How long does bacon last?

Raw bacon keeps about 1 week in the fridge, both unopened and once the pack is open, and about 1 month in the freezer. Uncured bacon keeps for less time: 4 to 7 days in the fridge.

Food	Fridge	Freezer	Pantry
Raw bacon	1 weekfrom purchaseOpened: 1 week	1 monthfrom purchase	—
Uncured bacon	4–7 days	3–4 weeks	—
Precooked bacon, shelf-stable	—Opened: 5–14 days	—	6 monthsfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if bacon has gone bad

A sour, rotten or fishy smell instead of a smoky, salty one.
A slimy or sticky surface.
Gray, green or brown meat, or yellowish fat. Fresh bacon is pink with white fat.
Any mold.

How to store bacon

Keep unopened bacon in its pack in the coldest part of the fridge.
Once opened, wrap the rest tightly in plastic or foil, or put it in a sealed bag, and use it within 1 week.
Shelf-stable precooked bacon can stay in the pantry until you open it; after that, keep it in the fridge.
Refrigerate cooked bacon within 2 hours, wrapped, and treat it like other cooked leftovers.

Can you freeze bacon?

Yes, but not for long: about 1 month for raw bacon, and 3 to 4 weeks for uncured bacon. Salt and fat make bacon go rancid in the freezer sooner than other meat. Freeze it in its unopened pack, or lay slices on parchment so you can take out only what you need. Thaw it in the fridge, or cook it straight from frozen.

Questions

How long does cooked bacon last in the fridge?

Treat it like other cooked meat leftovers: 3 to 4 days in the fridge in a closed container or wrapped in foil.

Can you eat bacon after the sell-by date?

Raw bacon keeps about 1 week in the fridge, and a sealed pack kept cold can be fine a few days past a sell-by date. Check it before cooking and throw it out if it smells sour or feels slimy.

Is bacon grease safe to keep?

Strained bacon grease keeps about 6 months in a covered jar in the fridge, or 12 months in the freezer. Throw it out if it smells rancid.

Add bacon to ShelfLife when you open the pack, and get a reminder before the week is up.

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