You bought a package of bacon and left it on the counter while you unpacked your food. It has been sitting for about 45 minutes now. You’re wondering if the bacon really needs to go back in the fridge, or if it can stay a little longer while you get organized.
Does bacon need to be refrigerated?
Short answer: Yes, raw bacon and most cooked bacon should be refrigerated at all times. There is one exception: pre-cooked shelf bacon that has been processed to a specific moisture level that allows it to be stored at room temperature before opening. For everything else, refrigerate to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and discard if left out for more than 2 hours.
For more information on storing perishable food, see Food storage guide.
To take the keys
- Raw bacon: should always be refrigerated
- Cooked bacon: it must be cooled; use within 4 to 5 days
- Leave out more than 2 hours: discard
- Pre-cooked shelf bacon: room temperature before opening; refrigerate after opening
- Store bacon in the coldest part of the refrigerator, away from other foods, to prevent cross-contamination
Should Raw Bacon Be Refrigerated?
Yes, all the time. Bacon is an uncooked pork product that must be continuously chilled to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below from the time you bring it home from the store. It was stored in the meat cooler at the supermarket, and it’s in your fridge when you get home. The USDA FSIS specifically states that bacon must be refrigerated to maintain safety. Leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours, raw bacon should be discarded.
A short exposure (15 to 20 minutes) when decomposing food is not a concern. The 2-hour rule covers the cumulative time at room temperature between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, not the current timer.
Should cooked bacon be refrigerated?
yes Cooked bacon should be refrigerated if not consumed immediately. Once cooked and cooled to room temperature, place in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Don’t leave cooked bacon sitting on a table after a meal. When properly refrigerated, cooked bacon will keep for 4 to 5 days.
A practical tip: cooking bacon in batches and storing it cooked in the fridge is a smart use of a package that approaches its raw window. Cooking raw bacon before the end of the one-week open window turns it into cooked bacon with a 4- to 5-day shelf life in the refrigerator, effectively buying you more usable time than leaving it raw.
Exception for pre-cooked shelf bacon
Bacon that does not need to be refrigerated before opening is pre-cooked shelf bacon. According to the USDA FSIS, to be classified as shelf-stable, bacon must be processed in a pre-cooked plant to a water activity of 0.85 or below, which controls the growth of Staphylococcus aureus at room temperature. The USDA recommends storing at or below 85 degrees Fahrenheit and using by the date recommended by the manufacturer. This product is usually found in vacuum-sealed containers on non-refrigerated grocery shelves, rather than meat.
Once opened, shelf-stable bacon should be refrigerated and used within 2 weeks. If you’re not sure if your pre-cooked bacon is shelf-stable, check where it was sold: if it was in a refrigerated meat case, keep it in the refrigerator. If it comes from an unrefrigerated aisle, it is stable until opened.
How to store bacon correctly
Raw Bacon
- Store in original sealed container until use. The vacuum seal significantly extends shelf life.
- Once opened, wrap remaining strips tightly in plastic wrap or transfer to a ziplock bag, squeezing out as much air as possible.
- Store on a lower shelf or meat drawer, not on the door. The door is the hottest part of the refrigerator.
- Keep away from ready-to-eat foods and store under other foods to avoid contamination from raw pork drippings.
- Use within one week of opening according to USDA guidelines.
Baked Bacon
- Let cool briefly on a paper towel to drain excess fat, then transfer to an airtight container.
- Do not let the bacon cook at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store in a single layer or between paper towels in a sealed container to prevent soaking.
- Use within 4 to 5 days.
- To reheat: microwave for 20-30 seconds or heat in a skillet over medium heat. Do not reheat more than once.
Bacon Frosting
- Raw: Freeze in original sealed container if unopened. For opened packages, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.
- Separate the strips with parchment paper before freezing so you can pull out the individual strips without thawing the whole package.
- Bacon: frozen up to 4 months. Cooked bacon: up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Use within 7 days of thawing. Do not refreeze after thawing.
See also
Recipes that use bacon
If your bacon is nearing the end of its window, cook it. Batch-cooked bacon crumbles beautifully in salads, pasta, soups, baked potatoes and egg dishes and lasts 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. We love the bacon in this one Roasted Brussels sprouts recipe. Turkey bacon works especially well in lighter preparations. For more information on turkey bacon and lean protein options, see best sources of lean protein. For the USDA’s complete bacon safety guide, see USDA FSIS Bacon and Food Safety Page.
Bacon Storage Guide Questions
FAQ: Can Bacon sit overnight?
no Raw or cooked bacon left at room temperature overnight should be discarded. The USDA’s 2-hour rule applies: perishable food left in the temperature danger zone (between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 2 hours should not be eaten. Bacon that sat overnight has been in that zone for 8 hours or more. Even if it looks good and smells good, bacteria levels may have reached dangerous concentrations without producing detectable signals.
Frequently Asked Questions: Should unopened bacon be refrigerated?
Yes, raw and cooked bacon for all standards. Vacuum-sealed packaging significantly extends the shelf life, but does not stabilize the product on the shelves. An unopened package of bacon stored in the refrigerator lasts continuously for 2 weeks. If it comes from the store’s refrigerated meat case, it should be cold even in its original sealed package. The only exception is shelf-stable precooked bacon sold off the shelf without refrigeration, which can be stored at room temperature until opened.
FAQ: Can you store bacon at room temperature?
Bacon stored in a sealed container can be stored at room temperature for months according to food safety experts, although refrigeration extends its shelf life by 3 months or more. The high fat content and lack of water make it significantly more stable than bacon. However, if your bacon grease contains food particles or bacon bits, refrigerate immediately to prevent the growth of protein-containing particles and bacterial growth. For full shelf life and bacon spoilage instructions, see bacon goes bad.
Further reading
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