# How long does bacon stay good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007 "2009-11-02T01:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![erleichda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4da419/32.png) [@erleichda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erleichda)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/1 "2009-11-02T01:47:06Z")
Since the 'dope is full of bacon experts, I thought I would ask! The bacon in question has been continuously refrigerated for the last two weeks, but the package is open. Would you eat it? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/2 "2009-11-02T01:57:06Z")
Imho, as a self-professed bacon expert with an 8th degree black belt in Bacon Fu, I go by color and smell. Obviously, if it’s green, grey, fuzzy, breathing, or moving, throw it out. If it looks OK, smell it. Old bacon that is still good should have a relatively clean smell, and if it’s starting to go bad, it has a definite “piggy” odor. I would, if you are still working on a yellow belt, leave a piece in there to see what that smell smells like. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/3 "2009-11-02T02:17:07Z")
In my experience, two weeks would be pushing it for sliced bacon, especially if it’s not been in a sealed container (just put it in a tupperware box or something after you’ve opened the package). Unopened, it’ll certainly last longer. As **Superhal** said, just smell it if it doesn’t look suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![erleichda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4da419/32.png) [@erleichda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erleichda)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/4 "2009-11-02T02:31:57Z")
So what exactly are the risks of eating old bacon? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/5 "2009-11-02T02:56:20Z")
Well, I’d cook it first… ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/6 "2009-11-02T02:57:53Z")
> [@erleichda](#): > > So what exactly are the risks of eating old bacon? I usually have smoked bacon. It’s perfectly fine to eat uncooked. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/7 "2009-11-02T05:17:11Z")
> [@erleichda](#): > > So what exactly are the risks of eating old bacon? You develop swine flu. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/8 "2009-11-02T06:18:11Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > I usually have smoked bacon. It’s perfectly fine to eat uncooked. Yeah, uncooked you don’t want to push it, but if you fry the crap out of it there’s really not much it can do to you. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/9 "2009-11-02T06:29:37Z")
I have a mold allergy, so I can’t eat it once it starts changing color, but theoretically, the bacon should be safe to eat if cooked properly. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/10 "2009-11-02T06:44:33Z")
With all of the salt most bacon is treated with, I’d guess quite some time. I’ve had some in the fridge for several (3-4) weeks before I cooked it, but it was sealed so dunno. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/11 "2009-11-02T06:55:35Z")
It’s fine, as long as it’s not moldy or slimy and doesn’t smell rotten. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/12 "2009-11-02T08:15:37Z")
I usually find the problem with bacon that’s been left in an open package is that it dries out around the edges and goes hard. When that happens I just snip off the dried-out part with kitchen scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/13 "2009-11-02T08:40:10Z")
Get someone _else_ to smell it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/14 "2009-11-02T11:09:04Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > With all of the salt most bacon is treated with, I’d guess quite some time. I’ve had some in the fridge for several (3-4) weeks before I cooked it, but it was sealed so dunno. Keep in mind that bacon was first developed as a method of preserving food without refrigeration. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/15 "2009-11-02T11:43:27Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Keep in mind that bacon was first developed as a method of preserving food without refrigeration. That would have been shortly after “Let there be light” and just before a few less important bits. Does modern, processed bacon (the run-of-the-mill supermarket package) resemble smoked or salted bacon? What’s in it? I don’t eat much of the Oscar Wilde kind, but it doesn’t really compare to the bacon that comes from a good butcher – I always assumed the flavors were more food science than food. Do they act to preserve it too? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/16 "2009-11-02T12:06:09Z")
I agree with the other dopers,( having lived in an age without refridgeration). Now I freeze bacon I know I am not going to use far awhile,If you are the only person eating it, freeze it in serving sizes. I defrost it in the Microwave but a couple of slices if frozen separated flat will defrost in a few minuets on their own. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/17 "2009-11-02T14:16:30Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Imho, as a self-professed bacon expert with an 8th degree black belt in Bacon Fu, I go by color and smell. > > **Obviously, if it’s green, grey, fuzzy, breathing, or moving, throw it out.** > > If it looks OK, smell it. Old bacon that is still good should have a relatively clean smell, and if it’s starting to go bad, it has a definite “piggy” odor. I would, if you are still working on a yellow belt, leave a piece in there to see what that smell smells like. Emphasis added. But… IT’S BACON!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/18 "2009-11-02T14:43:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > …I don’t eat much of the Oscar Wilde kind,… An epigram with every BLT! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/19 "2009-11-02T15:39:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > That would have been shortly after “Let there be light” and just before a few less important bits. > > Does modern, processed bacon (the run-of-the-mill supermarket package) resemble smoked or salted bacon? What’s in it? I don’t eat much of the Oscar Wilde kind, but it doesn’t really compare to the bacon that comes from a good butcher – I always assumed the flavors were more food science than food. Do they act to preserve it too? Bacon is cured in a brine with a lot of salt and a small amount of nitrite. It’s then dried for an extended period. Some bacon is smoked. ---
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007/20 "2009-11-02T18:42:51Z")
“How long does bacon stay good?” Always my friend, bacon is always good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-bacon-stay-good/516007.md?page=2)