How to Make and Store Homemade Bacon Bits for Months

Enjoy your bacon! Here are some great tips on how to store it in your pantry and for a long time. You can eat bacon even when zombies attack!

My husband lives in a world where bacon is in everything. Me, not so much. Because of this, it was hard to always have bacon on hand for him to add to his food or to things I made that needed bacony goodness. (I blame the bacon, it just doesn’t like me).

I looked into it some more and came up with some good ways to store bacon all year without filling up my fridge.

Bacon bits are a beloved topping for salads, soups pastas and more. The smoky, salty flavor adds a tasty crunch that enhances many dishes. While you can buy pre-made bacon bits at the store, they often contain preservatives and artificial flavors. Making your own allows you to control the ingredients and store them for months.

With a few simple steps, you can easily turn cooked bacon into DIY bacon bits to sprinkle on everything. Here’s how to make, prepare, and store homemade bacon bits so they stay fresh in your pantry or freezer.

Ingredients Needed

To make bacon bits, you only need a couple ingredients:

Bacon – Use good quality, uncured bacon Stay away from thin, overly processed bacon Go for thicker sliced, artisanal bacon if you can.
Parchment paper – Line your baking sheets with parchment to prevent sticking.

That’s it! The only other optional addition is seasonings like pepper or red pepper flakes.

Directions for Making Homemade Bacon Bits

Making your own bacon bits is simple:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the sheet. Make sure they aren’t overlapping.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Rotate the pan halfway through.
Remove bacon from oven and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Pat off excess grease.
Let cool completely, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
Season as desired with pepper, red pepper flakes, etc.

That’s all it takes to DIY flavorful bacon bits! Now let’s talk about proper storage.

Storing Bacon Bits in the Fridge

For short term storage, bacon bits will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Follow these tips for fridge storage:

Let bacon bits cool completely before storing.
Place in an airtight container. A mason jar or food storage container with a tight fitting lid works great.
Store in the back of the fridge away from produce which could absorb smells.
For maximum freshness, use within 1 month.

The cool temperature of the fridge will keep the bacon bits fresh without risk of spoilage.

Freezing Bacon Bits for Long Term Storage

For storage lasting several months, the freezer is the best option. Frozen properly, bacon bits can keep for 4-6 months.

Follow these guidelines for freezing:

Cool bacon bits completely before freezing.
Portion into airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible. This prevents freezer burn.
Label bags with contents and date.
Freeze immediately at 0°F or below. Do not allow to sit at room temperature.
For best quality and safety, use within 4-6 months.

The freezer stops foodborne pathogens and preserves foods long term.

Thawing Frozen Bacon Bits

When ready to use, thaw bacon bits in the refrigerator overnight. Do not thaw at room temperature, as this allows bacteria growth.

You can also use frozen bacon bits straight from the freezer. Their crunchy texture works well sprinkled over dishes without thawing.

How to Store Bacon Bits When Camping/Backpacking

Dehydrated bacon bits are a tasty trail snack or backpacking food. Their lightweight nature makes them ideal for packing.

To dehydrate bacon bits for camping and hiking:

Follow the oven baking instructions above.
Dehydrate in a food dehydrator at 145°F for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. Pieces should be completely dry and brittle.
Allow to cool fully, then vacuum seal portions in bags. The lack of oxygen prevents possible mold growth.
Store the sealed bags in a cool, dark place. Dehydrated bacon bits will keep for 1-2 years this way.
Pack in your backpack and enjoy on the trail!

Dehydrating removes moisture that could compromise safety and extends shelf life considerably.

Signs Your Bacon Bits Have Gone Bad

Bacon bits can last a while in the fridge or freezer, but they won’t keep indefinitely. Be on the lookout for these signs of spoiled bacon bits:

Off odor – Fresh bacon has a smoky, salty, meaty smell. Rancid bacon will smell off, foul, or sour.
Change in texture – Soft or mushy spots indicate bacon bits are past their prime. Edges may curl if freezer burned.
Mold growth – Look for fuzzy spots or webbing, which signal spoilage.
Discoloration – Bacon bits should be rich reddish-brown. Grayish hues are a bad sign.

When in doubt, remember the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out.” Don’t risk eating spoiled bacon bits.

Tips for the Best Homemade Bacon Bits

Follow these tips for bacon bit success:

Choose quality bacon without a lot of additives.
Cook bacon until very crispy so pieces crumble easily. Undercooked bacon won’t break apart as well.
Allow to cool fully before crumbling to prevent mushy bits that stick together.
Use parchment paper when baking to prevent sticking.
Store only crisp, dry pieces without excess bacon grease.
Keep bacon bits in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer. Opened packages won’t last as long.
Label storage containers with date and contents.
Freeze in small portions to avoid repeated freezing and thawing cycles.

With proper preparation and storage, you can keep homemade bacon bits on hand to sprinkle on anything! Enjoy flavorful bacon bits without artificial preservatives.

FAQs About Making and Storing Bacon Bits

How long do homemade bacon bits last in the fridge?

Properly stored in an airtight container, bacon bits will last up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

How long does homemade bacon last in the freezer?

Frozen in an airtight container, homemade bacon bits will stay fresh for 4-6 months in the freezer.

Can you freeze raw bacon bits?

It’s best to fully cook bacon before freezing. Uncooked bacon may become rancid in the freezer. Cook until crisp before freezing.

What’s the best container to store bacon bits in the freezer?

Airtight containers like freezer bags or plastic containers work best, as they protect against freezer burn. Make sure to remove air before sealing.

How can you tell if bacon bits are spoiled?

Off smells, soft texture, visible mold, and grayish discoloration are all signs your bacon bits have gone bad. When in doubt, throw it out.

Can you eat freezer burned bacon bits?

While not ideal, freezer burned bacon bits are safe to eat as long as they show no signs of spoilage like mold. The texture may be dry or crunchy.

How do you rehydrate dehydrated bacon bits?

To rehydrate for trail meals, cover bits with boiling water. Let stand 5-10 minutes until softened. Drain excess water before eating.

Can you substitute TVP for homemade bacon bits?

TVP (textured vegetable protein) can mimic the taste and crunch of real bacon when flavored with smoke or bacon seasoning. Rehydrate TVP per package directions before using.

What can you use bacon bits on?

Bacon bits pair well on salads, baked potatoes, pastas, soups, green beans, brussels sprouts, onion rings, burgers, and more! Get creative with recipes.

With just a bit of easy preparation, you can make and store crispy, homemade bacon bits to sprinkle on everything for months of flavor.

how to store homemade bacon bits

CAN I FREEZE BACON?

Yes, in fact, you can! Here’s how I do it.

Make a cooling rack and put the bacon strips on it. Then, freeze the bacon in single layers. I use these Amazon trays and racks. With this flash freezing method, each slice can freeze on its own, so pieces are less likely to stick together and form bacon bricks. My grandmother always put the bags straight into the freezer, but it was annoying to have to take out just a few pieces.
Store in airtight freezer-safe containers. For short-term storage (which I know we’ll be talking about in about a month or so), I use freezer zip-top bags. For long-term storage, I use vacuum-sealed bags.

Cook it to a little under your desired doneness.
Dab off any excess grease.
Flash freeze on cookie sheets.
Throw into freezer-safe, airtight containers.
Finish by putting it in the microwave, the oven, on cookie sheets, or even a skillet (I let it warm up first before putting frozen bacon in a hot pan).

Storage for each is typically “six months” from the experts, but you can stretch that

how to store homemade bacon bits

Make Your Own Bacon Bits

On the Stovetop or Oven

These directions are for cured bacon only.

Cook bacon very well.
Drain bacon (or pat dry with paper towels).
Crumble bacon pieces.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

In Your Dehydratorator *

Cook bacon fully
Pat dry grease thoroughly.
Crumble and put on dehydrator trays
Dry at 160F for 8 hours or so. Make sure you open your machine often and pat the crumbles dry to soak up any fat and water that builds up. Some people also put baking paper on the bottom of their machine to keep it safe from any grease that might drip.
Store in an airtight container in fridge or freezer.

*Dehydrating bacon for long-term storage is not an approved method of preservation for the home cook. Bacon contains fat, and no amount of cooking or dehydrating will get rid of all of the fat. You should know that fat goes bad pretty quickly, so you should do this knowing that it’s not something you can keep for long. For the safest storage, put it in the fridge or freezer.

► Additional Reading: USDA Food Safety Guidelines for Bacon

There is commercially canned bacon that can save your bacon if you really need to keep it on hand for bad times, like when it snows and you eat all of your bacon in three hours, or when zombies attack.

You can get it at places like Emergency Essentials, or if you’re really serious, at your local Walmart. (Be sure to use your Rakuten rewards on both of these to get a little extra back!)

I have no experience with this bacon (though I’m sure someone on Youtube has). If you really want to make sure that bacon is always on hand, I’m offering it as a possible choice.