The short answer is that cooked turkey bacon will last for three to five days in the fridge. But read on for MORE information. Prepare your turkey bacon in the air fryer to get it crispy. It’s a quick and easy way to make a breakfast side dish.
If you have extra turkey bacon, you can put it in the fridge for three to five days or the freezer for up to three months. If you want to freeze turkey bacon slices, put them in a single layer in shallow containers that keep air out or a heavy-duty freezer bag (stasher bags also work!). For the best results, put parchment paper between the bacon strips and freeze for up to three months. Flavor and texture will start to decrease after 3-4 months.
Turkey bacon is a convenient protein-packed staple for quick breakfasts and sandwiches. But like any type of cooked meat it’s important to store and handle it properly to avoid foodborne illness. So how long can cooked turkey bacon be left out at room temperature before it becomes unsafe to eat?
How Quickly Does Turkey Bacon Go Bad at Room Temperature?
Cooked turkey bacon left at room temperature encourages rapid bacterial growth. Bacteria multiply fastest between 40°F and 140°F. The USDA recommends hot foods not sit out for more than 2 hours before refrigerating. After that point, turkey bacon enters the “danger zone” where bacteria can multiply quickly.
Some examples
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Salmonella can multiply from one cell to over 2 million in just 7 hours.
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E. coli goes from 10 cells to over 16 million in 8 hours.
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Listeria starts with 10 cells and exceeds 1 million in 11 hours.
So cooked turkey bacon left out for more than 2 hours poses a high risk of food poisoning. Always refrigerate perishable foods like turkey bacon within this window.
How Long Does Turkey Bacon Last at Room Temp?
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Uncooked turkey bacon should not sit out more than 2 hours before cooking or refrigerating.
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Cooked turkey bacon should be refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking.
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Leftover cooked turkey bacon should not be left out more than 2 hours after reheating or removing from the fridge.
The 2 hour rule applies whether turkey bacon is fresh from the pack or leftovers you’re handling. Bacteria multiply rapidly on cooked meat at room temperature.
And note that “room temperature” assumes a typical room around 70°F. Warmer conditions allow even faster bacterial growth.
What Happens If You Leave Turkey Bacon Out Overnight?
Leaving cooked turkey bacon out at room temperature overnight is unsafe, as bacteria have ample time to multiply.
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Salmonella numbers can exceed 100 million overnight.
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Listeria goes from 1 cell to over 8 million.
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E. coli balloons from 10 cells to over 100 trillion.
Consuming turkey bacon left out beyond 2 hours, especially overnight, poses a high risk of food poisoning. The bacteria have grown exponentially and produced toxic byproducts that can cause illness.
Can You Get Sick from Eating Turkey Bacon Left Out?
Yes, you can absolutely get sick from eating turkey bacon that’s sat out too long. Potential risks include:
Salmonella – Causes nausea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea within 12-72 hours of consumption.
E. coli – Results in extreme stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. Usually takes 3-4 days for symptoms to start.
Listeria – Causes fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Can be fatal to certain high-risk groups.
Staphylococcus aureus – Leads to vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea within 1-6 hours of ingestion.
Foodborne illness is no joke. At minimum it causes serious gastrointestinal distress. But bacteria like E. coli and Listeria can result in hospitalization, long-term complications, and even death in vulnerable populations.
Can Reheating Make Turkey Bacon Left Out Safe Again?
No, thoroughly cooking or reheating turkey bacon left out too long does not make it safe to eat again.
While cooking kills any live bacteria, it does not neutralize the dangerous toxins they leave behind. These toxins can still cause illness if ingested.
Turkey bacon harboring high levels of bacterial toxins must be discarded, even if thoroughly cooked. Reheating cannot provide a quick fix for mishandled meat.
Storing Leftover Turkey Bacon Safely
To safely store leftover cooked turkey bacon:
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Refrigerate within 2 hours in shallow, covered containers. Do not leave sitting out.
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Divide into individual portions to reduce contamination from repeated openings.
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Refrigerate for 3-4 days and freeze for 1-2 months.
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Label storage containers with date cooked for easy tracking.
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When reheating, cook thoroughly until steaming hot, at least 165°F.
Proper, prompt refrigeration prevents bacteria growth and toxins. Prioritize getting all turkey bacon into the fridge within the 2 hour window after cooking, removing from fridge, or reheating.
What If Turkey Bacon Smells Funny After Sitting Out?
Turkey bacon that smells sour, rancid, or “off” after sitting out too long should always be discarded. Bad odors indicate spoilage and bacterial growth.
Don’t taste turkey bacon or rely on cooking it if the smell is unpleasant. Toxins are not destroyed by cooking. Any leftover turkey bacon that has been left out too long or smells funny is unsafe for consumption.
When in doubt, throw it out. Developing foodborne illness is never worth the risk to avoid wasting food.
Food Safety Tips for Handling Turkey Bacon
To keep turkey bacon safe:
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Refrigerate uncooked turkey bacon promptly after buying, within 2 hours. Freeze if not using quickly.
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Cook turkey bacon thoroughly until crispy to kill bacteria. Use a food thermometer to confirm 165°F internal temp.
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Never brown or partially cook turkey bacon to finish later. Always cook thoroughly.
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Divide cooked turkey bacon into shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours.
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Do not leave turkey bacon at room temperature more than 2 hours total after cooking or removing from fridge.
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Reheat thoroughly until steaming, at least 165°F. Do not eat turkey bacon that smells odd or looks gray/slimy after reheating.
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When dining out, order turkey bacon dishes made to order. Avoid self-serve buffet dishes sitting out.
Following proper food safety principles reduces your risk of getting sick from turkey bacon. Refrigerate promptly after cooking and never leave sitting out more than 2 hours. Discard any turkey bacon that looks or smells questionable. Take sensible precautions when handling this perishable meat.
How to Tell if Turkey Bacon is Bad
To be safe (and because getting sick from food is never fun!), throw away any uncooked turkey bacon that has been out at room temperature for too long or has passed its sell-by or use-by date. Turkey bacon that has been opened and has changed colors, smells bad, or has mold that can be seen is obviously bad and should be thrown away. Bad turkey bacon will usually be pretty obvious, but use common sense. .
If you won’t use turkey bacon before it goes bad, you can freeze a package that hasn’t been opened.
Round out your turkey bacon with a few of these sides for a nutritious, balanced meal:
How to Reheat Cooked Turkey Bacon
You can warm up turkey bacon (or regular bacon) in a few different ways. The best way for you will depend on your personal taste:
- For an air fry, put bacon in the machine and cook for one minute, until hot.
- Microwave: Put turkey bacon slices in a paper towel-lined microwave safe dish and heat for 30 to 60 seconds, or until hot. (Cooking time will vary greatly, depending on microwave. ) This is probably the easiest way.
- Iron Pan—Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Add the turkey bacon and cook for one to two minutes on each side, or until hot.
Best Way To Cook Turkey Bacon
How long can you keep Turkey bacon if unopened?
The USDA says if there is a “sell by” date instead of a “use by” date, it can be kept for two weeks if unopened. If your refrigeration methods do not work, you will start seeing signs that the turkey bacon is taking a turn for the worse. Always take a good look at the turkey bacon before starting to cook it.
Can turkey bacon be left out at room temperature?
Turkey bacon, whether opened or unopened, should never be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (if hotter than 90°F outside, that time gets shortened to 1 hour). Otherwise, pathogenic bacteria may multiply in it to a dangerous level that can make you sick.
How long can cooked bacon be left at room temperature?
In conclusion, cooked bacon should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you have leftover bacon, store it properly in the refrigerator or freezer to ensure its safety and freshness. Remember always to follow safe food handling practices to avoid potential foodborne illnesses.
What happens if cooked bacon sits out longer than 2 hours?
The reason is that bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, and Clostridium perfringens can grow on cooked bacon once it sits out longer than the two-hour timeframe, leading to food-borne illnesses in some individuals. So if your cooked bacon is sitting out for longer than two hours, it is time to dispose of it.
Can you eat turkey bacon if left out?
If you’re driving around, give it one hour. Turkey bacon is ultra-processed, which could pose a problem over time. This increases the likelihood of the bacon going bad if left out for longer periods of time. If the turkey bacon is left out for over two hours, it’s not safe to eat it.
Can turkey bacon be refrigerated?
Vacuum-sealed turkey bacon or packaged sliced turkey bacon can be kept unopened in its original package. Once opened, the meat should be wrapped tightly with butcher paper, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap for refrigeration. We recommend that you use butcher paper for wrapping turkey bacon.