There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning. If you’re anything like us, there probably won’t be any leftover bacon. What if you need to keep bacon in the fridge for a few days? Here are some ideas!
If you put uncured bacon in the fridge before the “sell by” date on the package, it will last about one week. In the freezer, unopened bacon could last up to six months. Unopened bacon may last roughly two weeks in the fridge and eight months in the freezer.
Bacon that hasn’t been cooked can be kept in a sealed container for a week after the package has been opened. Sealed in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer, the bacon could last for about a month.
Should you make more bacon than you can eat, you can keep it in the fridge for five to seven days in a container that is well sealed. Thought you might not be able to eat it that soon? Cooked bacon can be frozen for up to a month.
Bacon is a favorite food for many people, but it requires safe handling to avoid foodborne illness. Raw bacon is perishable and can spoil if left out too long at room temperature. So how long can you leave raw uncooked bacon sitting out before it becomes unsafe to cook and eat?
Factors That Determine Bacon’s Room Temp Shelf Life
How long raw bacon lasts at room temperature depends on several factors:
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Type of packaging – Freshness stays longer in vacuum-sealed packs vs. open slices.
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Curing method – Heavily cured or smoked bacon lasts longer unrefrigerated than “uncured” varieties
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Fat content – Higher-fat bacon resists spoilage longer than lean types
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Time and temperature – Warm conditions above 40°F accelerate bacteria growth.
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Exposure to air – Once opened, remaining strips are more susceptible to spoilage.
In general, sealed packs of raw bacon fare better for short periods at room temp than open packages. But for true food safety, it’s wise to follow recommended fridge storage times.
How Long Can Unopened Raw Bacon Sit Out?
For unopened packages:
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At room temp under 40°F – Up to 2 hours
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At 40-60°F room temp – No more than 1 hour
The sell-by date assumes fridge temperatures below 40°F. Any warmer than that allows faster bacteria growth if left out.
To maximize shelf life refrigerate unopened raw bacon promptly after purchasing or freeze for longer storage.
What About After Opening the Raw Bacon Package?
Once opened, raw bacon has less protection from airborne bacteria and moisture loss.
General guidance is:
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Under 40°F – Use within 3-5 days
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At room temp – Use opened pack within 2 hours
So if you’ve started cooking from a bacon pack, finish up within 2 hours or promptly refrigerate. Don’t leave opened raw bacon strips sitting out overnight.
Does Raw Bacon Go Bad Faster at Room Temp?
Yes, raw bacon left out on the counter can start to spoil within two hours or less.
The warm temperature range between 40°F and 140°F enables rapid bacterial growth. Raw bacon easily enters the “danger zone” when left unrefrigerated.
Given a few hours at room temperature, bacteria multiply quickly and may produce toxins that cooking cannot destroy. So raw bacon left out too long poses a food poisoning risk.
Can You Tell if Raw Bacon Has Gone Bad?
Signs that raw bacon has spoiled and become unsafe include:
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Slimy or sticky texture and appearance
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Dull or grayish color instead of pink
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Rancid or sour odor
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Mold growth
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Discoloration at fat edges
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Dry, stiff, or tacky feel
If in doubt, apply the sniff test. Raw bacon with an unpleasant, “off” smell should not be cooked or eaten.
What Happens If You Eat Raw Bacon Gone Bad?
Consuming raw bacon harboring foodborne pathogens can cause illness or toxicity symptoms. Potential risks include:
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Salmonella – Abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea
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Listeria – Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance
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E. coli – Severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea
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Staphylococcus aureus – Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps
At-risk groups like pregnant women, young children, seniors, and those with compromised immunity should not eat raw bacon that’s been left out too long. Foodborne pathogens pose serious health risks.
Food Safety Tips for Raw Bacon Storage
To maximize raw bacon’s shelf life and safety:
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Refrigerate unopened bacon within 2 hours of purchasing, before the sell-by date expires.
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Keep unopened packages on a fridge shelf, not in the door where temperatures fluctuate.
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Once opened, rewrap tightly and use within 3-5 days. Discard discolored or smelly bacon.
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Don’t leave raw bacon strips out on the counter for more than 2 hours total, opened or unopened.
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When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t risk getting sick from potentially spoiled raw bacon.
Following safe refrigerated storage guidelines reduces the risk of foodborne illness from raw bacon. Be diligent about putting away bacon packs promptly and using opened packages within a few days.
How to know if your bacon has gone bad
As soon as a package of bacon has been opened, it is exposed to bacteria in the air. This bacteria instantly begins a chemical reaction on the meat that leads to it going bad. It’s likely to go bad after about a week, even if you can seal it well again. But there are some things you can look for to tell if your bacon has gone bad.
Bacon should have vibrant pink-colored meat and white streaks of fat. If it has started to go bad, its color will be off. There is no longer any good bacon in your fridge if it looks gray, green, or brown.
Bacon should not have a strong smell. It might smell like smoke or the spices that were used on it, but it shouldn’t be too strong. If you open the package and smell something sulfurous or sour, the bacteria has spread to the rest of the meat and the bacon is bad.
If bacon is good, it will be soft and slightly moist. If your bacon feels slimy at all, it is definitely bad. This slimy feeling is not water, but rather bacteria that has started breaking down the meat. If it is slimy, it isn’t worth the risk.
Sometimes, mold may start growing on bacon that has gone bad. You might want to cut off the moldy part and eat the rest of the strip, but don’t! Any mold you can see means that fungi are growing that you might not be able to see. The safest bet is to throw moldy bacon out.
How Long Can You Leave Food Out?
How long can Bacon be left out at room temperature?
As a general rule of food safety, cooked food should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. This is especially important for cooked bacon, which can harbor harmful pathogens like salmonella and trichinosis. So, how long does bacon last? The answer is not very long.
Can you eat cooked bacon if left out overnight?
No, you should not eat cooked bacon that has been left out overnight. If cooked bacon is left at room temperature for over 2 hours, this increases the risk of harmful bacteria forming on the meat. You’re better off eating freshly-cooked or refrigerated bacon than re-heating it or eating leftover bacon from the night before!
What happens if you leave uncooked bacon out?
If your uncooked bacon has been sitting out for longer than two hours, it’s best to err on the side of caution and throw it away. This is also true for frozen raw bacon that has been left out to thaw. It’s important to note that the danger zone for bacterial growth is between 40°F-140°F.
How long should Bacon sit out before cooking?
For your safety and the safety of your family, it’s never advised to cook and consume your bacon after sitting out longer than 2 hours. However, if you live in a warm or humid climate where the room temperature exceeds 75 degrees, you may have even less time.
How long does Bacon last if defrosted?
Bacon that has been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for an additional 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator before cooking; bacon that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be cooked immediately. How long does bacon last in the fridge once it is cooked?
Can Bacon be left out to thaw?
This is also true for frozen raw bacon that has been left out to thaw. It’s important to note that the danger zone for bacterial growth is between 40°F-140°F. So, if your room temperature is above 90°F, uncooked bacon should be stored within an hour. Leaving uncooked bacon at room temperature for an extended period can pose serious health risks.