How long does bacon last?
In the fridge, bacon keeps for 1 week from the package date. Once opened, use it within 1 week. All 3 kinds are below.
No guideline
1 week
from the package date
1 week
in the fridge unless noted
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | no guideline | 1 week | 1 week | 1 month |
| fully cooked | 6 months | no guideline | 5 to 14 days | no guideline |
| uncured | no guideline | 4 to 7 days | no guideline | 3 to 4 weeks |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Does bacon go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, bacon may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell bacon has gone bad
- Spoiled bacon smells sour or off, and the surface turns sticky or slimy. Either sign means it goes out.
- Fading or darkening of the colour can come with spoilage, but colour alone is not the test. Check the smell and the surface too.
- Mould on bacon means the whole pack goes out. USDA lists bacon with lunch meats and hot dogs as foods that cannot be trimmed.
- Raw bacon keeps 7 days in the fridge once opened, and cooked bacon 4 to 5 days. Fully cooked shelf-stable bacon follows its package date until opened.
Sources: Bacon and Food Safety (USDA FSIS); The Color of Meat and Poultry (USDA FSIS); Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other meat: smoked or processed last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.