The Average New Yorker Doesn’t Know How Long Bacon Stays Good In Fridge

Bacon is a sensational and mouthwatering treat that entices us with its alluring scent and impossible-to-resist taste. With every bite, a pop of savory and slightly sweet flavors tantalizes our tastebuds, begging us for more.

If you understand the allure of bacon, you'll understand why letting bacon spoil in the refrigerator is truly a travesty.

If you possess impressive self-discipline and don't cook the whole package of bacon at once, you might face the same issue as most New Yorkers, who are uncertain about how to maintain the freshness and quality of bacon and how long it can last in the refrigerator.

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How Long Will Packaged Bacon Stay Good?

The answer depends on whether the bacon is cooked or uncooked and whether it has been refrigerated or frozen. If you have uncooked bacon, you can leave it unopened in the fridge until the use-by or sell-by date specified on the packaging. If the bacon package is missing a use-by or sell-by date, you can count on about two weeks from when you bought it. Bacon cured without nitrites lasts a little longer in the refrigerator, up to three weeks. Once you open the package, cook and use the bacon within seven days, or less if the printed date is sooner.

How Long Will Leftover Cooked Bacon Stay Good?

Leftover cooked bacon will last for four to five days in the fridge as long as you store it in an airtight container. For shelf-stable cooked bacon, you can keep the unopened package in the pantry until the use-by date. After opening the package, use it within five to fourteen days, depending on package specifications.

Why You Should Consider Freezing Bacon

Freezing bacon is a great way to extend its life. It is recommended that you use both uncooked and cooked bacon within four months for best quality. You can toss unopened bacon packages straight into the freezer when you get home from the store, but if you do this, you'll need to thaw the entire package. The good news is that if you don't want to cook the whole package after it's been thawed, you can put what's left after back into the freezer.

How to Freeze Individual Bacon Strips

If you want to freeze individual bacon strips, lay each piece on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper, ensuring the strips do not overlap, and place them in the freezer. Once the bacon is completely frozen, transfer the slices to a freezer-safe bag. You can use the same sheet pan method to freeze cooked bacon. Froze-n bacon can cook without the need for thawing it first. However, it will take longer to cook frozen bacon than it will thawed bacon.

How to Store Bacon Grease

When it comes to bacon grease, storing it in a mason jar in the fridge is a great way to reuse it later because it will solidify in the fridge, making it easier to scoop out if you need to cook with it later. Bacon grease will keep indefinitely in the freezer or for about three months in the refrigerator.