If you wonder how long cooked bacon can last in your fridge, you have come to the right place. Below we will look at some methods you can use to keep your bacon fresh. You may have noticed that some of the bacon you buy has white spots or even looks like it’s been thrown out. This is a result of improper curing and storing. Read on to learn more about how to cure your bacon for long-lasting, great-tasting results!
Bacon: What is it?
To start, I’ll recap for those of you who don’t exactly understand what bacon means. A pork belly is used to make bacon. But there are several distinctions between bacon and pork belly, one of which is that the former is salt-cured and smoked before it gets to your hands.
Bacon is a popular breakfast or buffet food in America. When you doubt what to eat, think about using bacon in your cookery.
How Long can Cooked Bacon be Kept in the Fridge?
Turkey bacon might be a wonderful choice for all bacon lovers looking for a healthy substitute. Cooked turkey bacon will remain fresh for up to three days if it is kept in the refrigerator properly wrapped.
Because turkey bacon is leaner and has less fat than conventional bacon, it should be remembered that it has a shorter shelf life. However, to ensure that it stays fresh for as long as possible, it’s still a good idea to store it in an airtight container or covered in foil.
Although the USDA advises against storing cooked turkey bacon for longer than three days, in our experience, there may be some quality loss in terms of taste, texture, and appearance.
In general, cooked bacon can keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator if properly stored in a sealed container, a zip-top plastic bag, or an airtight bag — as long as it hasn’t gone beyond its expiration date.
Although cooked bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 7 days according to USDA guidelines, in our opinion, the flavor and texture are greatest when the delectable strips are consumed within a day or two of cooking.
The specific shelf lives of several kinds of bacon will be discussed in this section.
How Long does Pre-Cooked Bacon Remain Fresh?
Precooked bacon will keep in the fridge for a similar amount of time as bacon that is prepared at home. Precooked bacon should keep in the fridge for four to five days, and possibly even up to seven.
Safety is first at all times when it comes to cooked bacon. Cooked food shouldn’t often be kept at room temperature for longer than two hours.
It is preferable to be safe and throw away the bacon if it has been left out for an extended period. When storing, you could want to think about cutting the bacon into smaller pieces so that it will be simpler to wrap it tightly and eliminate extra air.
The Optimal Storage Temperature for Homemade Bacon
Bacon should be kept at a low temperature to inhibit bacterial growth but not so low that freezer burn occurs to lengthen its shelf life. Bacon should be refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
You can use a refrigerator thermometer to monitor the precise temperature if you’re unsure about your refrigerator’s ability to maintain a chilly environment.
Products of Cooked Bacon Storage
Refrigerated cooked bacon goods should be purchased at the grocery store just before leaving for home, according to the USDA. Refrigerate right away at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
How are the Three Types of Cooked Bacon Stored?
When it comes to how long bacon may be stored, no one solution works for everyone. Bacon’s shelf life is influenced by its type and thickness, degree of cooking, and storage environment.
Three of the most popular forms of cooked bacon are listed below, along with how long each will keep in the refrigerator:
Cooked Strips of Regular Sliced Bacon
The bacon strips must first cool completely on a wire rack. When freezing or storing cooked bacon, it’s essential to use an airtight bag or container to prevent any surface area from coming into contact with oxygen.
Before sealing the bag, squeeze out every last bit of air, or use a vacuum air sealer. Place the package in the refrigerator or freezer after adding a label and a date.
Thick-Cut Cooked Bacon
A thicker covering than a single layer of plastic wrap is required for thick-cut bacon. To protect the slices, cover them in freezer wrap, heavy-duty freezer bags, or many layers of wax paper.
Your thick-cut bacon should keep for up to 5 days in the fridge if you store it this way.
Bacon Crumbs
Real bacon used to make home-cooked bacon bits should also be refrigerated in an airtight container and kept for up to five days. (Note: If you wrap bacon bits carefully and store them in the freezer, they can last up to six months.)
Why is Bacon Kept in the Fridge or Freezer?
Make sure to put your cooked bacon in the refrigerator if you intend to keep it for more than two hours. Bacteria are easily able to grow and appear in bacon at room temperature. The “danger zone” for bacterial growth and spread has traditionally been defined as temperatures between 40 and 140 °F.
Before it got into your hands, the bacon was salted, which is why it’s so salty. Additionally, nitrites must be added to the meat to increase shelf life. Even though the process is very similar, bacon is not the same as regular salt pork.
Bacteria have difficulty surviving in a low-water environment, which is what happens when you cook bacon, and its moisture evaporates. As a result, the shelf life of your bacon will outlast that of other meats.
How can you Tell When Bacon is Badly Cooked?
Taking a smell is the simplest way to determine whether your cooked bacon is of poor quality. The bacon should have a clean, smokey aroma.
You should throw away the bacon if it smells odd, appears shriveled, or shows any telltale indications of mildew or rot.
Look
Bacon that has become spoiled will change color. It may take on a greenish hue or a dull grey color instead of the pink or red color of fresh meat and the white or yellow color of fat. Possibly very soon after the bacon goes bad, this discoloration will appear.
This dynamic process is made more visible by oxidizing reactions with airflow. Even the bacon has some visible mold.
Smell
Because bacon contains so many different spices and additives, it can be challenging to tell by smell if it is rotting. Even when bacon is deteriorating, the smell of decomposition is occasionally disregarded and covered up.
A natural meat smell is typically a sign of fine, fresh meat. However, you must throw something away as soon as possible if it smells fishy, rotting, sour, or in any other way unusual. As a result of bacterial development, it has an offensive, sour smell.
Touch
One of the most important factors in determining whether bacon is ruined is the texture. You can identify by putting your fingers in the bacon’s flesh.
Bacon often has a soft, juicy, and fresh texture that isn’t slimy. When something feels slimy or sticky, it is likely going to spoil. Lactic acid bacteria cause it.
What Happens if you Eat Bad Bacon?
You know that such ruined meat, especially bacon, contains many bacteria that may harm human health. When bacon is improperly stored or has passed its best-before date, it will become bad. Bacteria growing on rotten bacon gives it a sour flavor. What will consequently happen if you consume rotten bacon?
When you consume rotten bacon, you will initially experience tongue discomfort and a foul taste. You may immediately become queasy and possibly vomit after reading this.
After that, you’ll have headaches, lightheaded, and limb-weakening symptoms. As a result of hazardous bacteria damaging and destroying your digestive system, it is a symptom of food poisoning.
Many individuals with food poisoning recover independently and don’t need any additional care. Do not disregard it, though, as there are other cases with grave symptoms and issues, including severe abdominal pain, blood vomiting, fever, and deep coma.
Therefore, it is best to call the nearest hospital or medical facility to receive appropriate care and ensure that your health will recover properly.
Conclusion
Knowing how to preserve bacon safely is essential to getting the most enjoyment. Your bacon will stay as fresh as possible if you know where, when, how, and what to use to preserve it. Always err on caution and toss anything away when in doubt. Then prepare some delicious, fresh bacon and savor its unmatched flavor!
