How Long Does Bacon Last?
Opened raw bacon lasts 1 week in the fridge; an unopened package lasts 2 weeks. Frozen, it keeps best quality for 1 month. Cooked bacon lasts 4–5 days refrigerated.
Bacon — opened
shelf life- Unopened: 2 weeks in the fridge
- Cooked: 4–5 days in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Bacon is pork belly cured with salt and nitrite, or with celery powder in so-called uncured bacon, then usually smoked and sliced. Curing and vacuum packing give it a longer fridge life than fresh pork, but it is still raw. Its high fat content turns rancid quickly, even in the freezer, which is why its freezer window is short.
How to store bacon
- Once the package is open, move the bacon to a zip-top bag with the air pressed out, or wrap the opened end tightly in foil. Exposed slices dry, darken and go rancid.
- To freeze, roll each slice into a coil or lay slices on parchment, freeze until firm, then bag. You can take out two slices without thawing the pound.
- Uncured or nitrate-free bacon is cured with celery powder and gets no extra shelf life; treat it exactly the same, or more cautiously.
- Blot cooked bacon and refrigerate it in a sealed container lined with a paper towel; re-crisp in a skillet or for a few seconds in the microwave.
- Strained bacon grease keeps best covered in the fridge, not in an open can by the stove.
How to tell if bacon has gone bad
- Slices that feel slimy or sticky rather than moist and slightly greasy.
- A sour, fishy or sulfur smell in place of the normal smoky, salty one.
- Meat turning from pink-red to gray, brown or green, or fat turning yellow.
- White, green or blue fuzzy spots of mold anywhere in the package means discard the whole package.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Bacon shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | 1 week | 1 month | Not safe |
| Unopened | 2 weeks | 1 month | Not safe |
| Or until the use-by date if one is printed. Shelf-stable pre-cooked bacon follows its own label. | |||
| Cooked | 4–5 days | 1 month | Not safe |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
How long does bacon last in the fridge after opening?
Opened raw bacon lasts 1 week in the fridge, according to USDA, provided it is rewrapped tightly. That is true even if the printed date is weeks away, because the date assumes an intact vacuum seal. If you will not finish the package in a week, freeze the rest the day you open it.
Can you eat bacon after the use-by date?
It is not recommended. USDA advises using bacon by its use-by date, or within 1 week of a sell-by date. Freezing an unopened pack before the date pauses the clock. Bacon that looks and smells normal can still carry bacteria such as Listeria, which grows at fridge temperature.
Why can bacon only be frozen for a month?
One month is a quality guideline, not a safety limit. Bacon kept at 0°F (−18°C) stays safe indefinitely, but the salt in cured meat speeds up rancidity in the fat, so after a month or two it starts to taste stale. Airtight, vacuum-sealed packs hold their flavor longer than opened ones.
Is cooked bacon left out overnight safe to eat?
No, not by USDA guidance. Home-cooked bacon is perishable and should not sit out more than 2 hours. It is drier and saltier than most cooked meat, but not enough to make it shelf-stable. Only commercially produced bacon labeled shelf-stable can be stored in the pantry, and only until it is opened.
How long does cooked bacon last in the fridge?
Cooked bacon lasts 4–5 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and about 1 month in the freezer. Cooking a whole package at once and refrigerating the strips is a practical way to use bacon that is nearing the end of its 1 week after opening.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Bacon Opened |
1 week | 1 month | Not safe |
| Ham Cooked, sliced |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Sausage Raw |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Hot Dogs Opened |
1 week | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Prosciutto Opened |
3–5 days | 1 month | Not safe |
| Eggs Raw |
3–5 weeks | Not recommended | Not safe |
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.