon has gone bad or is still edible.
No matter how natural the ingredients are that are used to cure and smoke our bacon, it doesn’t stay fresh forever. If you want to know if your bacon is safe to eat, let’s talk about how it was packaged and four signs that it’s time to throw it away. Table of Contents.
One of the best parts of cooking up a package of bacon is having those crispy, salty leftover strips to add to sandwiches, salads, pasta and more over the next few days. But how long does cooked bacon stay good in the fridge before it goes bad?
Below we’ll cover proper storage times and techniques to extend the shelf life of cooked bacon:
How Long Does Cooked Bacon Last in the Fridge?
Cooked bacon will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days if stored properly in an airtight container. To maximize fridge life:
-
Let bacon cool completely before refrigerating Don’t leave it out more than 2 hours
-
Store in a sealed container with as much air removed as possible.
-
Use within 3-4 days for best texture and flavor. Bacon older than this may taste rancid or stale.
-
Freeze any bacon you won’t eat within 4 days. It keeps for 2-3 months in the freezer.
The high salt content helps preserve cooked bacon in the fridge. With proper storage methods, it will retain good taste and crispiness for about 3-4 days after cooking.
How to Tell When Cooked Bacon Has Gone Bad
Check for these signs that your cooked bacon has spoiled and should be discarded:
-
Slimy texture – Bad bacon feels sticky, slimy, or tacky. Fresh bacon is dry to the touch.
-
Off odors – It smells sour, rancid, or “off.” Trust your nose.
-
Change in color – Moldy bacon may show fuzzy spots of green, black, or white.
-
Soft or hard texture – Bacon should be crispy. Discard if it loses crispness and becomes limp or rubbery.
When bacon looks, smells, or feels gross, remember the golden rule – when in doubt, throw it out! Don’t risk getting sick.
Proper Storage of Cooked Bacon
Storing cooked bacon properly is key to maintaining freshness and extending its fridge life. Follow these guidelines:
-
Let bacon cool for 10-15 minutes before refrigerating.
-
Transfer to an airtight container, removing as much air as possible.
-
Use shallow, air-tight containers so the bacon stays crisp.
-
Don’t crowd the container – too much contact promotes spoilage.
-
Keep leftovers on the bottom shelf or meat drawer where it’s coldest.
-
Use within 3-4 days and keep an eye on signs of spoilage.
Proper storage setup helps preserve the delicious flavor and satisfying crispness of cooked bacon for 3-4 days.
Freezing and Thawing Cooked Bacon
For longer storage, freeze any extra cooked bacon you won’t eat within 3-4 days. Here are some freezer tips:
-
Let cool completely, then seal in airtight bags or containers with no air exposure.
-
Portion bacon in servings so you can thaw only what you need at a time.
-
Label packages with contents and date. Use within 2-3 months for best quality.
-
Thaw frozen bacon overnight in the fridge. Don’t thaw on the counter at room temperature.
The freezer extends the shelf life of cooked bacon for a few months. Just be sure to thaw it safely in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.
How Should You Reheat Cooked Bacon?
When ready to eat frozen cooked bacon or chilled bacon leftovers, follow these reheating methods:
-
Microwave: Arrange bacon in a single layer and microwave for 15-30 seconds until hot and crispy.
-
Oven: Bake at 400°F for 4-5 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
-
Skillet: Fry over medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side to re-crisp.
-
Grill: Cook frozen or chilled bacon for 2-3 minutes per side on a hot grill.
Reheating returns the bacon to its warm, crispy glory. Avoid boiling, slow-cooking, or otherwise overcooking it into oblivion.
Serving and Using Leftover Cooked Bacon
Enjoy leftover cooked bacon within 3-4 days in any of these tasty ways:
-
Chop up bacon and add to salads, soups, casseroles, pasta, omelets, etc.
-
Make BLTs, club sandwiches, Cobb salads, or quiches.
-
Wrap the bacon around scallops, shrimp, chicken tenderloins, or steak tips before broiling.
-
Fry bacon bits in oil until crispy again, then use as garnish for roasted veggies or baked potatoes.
-
Crumble bacon on top of pizza, flatbreads, nachos, baked potatoes, or chili.
-
Toss crumbled bacon into cookie dough, muffin batter, cupcakes, and quick breads for a salty crunch.
With a bit of creativity, you can transform leftover cooked bacon into all kinds of mouthwatering dishes.
Cooked Bacon Storage FAQs
Get answers to some common questions about storing cooked bacon below:
How long does cooked bacon last unrefrigerated?
Only 2 hours max. Discard any bacon left out longer.
Can you freeze raw uncooked bacon?
Yes. It lasts in the freezer for 4-6 months with minimal quality loss.
Can cooked bacon be refrozen after thawing?
It’s not recommended. Refreezing causes texture changes. Cook within 3-4 days of thawing instead.
How long can you keep cooked bacon in the fridge?
3-4 days when stored properly in an airtight container.
What happens if you eat bad bacon?
You may get sick from bacteria like salmonella or listeria. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and cramps.
Can you microwave raw bacon?
It’s not recommended. The fat splatters, and the bacon may still be undercooked. It’s safer to cook on the stovetop or in the oven.
The Takeaway on Cooked Bacon Storage
To summarize proper storage guidelines for cooked bacon:
-
Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
-
Store in sealed containers with no air exposure.
-
Use cooked bacon within 3-4 days for best quality.
-
Freeze leftovers for 2-3 months to extend shelf life.
Knowing exactly how long cooked bacon stays fresh removes the guesswork. Follow these fridge and freezer storage tips to enjoy crisp, tasty bacon all week long.
Carefully Inspect the Packaging
Your bacon might still be bad even if the “use by” or “sell by” date on the package has passed. You might find a hole in the package or other damage on its way to the store shelf.
All dates are created with the assumption that bacon is properly vacuum sealed and stored. If air has entered into the package, the spoiling process has already started.
Before you buy bacon, check the package to make sure it’s sealed well and doesn’t show any signs of going bad.
How Long Is Bacon Safe to Eat After Opening?
It’s possible that you want to know how fast bacon goes bad now that you know how to tell.
As soon as you open a package of bacon, it becomes exposed to the air, and thus the bacteria and fungi lurking in the environment. Even if you reseal your bacon after opening, the initial exposure has begun the chemical reactions leading to spoilage. Therefore, you can expect open bacon to last for no longer than a week in the refrigerator, according to AllRecipes.