How can you tell if Bacon has gone bad?

Signs that Bacon has gone bad: Sticky or slimy texture; Sour or rotten smell, gray-green color; Mold on the surface.

What does the date label on Bacon mean?

Bacon usually carries a "Use By" date. The last date the manufacturer recommends for peak quality — for most foods this is still quality-based, not a safety cutoff (infant formula is the one exception). See our date-labels guide for the full breakdown.

Meat & Fish

How long does Bacon last?

Q: How long does Bacon last?

In the fridge: 1 week (opened). In the freezer: 1 month. Sealed / unopened: 2 weeks (unopened). Wrap tightly after opening. Cooked bacon keeps 4–5 days in the fridge.

High confidence Safety concern

How long does Bacon last? fridge 1 week (opened), freezer 1 month. Plus spoilage signs, sources, and an unopened-vs-opened note.

Fridge

1 week (opened)

Pantry

Refrigerate only

Freezer

1 month

Sealed / unopened: 2 weeks (unopened)

Signs Bacon has gone bad

Sticky or slimy texture.
Sour or rotten smell, gray-green color.
Mold on the surface.

Discard immediately if

Any slimy or sticky feel
Any off smell at all (cooked food should smell neutral or like its seasoning)
Mold of any color

Why guidance varies

Whole cuts keep longer than ground meat because ground meat has more surface area exposed to bacteria; cut type, fat content, and packaging method (vacuum vs. butcher paper) shift duration significantly.

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Sources for this answer

A USDA FSIS — Refrigeration and Food Safety — Storage windows and refrigeration guidance for this category.
A USDA FoodKeeper — Date-label interpretation and food-safety baseline.

Reviewed: 2026-05 · Rule: if manufacturer storage instructions are stricter than category guidance, the manufacturer instructions win.