Suppose you are wondering how to store cooked bacon. Read on if you want to learn the suggested storage methods for this all-time favorite staple to any meal. Choose the best way to keep your cooked bacon fresh from the refrigerator to the freezer!
Bacon is considered one of the well-known food globally, loved by people of all ages.
We all adore perfectly cooked bacon that’s crispy, salty, and super delicious.
But when you cook bacon and have leftovers, it becomes disappointing when it loses its delicious crispiness upon reheating.
It’s a good thing we’re here to tell you how to store cooked bacon and keep that crisp and flavorful goodness to consume for later.
Maintaining your bacon as crispy as you want it, even after reheating, all relies on storing it properly.
This allows you to enjoy the kind of bacon that we all desire even after days of storage.
There are different ways to achieve this, and we’re going to share them all with you.
Knowing how to store cooked bacon the right way is crucial to keeping it fresh for you to enjoy later on.
Many people find it hard to resist devouring every last bit of bacon they get to cook.
But for, those who often prepare huge batches of bacon, they might encounter leftovers that they need to secure.
Storing cooked bacon to keep it crispy and tasty is possible, especially if you know how you intend to consume it and how long you want to store your bacon.
How to store cooked bacon in the refrigerator
The best storage option is refrigerating cooked bacon to preserve its crispy texture and keep in all that flavor.
Cooked bacon in the fridge can remain chilled and last up to 5 days.
Be sure to seal it in a plastic bag to maintain optimum freshness. Here’s how to do it:
- Allow bacon to cool down to room temperature before placing it in a plastic bag.
- Squeeze all the air out of the bag and put it inside your refrigerator.
- Consume the refrigerated bacon within five days.
How to keep cooked bacon warm
Preparing a hearty breakfast with all the right ingredients can be time-consuming.
Cooking bacon too early in your process might leave them soggy as you continue to flip your pancakes and fry your eggs.
To keep your bacon crispy and warm all morning long, here are some tips you can follow.
If you need to keep your bacon warm all morning, especially when serving a big batch for a huge crowd, you can opt to use a slow cooker.
Place your bacon strips in a Crock-Pot and set it to warm.
Put in a spritz of cooking spray and simply pop your bacon in.
You can also serve your cooked bacon in a buffet-style chafing dish to keep it warm all morning long.
If you want to keep your cooked bacon warm and at optimum crispiness for an hour or so, place your cooked bacon inside a warm oven on a rack with a lined baking sheet so the bacon fat can drain.
This will allow the bacon to maintain its crispiness since the bacon fat won’t sog it up.
Keep the oven at about 200°F, or the lowest setting possible.
Remember to leave the oven door slightly opened and let the bacon rest inside until the right time for serving.
Also, don’t drain the bacon using two layers of paper towel, as this can produce steam and moisture inside the oven, which leads to bacon that’s limp.
This method can keep your bacon warm and crispy for up to two hours, assuring you and your guests the best crunch with each bite.
Keeping your cooked bacon warm for a shorter time, say, if you’re wrapping up on the rest of your cooking, and need 15-30 minutes more, is also possible.
Place a cover on the skillet with the bacon and leave it on the stove.
Make sure you leave a crack for air so steam doesn’t sog up your bacon inside.
You can also leave the skillet with the bacon inside a warm oven, should you need more time to prepare.
If you are cooking for a huge number of people, you can also choose to bake the bacon instead.
Baking the bacon instead of pan-frying allows you to control the heat after cooking.
You can let it stay inside the oven with the door slightly opened to keep it warm.
Does cooked bacon go bad?
It’s highly likely that there are people who once have asked themselves, “Does bacon go bad?”
Like most uncooked meat, bacon can start to go wrong if it isn’t handled correctly.
Several factors can determine how long bacon is good for, such as how it’s stored, the type of bacon, and whether or not it is cooked.
When kept unopened and vacuum-sealed, packaged, and sliced, raw bacon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week past its marked expiration date.
How long does cooked bacon last?
Most bacon products can generally last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and even up to 8 months if kept correctly in the freezer.
Once opened, uncooked bacon should be kept tightly wrapped in foil or a zip-lock bag and used within one week.
Raw bacon can be left frozen for up to one month before the fat becomes rancid and affects its flavor, but it can last up to 6 months if kept in the freezer.
Cooked bacon has a shorter shelf life and can last around 4-5 days in the fridge, lasting up to 1 month if kept frozen.
How to tell if cooked bacon is spoiled?
Knowing how to tell if cooked bacon is spoiled can help you avoid the disappointment of having to throw all that deliciousness away and keep away the risk of eating spoiled food.
Taking a good look at your cooked bacon can immediately determine its status.
If your cooked bacon has a slimy texture with a slight sheen on its surface, it has already started to go bad.
Cooked bacon that has gone bad will also have a sour and somewhat off-putting odor.
Simply by sight and by smell, you can quickly determine if your cooked bacon has gone bad without having to taste it.
It should immediately be discarded if it has gotten spoiled, even when you’re so tempted to give it another take.
Can you eat cooked bacon cold?
If you can’t wait long enough to reheat your cooked bacon, you should be relieved to know that it’s perfectly safe to munch on even when it’s cold.
Cooked bacon can be eaten cold as long as it is stored correctly.
Proper storage means not being left at room temperature for more than two hours or hasn’t gone beyond 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Of course, the texture and flavor of cold bacon are quite different compared to getting it heated.
Cold cooked bacon can be chewy and lacking in crispiness, but it still works well for cold salads, wraps, sandwiches, or as a quick bite straight from the fridge!
Can you reheat leftover bacon?
Reheating leftover bacon the right way is essential to enjoying that perfect, crispy bacon as if you just cooked a fresh batch.
Reheating cooked bacon in the microwave is the most convenient way.
Here’s the step-by-step process of reheating cooked bacon using the microwave method:
- Lay down your leftover bacon strips on a plate in a single layer.
- Cover the plate with a paper towel.
- You can set your microwave for 20 to 60 seconds, taking out the plate to check if the bacon is well heated after one round.
- If it’s not hot enough, heat it some more in the microwave for another 20 seconds.
- Once it’s hot enough, place the reheated bacon strips on a paper towel and let it rest for a few minutes.
You can also choose to reheat your leftover bacon using a skillet.
Ensure that the pan is hot to allow the bacon to cook in its fat for a few minutes.
Don’t forget to turn the bacon over to get both sides heated through.
Another option is to reheat your bacon in the oven.
This method lets you reheat a lot more bacon in just one go. Here’s how to do it:
- Get your oven heated to 350° F.
- Spread your bacon strips in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Cover the tray up with aluminum foil to seal in that goodness.
- Transfer the tray to the oven and heat it for 8 to 10 minutes.
- To avoid getting it overdone, you can check on the 8th minute if it’s thoroughly heated.
These simple steps can get your leftover bacon tasting like a new batch with that crunch that you love.
Can you freeze cooked bacon?
Freezing cooked bacon is also a great option if you want to store it for extended periods.
You’ll want to get the bacon into the freezer reasonably fast to avoid bacteria that grow more rapidly at room temperature.
How to freeze cooked bacon
It’s possible to store cooked bacon in the refrigerator or in your freezer.
However, cooked bacon stored in the fridge will only stay fresh for up to 5 days.
To extend its shelf life, you need to consider storing it inside the freezer, as this method can make your leftover bacon last for a month. Here’s how to do it:
- Wrap individual portions of your cooked bacon in paper towels to cushion.
- Place these towel-wrapped bacon portions into a zip-lock bag.
- Slide the bacon into the freezer and consume it within a month.
The advantage of this process is that you can place your bacon right in the pan for reheating them later on.
How to defrost cooked bacon
The best way to defrost cooked bacon when you’re short on time is the microwave method.
Remember, defrost times depend on approximate weight of your food.
According to experts, the defrosting time for every pound of bacon should be five minutes.
Meanwhile, 0.25 pounds of bacon can only take 1 minute. Here’s how to do it:
- Line a microwave-safe dish with a paper towel.
- Put the frozen bacon on the dish.
- Cover the bacon with another paper towel. This is because the much fat in bacon can cause the oil to spit in the microwave.
- Place it inside the microwave and select the “defrost” setting.
- Heat the bacon for about 1 to 5 minutes, depending on its weight.
We discuss more ways of defrosting bacon in this article.
How long can cooked bacon sit out?
Like most cooked meats, cooked bacon should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Failure to keep the bacon inside the freezer or refrigerator might cause bacterial growth, so ensure to store it right away if you’re done with your bacon.
Should you refrigerate cooked bacon?
Yes, you should refrigerate cooked bacon.
Refrigerating cooked bacon maximizes its shelf life, allowing you to make it last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Ensure to store it using airtight containers or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep its quality.
How to store cooked bacon bits
Cooked bacon bits can stay inside the fridge for seven days.
Store them using a jar or a tightly locked freezer bag, place them in the fridge or freezer and use them whenever needed.
The bottom line
We all want the best out of our bacon, so it’s ideal to know how to store our cooked bacon correctly to maintain that incredible deliciousness.
How To Store Cooked Bacon In The Refrigerator 🥓
The best storage option is refrigerating cooked bacon to preserve its crispy texture and keep in all that flavor. Learn it now!
Ingredients
- Bacon
- Plastic bag
- Refrigerator
Instructions
- Allow bacon to cool down to room temperature before placing it in a plastic bag.
- Squeeze all the air out of the bag and put it inside your refrigerator.
- Consume the refrigerated bacon within five days.