Can You Freeze Bacon?
Yes, bacon freezes excellently for up to 6 months raw or 1 month cooked. Freeze unopened packages directly, or separate slices with parchment paper for easy portioning. Frozen bacon can be cooked directly from frozen, adding just a few extra minutes to cooking time.
Key Takeaways
- Raw bacon freezes very well because of its high fat and salt content, which help preserve quality.
- Turkey bacon and other bacon alternatives freeze similarly to pork bacon.
- Bacon may develop some freezer burn flavor after several months but remains safe.
Explanation
Raw bacon freezes very well because of its high fat and salt content, which help preserve quality. An unopened package can go straight into the freezer. Once opened, wrap tightly in plastic wrap then foil, or use freezer bags with air removed.
For convenience, separate bacon slices with parchment or wax paper before freezing. This allows you to pull out just a few slices at a time without thawing the whole package. Roll the layered bacon and store in a freezer bag.
Cooked bacon also freezes well but has a shorter optimal storage time (about 1 month). Freeze cooked strips on a baking sheet, then transfer to bags. Reheat in microwave, oven, or skillet directly from frozen.
Things to Know
- Turkey bacon and other bacon alternatives freeze similarly to pork bacon.
- Bacon may develop some freezer burn flavor after several months but remains safe.
- Bacon grease can also be frozen in ice cube trays for cooking use.