If you’re freezing uncooked bacon it’s probably for the purpose of freezing some or all of it before cooking.
But can you really freeze uncooked bacon?
Yes, you can freeze uncooked bacon and keep it in the freezer for up to six months. This can be done with the original packaging or individual uncooked bacon. Just make sure that you handled the bacon properly.
The shelf life of uncooked bacon in the freezer depends on the storage process.
This means that there are some things needed to be considered.
How to freeze uncooked bacon properly?
Fresh uncooked bacon is frozen best by freezing it in vacuum sealer (check my recommended vacuum sealer on Amazon) packaging with the air sucked out of it.
If you don’t have a vacuum sealer then using zip lock freezer bags and freezing flat should be good enough.
If freezing unwrapped, you can wrap them individually first before freezing.
Make sure that the surface area to volume ratio is as small as possible so that freezing happens quickly when food freezes from the outside in.
Bacon will freeze very well without getting freezer burn or drying out if properly wrapped in some kind of plastic wrapping prior to freezing.
Wrap tightly and place into a Ziploc bag for best results.
Never add water when freezing your meat because this accelerates changes and damage while also increasing the chances of freezing failure.
Bacon can be kept in the freezer for up to six months if properly packaged or wrapped before freezing.
Tips on freezing uncooked bacon
If this is your first time freezing uncooked bacon, then the following information may be helpful to you.
Here are some facts you might want to know…
There is no need to thaw frozen uncooked bacon since freezing changes its structure when it freezes anyway so thawing isn’t really necessary.
If you want to cook your bacon while still partially frozen, anything under 40-50% of freezing should be okay to use without any real difficulty.
Just make sure that you leave at least a couple of hours for defrosting beforehand and don’t refreeze this portion once fully thawed until after cooking.
For freezing in individual portions, cut the uncooked bacon into the desired pieces first before freezing it.
This should be done after freezing rather than before freezing to avoid freezer burn on individual pieces of bacon when freezing.
Make sure that they are fully frozen prior to wrapping them, letting some time elapse between initial freezing and wrapping for better results.
For best results use plastic freezer bags or vacuum sealer packaging when freezing individual slices of bacon to keep out moisture and ice crystals.
Can you freeze opened uncooked bacon?
Yes, you can freeze opened uncooked bacon.
You’ll just need to make sure to wrap the uncooked bacon in plastic wrap or foil prior to freezing (just like freezing fresh) so that you don’t have any freezer burn.
Make sure that this wrapped, opened uncooked bacon is properly sealed before freezing.
You should also wrap each individual slice along with the pack of bacon.
From this point, freezing is just like freezing fresh uncooked bacon so it’s all pretty straightforward.
This can be done for up to 6 months in a freezer and freezing time really depends on the storage process.
Wrapping the opened pack of bacon in foil and freezing it with the ends folded down is also another option for freezing opened uncooked bacon.
This is pretty much like vacuum sealing the opened package except that you don’t have a vacuum sealer so just fold over the ends of the foil tightly closed.
Freezing this way can give you an extra safety net against freezer burn without giving you too much trouble at all since freezing individual slices after freezing whole cuts makes defrosting easy.
How long does uncooked bacon last in the refrigerator?
Uncooked bacon, if stored in the refrigerator crisper will last for up to one week after opening.
If freezing after freezing it should be good as long as 6 months due to freezing preventing freezer burn and drying out of the meat.
Can you refreeze thawed uncooked bacon?
Yes, you can refreeze thawed uncooked bacon for freezing again at a later date.
As long as freezing did not occur with any trapped moisture in the package or wrapped portion prior to freezing entirely freezing and defrosting multiple times is pretty much okay.
Just make sure that it’s properly sealed before freezing again.
How to cooked thawed bacon?
After freezing, thaw the desired amount of bacon on the counter at room temperature.
Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and cook for about 4 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until crisp and golden brown.
If you need to adjust cooking time for thicker pieces of bacon, reduce flame intensity when frying.
You can also place frozen bacon under warm running water briefly if you want to use it immediately.
But it is less preferred than turning your stovetop into a makeshift defrosting station since this method does not allow freezing temperatures outside the meat while freezing does.
Well, freezing bacon is not complicated at all.
If you follow the tips and precautions when freezing bacon, freezing your uncooked bacon shouldn’t be difficult.
You can also view some frozen cooked bacon recipes to add flavor to your meal.
How long can uncooked bacon sit out at room temperature?
Uncooked bacon can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours after freezing.
However, freezing uncooked bacon is better than letting it sit out at room temperature for two hours.
This is to avoid potential bacterial growth in the bacon. Room temperature is perfect for bacteria to grow rapidly.
Final Thoughts
Freezing uncooked bacon is not a difficult task to do.
Just make sure to wrap bacon in freezer-safe packaging and freezing it for up to six months.
You should also consider freezing each slice individually and freezing the opened package of uncooked bacon so that you ensure quality freshness.
If freezing bacon for a long period of time, freezing each slice individually in a freezer bag or wrapped tightly with aluminum foil is also recommended.
However, freezing uncooked bacon does not affect the taste and quality of the meat.
Freezing as soon as you open your pack of uncooked bacon works just fine too.
Hope this article about freezing uncooked bacon was informative to you.
If you want to learn more about freezing foods, feel free to visit my guide.