Turkey bacon has become a popular lower-fat alternative to traditional pork bacon But like any meat, it has a limited shelf life and can go bad if stored improperly or for too long. So how do you know if the turkey bacon lurking in your fridge has gone from tasty to nasty?
Here are some simple tips for determining if your turkey bacon is still safe to eat or ready for the trash.
Check the Sell-By Date
The first thing to look for is the sell-by or use-by date printed on the turkey bacon package This will give you a general guideline for how long the manufacturer recommends using the bacon
Turkey bacon typically lasts:
- Unopened: 2 weeks after the sell-by date
- After opening: 7-10 days
So if you open a package that’s already a week past the sell-by date, you have less time to use it up. When in doubt, remember this rule of thumb:
Consume turkey bacon within 1 week of opening the package.
While dates can be a helpful guide, don’t rely on them alone. Bacon can still spoil before the use-by date if stored improperly. Do the sniff, touch, and sight tests too.
Give It a Good Look
Next, inspect the color and texture of the turkey bacon closely. Fresh turkey bacon should be pink with visible streaks of white fat.
Signs that turkey bacon may be spoiled include:
- Gray, brown, or green discoloration
- Slimy texture or film on surface
- Dryness or hardening
Mold is one of the most obvious visual cues that bacon has gone bad. You may see fuzzy or slimy blue, green, black, or white mold growing on the surface. Any mold at all means the turkey bacon needs to be discarded.
A dull or grayish color and slimy texture also indicates spoilage. If you see these signs, don’t risk tasting it. The turkey bacon is past its prime.
Give It a Good Sniff
Smell is one of the most reliable ways to detect spoiled meat. Take a big whiff of the turkey bacon. Fresh turkey bacon has a mild, meaty odor.
Here’s what you want to watch out for:
- Sour or acidic smell
- Rotten or sulfurous odor
- Ammonia-like smell
- Moldy or musty smell
If you pick up any of these scents from your turkey bacon, that’s a huge red flag that it has already gone bad. Trust your nose – rancid bacon has a very obvious and unpleasant odor. Don’t risk eating it.
Do a Touch Test
The feel of the turkey bacon can confirm if it has spoiled. Fresh turkey bacon has a smooth, moist, and squishy texture.
Signs of spoiled, bad turkey bacon include:
- Sticky or tacky feel
- Sliminess on the surface
- Hard or stiff areas
- Dryness or crustiness
A sticky, slimy film on turkey bacon is a tell-tale sign of bacteria growth. The presence of lactic acid bacteria causes the slime formation as the meat spoils. Any sliminess or stickiness means don’t eat it!
Bacon that’s dried out or hardened is also past its prime. You want your turkey bacon to feel moist and tender. Discard any with an unappetizing texture.
Take a Small Taste
The ultimate test is to take a nibble of the turkey bacon. This should only be done if it passes the smell, sight, and touch tests with no obvious red flags.
Chew a small corner off. Rancid, spoiled turkey bacon will have a distinct bitter, sour, or ammonia-like taste that’s very unpleasant. Any “off” flavors mean it’s no longer safe to eat.
If it smells and tastes fresh, with a rich turkey bacon flavor, it should still be fine. But never taste turkey bacon with obvious signs of spoilage. Only do this final test when still unsure.
Don’t Risk Food Poisoning
Eating bad turkey bacon puts you at risk for foodborne illnesses. Dangerous bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria can thrive as the meat spoils.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. To avoid getting sick, don’t mess around with turkey bacon that seems suspect. When in doubt, throw it out.
Tips to Extend the Life of Turkey Bacon
To maximize the shelf life of your turkey bacon:
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Store unopened packages as labeled until ready to use.
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Once opened, rewrap bacon tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Place in a zip top bag removing excess air.
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Refrigerate opened turkey bacon for no more than 7-10 days.
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Freeze turkey bacon if you can’t use it all within a week.
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Keep fridge temperature at or below 40°F. Use opened bacon within 3-5 days if above 40°F.
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Cook frozen turkey bacon without thawing first. Otherwise, thaw in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.
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Avoid introducing any moisture into the package. Always dry hands before handling.
With proper storage and handling, an unopened pack of turkey bacon should last 7-14 days past the sell-by date printed on the package. Once opened, use within a week.
But always do a visual, smell, and touch test no matter the date. Look for discoloration, sliminess, or fouls smells which indicate spoilage. Trust your senses – if your turkey bacon seems the least bit off, don’t risk eating it. Discard bacon that fails any of these checks instead of jeopardizing your health.
Signs of Spoiled Turkey Bacon
- Bad smell: The turkey bacon may be bad if it has a strong, unpleasant smell.
- Feels slimy or sticky: Bacon that feels slimy or sticky is going bad.
- Green color: Bacon that has turned green is no longer good.
- Smells bad: Bacon is no longer safe to eat if it smells bad, like rotten food.
If in doubt, its better to throw it out. Eating spoiled turkey bacon can lead to food poisoning and an avoidable upset stomach.
How Long Does Unopened Turkey Bacon Last in the Fridge?
Unopened turkey bacon, a less sodium-packed alternative to regular bacon, is a staple item in many refrigerators. But how long does this type of bacon last unrefrigerated?.
If Your Turkey Bacon Isn’t Cooked Like This – You Are Doing it Wrong! #shorts
FAQ
How can you tell when turkey bacon is bad?
Is turkey bacon still good if it’s grey?
Why is my turkey bacon slimy but not expired?
What does spoiled bacon look like?
How do you know if Bacon is bad?
You can determine if bacon has gone bad by observing its appearance. Rancid bacon loses its redness and instead appears brown, gray, or greenish, with a faded color. Additionally, it develops an unpleasant smell and may become sticky or slimy. What happens when turkey bacon turns brown?
How do you know if Turkey bacon is bad?
It may start turning brown or grey, which is indicative of the bacon going bad. In some cases, the turkey bacon may also seem as if it is starting to mold. If it looks like that, throw it away. If everything seems fine and you cook the turkey bacon, you’ll be able to tell if something is off. It should taste like turkey, but leaner.
Does turkey bacon go bad?
Turkey bacon that goes bad often turns a brown or gray color. The change may happen slowly, but if you’re noticing these hints of color, it’s most likely bad. In addition, sometimes those brown or gray tones are accented with blue or even green. If you see any of these, the turkey bacon is most definitely growing mold and had spoiled.
What does turkey bacon feel like?
Turkey bacon feels like silk and is smooth to the touch. When it starts feeling off, that’s a clear indicator that it’s going bad or is already there. Getting used to how turkey bacon feels may take a minute. If at any time the turkey bacon comes out of the packaging feeling slimy, take it back for a refund because it is going bad.
Why does turkey bacon turn brown?
When turkey bacon turns brown, it is an indication that it may have spoiled. If the bacon still maintains its natural pink color with white or yellow fat, it is still safe to consume. However, if the bacon has turned brown or gray and has a hint of green or blue, it has already gone bad.
What does turkey bacon smell like?
It smells appetizing and feels silky, like smooth wet skin to the touch, with or without a thin layer of gelatin on the surface. If turkey bacon smells conspicuously sour, its color has changed from light pink to gray, or the meat itself feels slimy and sticky, it is most likely spoiled and should be discarded immediately.