Bacon has a salty flavor and crispy, satisfying texture–and Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon is a household favorite. In fact, every year, the average American consumes around 18 pounds of bacon! So it’s no surprise that it’s often devoured a day or two after you bring it home from the store or it is delivered to your doorstep.
However, sometimes your bacon might get pushed to the back of the fridge. Or perhaps you find yourself buying a bit more than your family can eat. Before long, you might be wondering whether your bacon has gone bad or is still edible.
Even though our bacon is cured with natural ingredients and smoked, with no artificial ingredients, it doesn’t stay fresh forever. To help you decide whether it’s safe to eat your bacon, we’re going to cover a bit about packaging, as well as four signs that indicate it’s time to toss your bacon. Table of Contents
First Thing’s First: Check the Date
Before you start inspecting strips of bacon, take a minute to check the package for a date. While the USDA doesn’t require manufacturers to label bacon with a date, many companies choose to add a “use by” or a “sell by” date.
This date may appear in a variety of formats, including the sometimes mysterious Julian date code, which utilizes a five-digit number in the format XX-XXX. The first two numbers refer to the year. For example, 24 refers to 2024. The last three digits refer to the day of the year. So 001 would correlate with January 1 and 365 would indicate December 31. So a code of 24-025 would mean January 25, 2024.
Once you’ve found the date, take note of whether it’s a “sell by” or “use by” date. Most bacon will have a “sell by” date, but a “use by” date is not completely uncommon.
So what’s the difference between the two?
A “sell by” date helps grocery managers move inventory through their stores, so you receive fresh products. If your bacon has a “sell by” date, use it within one week after the date listed, or freeze it for up to a month.
On the other hand, a “use by” date (or “best if used by” date) indicates when a product passes peak quality. The USDA advises tossing bacon that has exceeded its “use by” date.
Four Signs Opened Bacon Has Gone Bad
Even if you’ve bought fresh bacon and stored it properly, it won’t last forever. Here are four easy signs your refrigerated bacon may have gone bad.
White residue emerging while cooking bacon
FAQ
Is it OK to eat the fat on bacon?
What is the white part in bacon?
Should I cut the fat off my bacon?
Is it safe to eat white bacon?
If we’re only talking about the white part of bacon that comes out during cooking, then it’s perfectly safe to eat. Contrary to some misconceptions, there is nothing toxic in that white substance. It consists of just protein and water – everything that was naturally occurring inside the bacon anyway.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Can you eat bacon on a daily diet?
A daily diet that includes bacon makes it tough to stay within the recommended limits for saturated fat and sodium. Four slices of bacon take most people about halfway to the recommended limit of saturated fat and one-third of the way to the daily limit for sodium for a day.
How do you know if Bacon is safe to eat?
An easy way you can identify if your bacon is safe to eat is to first smell it. If it smells funny, like a strong smell of ammonia or rotting meat, then it’s definitely off, in which case you should discard your bacon in the trash. Have you ever opened up a bone and seen brown stuff inside?