How Long Does Bacon Last in the Fridge?

Unopened bacon lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge (up to its use-by date), opened raw bacon keeps for around 7 days, and cooked bacon keeps for 4–5 days.

Quick reference:

How long does cooked bacon last in the fridge? 4 to 5 days, stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly. Let it cool to room temperature first — but no longer than 2 hours total out of the fridge — then refrigerate. Layering it between paper towels keeps it from going soggy.

This is the part most people are actually asking about, since batch-cooking bacon is common. Five days is the outer limit; the texture is best in the first two or three.

Raw bacon, opened: once the vacuum seal is broken, air gets in and the clock speeds up considerably. Rewrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap, or move it into a sealed container or zip bag with the air pressed out, and use it within a week. Don't just fold the original packet over.

Raw bacon, unopened: the vacuum pack protects it, so go by the use-by date on the package — generally 1–2 weeks from purchase. Store it on a lower shelf at the back, the coldest part of the fridge, not the door.

How to tell if bacon has gone bad — throw it out if you find:

• A sour, fishy, sulphurous, or ammonia-like smell. Fresh bacon smells smoky and faintly sweet. Smell is the most reliable test.
• A slimy or sticky film on the surface. Fresh bacon feels moist but not slippery.
• Colour changes — grey, green, brown, or dull. Fresh bacon is pink with white or creamy fat. (Some browning at the edges of the fat is normal; grey-green across the meat is not.)
• Any mould, including small blue or white spots.

A note on colour: bacon that's turned slightly brown but smells fine and isn't slimy is usually just oxidised and still safe. Trust the smell and texture over colour alone, but if two of the three signs are present, discard it.

Freezing bacon: wrap portions tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, or use a freezer bag with the air removed. A useful trick is to freeze strips separated by parchment paper, or roll them individually, so you can take out just what you need. Unopened packs can go in as they are.

• Raw bacon keeps its quality 6–8 months frozen.
• Cooked bacon keeps 2–3 months.
• Thaw in the fridge overnight, never on the counter.

Can you leave bacon out? No more than 2 hours at room temperature, cooked or raw (1 hour above 90°F/32°C). Bacon is cured, which slows spoilage, but curing is not preservation at room temperature.

Bacon grease strained into a sealed jar keeps for about 6 months in the fridge and effectively forever in the freezer.

Turkey bacon behaves similarly but is generally less forgiving — treat it as 5–7 days opened, and follow the package date closely.