If you took all the bacon strips from the freezer but you end up using only a few of them, you might be wondering if you can refreeze the rest.
But can you refreeze uncooked bacon? Is it safe?
You can refreeze uncooked bacon as long as it is thawed in the refrigerator and not at room temperature. Also, it is better to refreeze bacon if it is still cold and has some ice crystals in it.
Bacon that is thawed at room temperature will not be safe to refreeze. Potential bacterial contamination is the main reason for this.
When frozen food is left outside the fridge for more than 2 hours, the bacteria can quickly grow in it making the bacon unsafe to refreeze.
If you want to refreeze it, make sure that it thawed in the fridge and not on the countertop.
For bacon left on the countertop for too long, you can cook it first then pop it in the freezer as it cools down.
How to refreeze bacon safely?
Refreezing bacon is simple. However, if you do it improperly, safety issues may arise.
The main thing to remember is that never refreeze bacon if is it previously thawed or left at room temperature.
In this post, I will share with you some steps you can do to refreeze bacon.
Refreezing uncooked bacon
If you want to refreeze bacon thawed in the fridge, you can just bring it back into the freezer.
The original packaging will be enough to keep the bacon safe in the freezer.
However, if you want to store it for a considerable length of time in the freezer, you can wrap it again with plastic or better put it in a freezer bag.
In my case though, I like to repackage individual servings to make them easy to pick when I need to use them.
Another benefit of freezing bacon strips individually is that the pieces won’t stick together. When you need them, you can easily the pieces you need without the hassle.
The last thing I want to do is to label the bacon packages so that I can easily identify them.
It is also a good idea to put the date on the package to let you know how long the bacon is in the freezer.
Refreezing cooked bacon
Cooked bacon can also be refrozen. This is the best thing to do with the leftovers.
If you have thawed bacon at room temperature, you cannot put it back in the freezer or refrigerator.
The best remaining option is to cook it. Once cooked, allow it to cool down for several minutes and put it in a freezer bag or anything resealable.
Like freezing other foods, make sure that you remove as much air as possible out of the freezer bag.
The main purpose of this is to prevent the bacon from being affected by freezer burn.
The good thing about frozen cooked bacon is that you can just pull it from the freezer and reheat in the microwave. Within 30 seconds, it will be ready to serve.
Just a reminder
Although bacon can last in the freezer for a considerable amount of time, it is always better to use it within a short period of time.
Frozen foods that are stored in the freezer for too long may lose their best texture and flavor.
Also, freezing and refreezing can definitely affect the overall quality of the bacon.
That said, here are some of the reminders:
Reminder #1
Only thaw bacon that you’ll need. This will prevent from having excess which will needed to be refrozen later.
Reminder #2
Never thaw bacon at room temperature or on the countertop. The best way to thaw bacon is in the fridge, in the microwave, and in cold water.
Buying frozen goods in bulk is a great way to save money. However, they should be stored in the freezer properly to keep them safe from spoilage.
Can you refreeze bacon once it has been thawed?
The answer to this question depends on where the bacon is thawed. If the bacon is thawed in the refrigerator, you can refreeze it.
However, if it is previously thawed on the countertop or at room temperature, it is better to cook the bacon first before freezing.
As mentioned, thawing bacon at room temperature is too risky. The bacteria multiply pretty quickly in a warm environment which will end up contaminating the meat.
If freezing is the only option for thawed bacon, you can cook it first before popping it in the freezer.
How many times can you freeze bacon?
I tried to refreeze bacon several times before and found no issues. As long as it is kept in the refrigerator, you can refreeze it over and over again.
But it is important to remember though that freezing and refreezing can have negative impact on the quality of the meat.
To avoid this, you can pull some pieces of bacon that you need and thaw them in the fridge. Leave the remaining strips in the freezer.
Doing this will prevent you from thawing more than you need for your recipe.
How long can uncooked bacon sit out at room temperature?
Uncooked bacon can only sit out at room temperature for not more than two hours. In my experience though, frozen bacon can stay longer on the countertop.
However, the standard rule states that frozen goods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
The bacteria can grow very quickly at room temperature causing safety issues to the frozen food.
I always recommend that you follow the 2-hour rule. It is not only for the safety of the meat but for yours too.
Is it better to freeze raw or cooked bacon?
The answer to this question depends on your personal preference. I both freeze cooked and uncooked bacon.
In most cases, if you have just bought bacon from the local grocer, you might want to pop it directly into the freezer.
This is a good idea to preserve the quality and flavor of the meat.
Freezing is also a great option to save leftover cooked bacon especially if you want to keep it frozen for weeks.
You can also store leftover bacon in the fridge if you want to use it in the following day.
When properly stored, you can freeze both raw and cooked bacon.
How long can bacon last in the freezer?
The life span of bacon depends on where and how it is stored. For instance, unopened bacon can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and 8 months in the freezer.
On the other hand, opened raw bacon can last for about 1 week in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer.
Final Thoughts
Freezing bacon is the best way to preserve its quality. When you need it, you can just pull it out of the freezer.
However, there are times when you thawed more than you need. As a result, you might end up asking whether or not uncooked bacon can be refrozen.
The good thing is that you can always refreeze uncooked bacon as long as you thawed it in the fridge.
Bacon that was previously thawed on the countertop should not be refrozen. The best thing you can do in this case is to cook it first and freeze it as it cools down.
I hope this post helps. If you want to learn more about freezing foods, do not hesitate to visit this page.