How Long Does Bacon Last in the Fridge?
Crispy, salty, smoky bacon is great for both cooking and eating on its own, as well as flavoring everything from beans to popcorn. Bacon is salt-cured and made from pork belly, so you should be able to keep it in your larder for a long time, using bits and bobs for various meals, right? Unfortunately, bacon doesn’t have an endless shelf life; in fact, you might want to eat it up faster than you think.
Does Bacon Go Bad? Here’s How to Tell When It Does
USDA guidelines say that bacon has a safe refrigeration use-by date of one week. Uncooked bacon should be refrigerated immediately after you get it home and used within 10 days. You can freeze bacon for up to two months for longer storage, or cook your bacon and then use it within another five to seven days.
Bacon past its prime might smell sour, change in hue from rosy pink to slightly gray, or have a sticky-to-the-touch texture before it grows mold or has other signs of spoilage. So give your bacon a good once-over if you’re unsure about its freshness.