Can raw bacon be frozen?

Bacon is considered one of the staple foods in many homes. The smell of cooking bacon can make almost anyone’s mouth water.

Who doesn’t like bacon? It is a versatile food that is used for breakfast and many other things. You can often find bacon prepared and cured many different ways at your local grocery store.

You can even get bacon at your local butcher or meat store. It depends on how thick you like it and how you like it cured as well.

If you do get a lot of bacon, it’s important that you know the best ways to preserve it.

Can uncooked bacon be frozen so it lasts longer? Yes, you can freeze uncooked bacon. For best results, pre-freeze bacon in portions and pack in a freezer-safe container. It will last in the freezer for up to a year, but it is best to use it before six months. Whether cooked or raw, bacon freezes well.

The good news is that bacon freezes really well, and we’re here to show you how!

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to freeze your no-cook bacon. We’ll share some useful tips and tricks to help you through the process.

There are also a few things to know about freezing raw bacon to anticipate what to expect from the process. Read on to find out how to freeze raw bacon and much more.

Guide to freezing raw bacon

Bacon is salt -cured pork. Most often it comes from the belly or loin of the pig, but it can also come from various cuts of pork. Because bacon is cured, it keeps very well in many different ways.

Bacon is a versatile dish as long as you feel comfortable eating pork. Bacon can be eaten plain, used as a garnish, or cooked and mixed into a variety of dishes in many different ways.

You can initially store it in the refrigerator and transfer it to the freezer when necessary.

You can also buy uncooked bacon in bulk and store the excess in the freezer until you are ready to use it. We think you’ll find this works pretty well and the process is incredibly easy.

There isn’t much you can do to preserve bacon, especially if the bacon is in an unopened package.

Storing and freezing raw bacon correctly

Uncooked bacon should never be left out at room temperature for an extended period of time. It is a raw form of meat and is therefore susceptible to bacteria and parasites that can lead to food poisoning or additional health problems.

In the same vein, you shouldn’t eat raw bacon for similar reasons. You can get bacterial or parasitic infections from eating uncooked bacon.

Just as you have to cook steak, chicken and other meats, you have to cook bacon before eating it. 

Should you freeze uncooked bacon? - Advantages and disadvantages

Your unopened packets of bacon will keep fresh for 1-2 weeks. They are cured and are usually packaged in a way that will last. You just have to make sure to store the bacon in the fridge or freezer as soon as you bring it home. In the freezer, bacon can last from 6 to 12 months.

However, the longer the bacon is in the freezer, the more flavor and texture can affect the process.

Here are some pros and cons of freezing uncooked bacon:

Advantages of freezing raw bacon

• The shelf life of bacon is extended.
• You can freeze it in the original container if it is unopened.
• You can freeze the bacon individually or together.
• The freezing process is simple.
• Bacon is easy to use after freezing.
• It can be frozen up to 12 months.

Cons of freezing raw bacon

• You must make sure that it is well sealed and packaged.
• Flavor and texture can be negatively affected over time.
• The healing process can sometimes work negatively with frostbite.
• Frozen bacon may take longer to cook.

Freeze uncooked bacon

Now that we’ve covered all the basic details you need to know and have prepared you for anything that could go wrong, let’s talk about the process in detail.

Storing bacon in the freezer is not much different from storing it in the fridge, except that you can keep it in the freezer much longer than in the fridge.

Let’s start by talking about the proper steps for storing raw bacon in the freezer.

How to freeze raw bacon

If the bacon is still in the sealed purchase container, you can put it in the freezer. You can put it in a freezer bag for added protection, but it’s not necessary.

If you have opened the bacon, we recommend a pre-freeze process for uncooked bacon from an opened package.

Follow these steps to freeze uncooked bacon:

1. Decide if you want to freeze a lot of bacon together or if you want to portion it out a few slices at a time.
2. Start by rolling the bacon into small rolls, imagining what a snail looks like.
3. Arrange each bacon roll on a cookie sheet, in a single layer, and freeze this way for several hours.
4. Once they are solid in this shape, you can fit as many individual pieces as you like and store them in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
5. Label, date, and seal all containers.
6. Store it in the freezer for up to 12 months, with 6 being the recommended time.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you take the bacon out of the freezer, you should think about using it all. It really shouldn’t be refrozen once it’s been allowed to thaw.

Storing raw bacon in the fridge

The simplest thing is to store the raw bacon in the same unopened container from the purchase in the refrigerator.

Once the package is opened, be sure to place any unused bacon in a storage container or bag to prevent further bacteria or germs from accumulating. Consume it within a week if you store it in the fridge. Put it in the freezer if you can’t use it within that time.

As you can see, storing uncooked bacon is really quite simple. The pre-freezing process is recommended especially if you are going to divide the bacon into several portions.

Uncooked bacon is raw meat, even though it has gone through the curing process. Be sure to follow all precautions for handling raw meat, as well as cook the bacon to the proper temperature so that it is safe to eat.

Using the bacon after the freezing process

One of the nice things about freezing bacon is that it doesn’t have to be thawed for a long time to be used after you’ve frozen it. If you’ve frozen it in the original container, it may stick while frozen, so you’ll want to thaw it a bit to cook it.

You can let it thaw in the fridge overnight to thaw better.

If you forget to remove it in advance, you can also use slightly faster defrosting methods. This includes submerging it in or running it under cold water. This can take up to an hour.

You can also use the microwave. If you use either of these methods, the bacon should be cooked immediately after the thawing process.

Do not try to refreeze the bacon once you have allowed it to thaw. That is why we recommend that you plan ahead and divide it into appropriate portions when you freeze it. If not, you should plan to cook everything you thaw.

Once cooked, you can store the cooked bacon in the fridge for about a week, giving you time to consume it and avoid having to throw it away.

Related questions

We hope you have found this guide to freezing raw bacon a useful resource and that you fully understand the freezing process. It’s a simple process that doesn’t require a lot of work or effort to get right.

We invite you to review the following question and answer section for additional information that may also be informative to you.

How can you tell if uncooked bacon has gone bad?

To tell if the bacon has gone bad, look for a change in color in the bacon. When damaged, the color can change from reddish tones to gray-brown tones or even to green tones. If you see this color change, you should throw it away.

You can also keep an eye out for signs of slimy bacon, as this can mean it has gone bad. Lastly, if the bacon smells bad or is sour, throw it out as well, as this is another sign that it has gone bad.

Does cooking bacon kill the bacteria it contains?

Just like any other meat, if you cook bacon to the recommended temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, it will usually kill any parasites or bacteria that are in the bacon.

Do I have to roll bacon to freeze it?

It is not necessary to roll the bacon before freezing it, but it can simplify the freezing process. Rolling it up also allows you to more easily complete the pre-freezing process and also maximizes storage space.