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.
Bacon is one of those foods that seems to last forever. Especially when it’s still sealed in its original packaging, it’s easy to think it’ll stay fresh indefinitely. But is that really true? Can sealed bacon go bad, and if so, how can you tell?
As a bacon lover myself I used to keep packs stockpiled in my fridge without a second thought. But after biting into some funky-tasting bacon one morning I realized I needed to learn more about how to store it properly.
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know to determine if your sealed bacon is still good or if it’s time to toss it. We’ll look at:
- How long sealed bacon lasts at its best
- Signs that sealed bacon has gone bad
- Whether expired bacon can still be safe to eat
- Proper storage for maximum bacon freshness
- What to do if your bacon tastes or smells “off”
Armed with the info in this article, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious bacon right up until the use-by date and determine when it’s best not to risk eating questionable bacon. Let’s start with the basics first!
How Long Does Sealed Bacon Last When Properly Stored?
Unopened packages of bacon typically last 1-2 weeks beyond any “sell by” or “use by” date on the package.
The date itself is simply an indication of prime freshness rather than a safety cut-off. Bacon that’s been continuously refrigerated usually retains good quality for at least 7-10 days past that date.
According to the USDA. unopened bacon has the following recommended storage time limits
- Pantry: 7-10 days
- Refrigerator: 1-2 weeks
- Freezer: 1-3 months
Once opened, the clock starts ticking more quickly. Eat opened bacon within 1 week.
As you can see, unopened bacon lasts for quite a while in the fridge. So finding an expired pack doesn’t necessarily mean you have to throw it out. But to determine if it’s still good, you need to rely on some other indicators. Let’s look at those next.
How Can You Tell If Sealed Bacon Has Gone Bad?
Because bacon can last for a while past its date, you can’t rely on that alone to know if it’s gone bad. Here are a few ways you can check sealed bacon for freshness:
-
Check the color. Fresh bacon has a nice pink, meaty color. As it starts to go bad, it becomes more grey or brown.
-
Take a sniff. Fresh bacon has a pleasant meaty smell. Rancid bacon gives off an unpleasantly strong, sour odor.
-
Look for sliminess. Bad bacon will appear shiny/slimy as the fats start breaking down. Good bacon looks dry and matte.
-
Watch for mold. Bacon can grow mold in the right conditions. Check the packaging carefully for any fuzzy spots.
-
Consider the taste. If your bacon tastes “off” at all, it’s safest not to finish eating it.
Ideally, you’ll check for all of these signs before cooking up any bacon. If anything seems amiss, it’s better to be safe than sorry and throw it away.
Can You Eat Bacon After Its Expiration Date?
The expiration date on a bacon package indicates the last day it’s likely to be at peak quality. So bacon that’s recently expired will probably still taste fine.
However, it’s generally not recommended to eat bacon more than 1-2 weeks past its date, even if it’s been stored properly in the refrigerator.
Here are a few factors to consider when deciding if expired bacon is still good:
-
How far past the date is it? Bacon that’s just a few days expired has a better shot than bacon that’s weeks or months old.
-
How does it look and smell? Do a sensory inspection first. If anything seems off, don’t risk it.
-
Has it been refrigerated continuously? Bacon that’s been left out too long is more prone to growing bacteria.
-
When was it opened? An opened pack won’t last as long as factory-sealed bacon.
-
Is it a precooked product? Precooked baconhas a shorter shelf life than raw.
-
How will it be cooked? Thorough cooking can destroy some bacteria. But it’s better not to chance it.
While it may be safe to eat recently expired bacon if it otherwise seems normal, it’s generally better to err on the side of caution. Trust your senses – if anything smells or looks off, play it safe and throw it out.
Storing Your Bacon for Maximum Freshness
To get the longest safe shelf life out of your bacon, proper storage is key. Here are some bacon storage tips:
-
Store unopened bacon in the original packaging. Don’t remove it until you’re ready to use it. The packaging protects against contamination and keeps the bacon fresh.
-
Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or put the remaining bacon in a resealable bag. Remove as much air as possible.
-
Always refrigerate opened packages and use within 1 week. Raw bacon can spoil quickly once exposed to air.
-
Don’t freeze previously-frozen bacon. The texture will become unpleasant. Only freeze unopened packages.
-
Never leave bacon at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Bacteria multiply rapidly above 40°F.
-
Store different meats separately in the fridge. Raw bacon can contaminate other foods.
Following these storage guidelines will help ensure your bacon stays fresh and high-quality right up until you’re ready to cook it.
What If My Bacon Smells Bad But It’s Not Expired?
Sometimes bacon can develop an off odor, color or texture even before its expiration date. This can happen for a few reasons:
-
Temperature fluctuations – if the bacon warmed up significantly during transport for example, bacteria may have started growing.
-
Damage to the packaging – small holes or tears could allow air inside and cause spoilage.
-
Food contamination – other foods leaking on the bacon could accelerate spoilage.
-
Not actually fully sealed – if the packaging wasn’t perfectly sealed at the factory, air could get in.
So if your bacon seems off before the expiration date, it’s usually due to a packaging or temperature issue. Always inspect closely and use the smell test. Rancid bacon has an unpleasant sour, ammonia-like odor. Any sign of bad bacon means you should discard the package.
The Bottom Line – Trust Your Senses!
So can sealed bacon go bad? Unfortunately, yes – no food lasts forever, even sealed bacon. While an unopened package keeps it fresher longer, it can still deteriorate over time.
The best practice is to check the packaging date as a guide, but then rely on your senses. Give your bacon a close visual inspection and smell check. If anything seems amiss – unpleasant odor, odd color, slimy texture – it’s safest to throw it out.
With proper refrigerated storage, sealed bacon should last 1-2 weeks past the printed date. But regardless of dates, trust your eyes and nose to make the final call. When in doubt, throw it out!
Hopefully this gives you confidence determining if your bacon is still good or needs to get tossed. Armed with these tips, you can enjoy sizzling bacon right up until it’s time to stock up on some fresh packages. Just don’t forget to share some with me!
How to Prevent Bacon From Going Bad
When you bring home bacon, you want to be able to enjoy every last savory bit. To make this happen, be sure you store this meat product properly.
You should always store both cooked and uncooked bacon in the refrigerator or freezer. The low temperatures will slow down the growth of harmful microbes that cause spoilage, increasing bacon’s shelf life. After cooking bacon, let it cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge or freezer.
Another tip is to make sure your bacon is as airtight as possible. If you’re storing your bacon in a plastic bag, squeeze out excess air before sealing. At the very least, place your bacon in a sealed storage container.
IT FEELS SLIMY
Fresh bacon that’s safe to consume should feel soft, yet firm to the touch. If you go to grab some bacon and find it slimy, something has gone awry. While some may say that slime is just water leaking out of bacon, this isn’t true. Slime actually occurs when certain types of bacteria begin breaking down the meat.
If you notice that your bacon feels slimy, it’s almost certainly been colonized by bacteria. That means you should toss your bacon rather than risk sickening yourself and your family.
Fresh bacon should have tantalizing strips of white fat marbled with pinkish-red meat. However, this isn’t always the case with a spoiled product.
If you put bacon in the fridge for a week, you might see that it has turned green, gray, or brown. Once again, this discoloration indicates bacteria and/or fungi have colonized your bacon. If you’re guessing this means it’s time to toss your bacon, you’re right!.
Many bacteria, yeasts, and fungi are invisible to the naked-eyed, but some fungi can form on the surface of bacon. According to the USDA, the spores on mold are completely visible. So if you notice any type of mold or growth on the product, your bacon has definitely gone bad.
You might want to cut off the moldy part of the bacon and cook the rest of it, but you shouldn’t. Though you might not be able to see them, fungi are probably growing in the bacon if you can see anything else.
How Do You Know if Your Bacon Is Good? : Nutritious Dishes & Advice
What happens if Bacon goes bad?
When bacon goes bad, it can undergo some noticeable changes. Keep an eye out for any changes in color, texture, or smell. If your bacon starts to show signs of discoloration, feels slimy or sticky to the touch, or emits a foul odor, it’s time to say goodbye. Trust your senses when it comes to bacon – they never fail!
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
How do you know if Bacon has gone bad?
Here are four easy signs your refrigerated bacon may have gone bad. 1. IT DOESN’T SMELL QUITE RIGHT Bacon shouldn’t have a strong, rancid scent. If anything, it should smell a bit smoky. If you’re met with a sour or sulfuric odor, your bacon has likely gone bad. This stench occurs when bacteria, yeast, and fungi take hold of the bacon.
Is vacuum-sealed Bacon safe?
Now, let’s talk about the safety of vacuum-sealed bacon. Vacuum sealing is a preservation method that removes air from the packaging, creating a vacuum that helps extend the shelf life of food products. This process slows down the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that cause food spoilage.
Can you eat vacuum-sealed Bacon after the expiration date?
If you decide to consume vacuum-sealed bacon after its use by date, it’s crucial to ensure proper cooking. Cooking the bacon thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) helps eliminate any potential bacteria or pathogens that may have developed.
How long does cooked bacon last?
Cooked bacon will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. How to tell if bacon is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the bacon: signs of bad bacon are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any bacon with an off smell or appearance.