How Long Does Turkey Bacon Last?
Turkey bacon lasts 1 week in the fridge after opening and 2 weeks unopened, or until its use-by date. It freezes for about 1 month at best quality. Cooked strips keep 4–5 days.
Turkey 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.
Turkey bacon is chopped, cured and smoked turkey pressed into bacon-shaped strips. Unlike pork bacon, which is raw, most turkey bacon is cooked or partially cooked at the plant, and it is much leaner and moister. It keeps on the same schedule as pork bacon sealed, but opened packs turn slimy noticeably faster.
How to store turkey bacon
- Many packs have a resealable flap that does not seal well. Slide the opened package into a zip-top bag and press the air out.
- Turkey bacon strips stick together less than pork bacon, so you can freeze the opened pack in a bag and peel off slices while frozen.
- Keep it in the meat drawer or the back of a low shelf, not the door; it is moister than pork bacon and more sensitive to warm spots.
- Cooked strips go limp in the fridge. Store them between paper towels in a sealed container and re-crisp in a dry skillet for a minute.
How to tell if turkey bacon has gone bad
- A slimy, slippery film on the strips. This is the usual first sign and appears sooner than on pork bacon.
- A sour or sulfur smell replacing the smoky one.
- Pink and tan stripes fading to gray or brown, or developing green or white fuzzy spots.
- A swollen unopened package, or cloudy liquid inside it.
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.
Turkey 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 printed use-by date, whichever the package gives. | |||
| 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 turkey bacon last after opening?
Turkey bacon lasts about 1 week in the fridge after opening, tightly rewrapped, the same USDA guideline as for pork bacon. The printed use-by date only applies to the sealed package, so an opened pack should be finished or frozen within the week, even if the date is later.
Is turkey bacon already cooked?
Most turkey bacon is cured, smoked and at least partially cooked at the plant, but the label usually still says to cook it before eating. Follow the package directions and heat it until hot and browned. Because it is a processed poultry product, it should not be treated as ready-to-eat deli meat.
Can you freeze turkey bacon?
Yes. Turkey bacon freezes well for about 1 month at best quality and stays safe longer at 0°F (−18°C). Freeze an unopened pack as it is, or bag an opened one airtight. The strips can be cooked straight from frozen over medium heat.
Why does my turkey bacon feel slimy?
A distinctly slimy or sticky film means bacteria have grown on the surface, and the package should be discarded, not rinsed. Fresh turkey bacon is moist and may be slightly wet from the brine, but the liquid is thin and clear and the strips do not feel slick between your fingers.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon Opened |
1 week | 1 month | Not safe |
| Deli Turkey Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Chicken Sausage Raw |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Ground Turkey Raw |
1–2 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Hot Dogs Opened |
1 week | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Eggs Raw |
3–5 weeks | Not recommended | Not safe |
More turkey: Turkey Breast, Whole Turkey.
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.