How Long Food Lasts

Meat / Smoked or Processed

How long does bacon last?

Quick answer

Bacon (fully cooked, opened) keeps 5-14 days in the fridge.

  • Fully cooked, opened 5-14 days in the fridge
  • Cooked bacon, purchased refrigerated use-by date on package in the fridge · 3 months in the freezer
  • Uncured 4-7 days in the fridge · 3-4 weeks in the freezer
Form

Fridge

After opening

5-14days

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

-

Pantry

No known time

-

Mine has been in the fridge for

Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?

United States
Yes
United Kingdom
Only after cooking

How long does bacon last in the fridge?

  • Fully cooked, opened5-14 daysAfter opening
  • Uncured4-7 daysFrom purchase
  • Bacon5-7 days
  • Opened1 weekAfter opening
  • Cooked bacon, purchased refrigerateduse-by date on packagePer the printed date

Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.

Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

How long does bacon last in the freezer?

  • Fully cooked3 months
  • Uncured3-4 weeks
  • Bacon1 month
  • Beef bacon4 months
  • Cooked bacon, purchased refrigerated3 months
  • Dry-cured slab bacon3 months
  • Dry-cured sliced bacon3 months
  • Cooked by consumer, leftover1 month
  • Bacon cured without nitrites6 months
  • Poultry bacon4 months
  • General guidance1 month

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Can you freeze bacon?

Yes.

How to defrost bacon safely

  1. In the fridge
  2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
  3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
  4. Cook it from frozen

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

Can you refreeze bacon?

  • In the United KingdomOnly after cooking
  • In the United StatesYes

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

Can bacon be kept out of the fridge?

  • Fully cooked6 months
  • Cooked bacon, purchased refrigerateduse-by date on package
  • Dry-cured slab bacon3 weeks
  • Dry-cured sliced bacon10 days

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
Fully cooked-3 months6 months
Fully cooked, opened5-14 days--
Uncured4-7 days3-4 weeks-
Bacon5-7 days1 month-
Opened1 week--
Beef bacon-4 months-
Cooked bacon, purchased refrigerateduse-by date on package3 monthsuse-by date on package
Dry-cured slab bacon-3 months3 weeks
Dry-cured sliced bacon-3 months10 days
Cooked by consumer, leftover-1 month-
Bacon cured without nitrites-6 months-
Poultry bacon-4 months-
General guidance-1 month-

What the official sources say

“Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.”

“Cooked Bacon, Purchased Shelf Stable Unopened in the pantry (stored below 85 degrees) until the “use-by” date on the package After opening, refrigerate and use within 5 to 14 days. See product package for specific recommendations. 3 months”

“Bacon, fully cooked 6 months 5-14 days, opened”

“Bacon, fully cooked and shelf stable 6 months or until the "use-by" date on the package (unopened) 5 to 14 days (opened)”

Frequently asked questions

How long does bacon last in the fridge?

Fully cooked, opened: 5-14 days; Uncured: 4-7 days; Bacon: 5-7 days; Opened: 1 week.

How long does bacon last in the freezer?

Fully cooked: 3 months; Uncured: 3-4 weeks; Bacon: 1 month; Beef bacon: 4 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you freeze bacon?

Yes.

Can you refreeze bacon?

In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking; In the United States: Yes.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Bacon and Sausage: Bacon Fridge 7 days
  • Bacon and sausage, Bacon Fridge 1 week Freezer 1 month
  • Leftover Cooked Bacon, Cooked by Consumer Fridge 4-5 days Freezer 1 month

Related foods

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Values we do not display (7)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.

  • Bacon cured without nitrites, fridge: 3 weeks (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
  • Cooked by consumer, leftover, fridge: 4-5 days (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)
  • General guidance, fridge: 2 days (lovefoodhatewaste.com, not confirmed by a second source)
  • Beef bacon, fridge: 7 days (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)
  • Dry-cured slab bacon, fridge: 4-6 weeks (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)
  • Dry-cured sliced bacon, fridge: 4 weeks (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)
  • Poultry bacon, fridge: 7 days (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)