can you eat bacon past its use by date

Can You Eat Bacon Past Its Use By Date?

For bacon lovers, few things are more tragic than finding an unopened pack at the back of the fridge, only to discover it’s passed its use by date. We’ve all been there – you bought it for a recipe, then plans changed and it got shoved to the back of the fridge, forgotten until rediscovered weeks later

So what should you do if you find bacon past its use by date? Is it still safe to eat or should it go straight in the trash? Let’s take a closer look at what that date really means and how to tell if bacon is still good.

What Does the Use By Date Mean?

The use by date is the manufacturer’s recommendation for how long the unopened bacon will retain peak quality and freshness. It’s based on extensive product testing under controlled conditions.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the bacon is unsafe to eat past that date. Thanks to preservatives like salt, smoke, and nitrates, bacon has a longer shelf life than many other meats. The high salt content prevents microbial growth, while the smoking helps inhibit bacteria.

So while the flavor and texture quality may start to decline after the use by date, bacon stored continuously at 40°F or below will usually be fine for 5-7 days past that date Some even stay fresh for 2-3 weeks past the date.

How to Tell If Expired Bacon is Still Good

Since the use by date is somewhat arbitrary, you need to rely on your senses to determine if bacon is still OK to eat. Here are a few ways to test questionable bacon:

• Look at it closely. There shouldn’t be any slimy texture or sticky residue. Mold is also a definite no-go.

• Take a sniff. Raw bacon should have a meaty, savory, smoky smell. Rancid bacon will have an unpleasant sour or ammonia-like odor.

• Feel the consistency. Good bacon holds together well and has some flexibility. Bad bacon will be dry and crumbly.

• Cook a small piece. If it smells normal and tastes OK, the rest is probably fine too. If anything seems off, play it safe and toss the whole pack.

As long as it looks, smells, and feels like fresh bacon, it should be perfectly safe to eat up to a week past the printed date. But remember, always rely on your senses over what the calendar says.

Potential Risks of Eating Expired Bacon

Eating spoiled foods of any kind carries health risks. Here are some of the main concerns with eating bacon past its prime:

• Foodborne Illness – Just like other meats, bad bacon can harbor salmonella, E. coli, Bacillus cereus, and other nasty food poisoning bacteria. Cooking thoroughly should kill any bacteria, but it’s not worth taking chances.

• Off-Flavors and Textures – Even if bacteria isn’t an issue, rancid bacon simply won’t taste very good. The texture also becomes much more unappealing.

• Decreased Nutrient Value – Vitamins like B1, B6, B12, iron, and other nutrients start breaking down over time. You won’t get the full nutrition benefits of fresh bacon if it’s way past date.

While properly stored, unopened bacon lasts longer than many meats, don’t try to push it too many weeks past the date on the package. If in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe than sick!

Tips for Storing Bacon so it Lasts

To get the maximum shelf life out of your bacon once opened, proper storage is key. Here are some storage tips:

• Keep it cold. Bacon should always be refrigerated at 40°F or below. The colder the better for extending freshness.

• Seal it up. Re-wrap open packages in airtight plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or freezer bags. This prevents oxidation and drying out.

• Use oldest first. Follow FIFO (first in, first out) principles, using up older packages before newly opened ones.

• Divide and conquer. Separate thick slabs into smaller portions so they stack better and minimize air pockets.

• Know when to freeze. If you won’t use it up quickly, tuck packages into the freezer where bacon keeps for 1-2 months.

Follow the “keep it cold, keep it covered” mantra and your bacon stands the best chance of lasting past the use by date without sacrificing too much quality.

Cooking and Serving Expired Bacon

If you’ve determined your bacon is still good enough quality to eat, you can use it just like you would fresh bacon. Here are some tips:

• Cook it thoroughly – fry, bake or microwave it until it’s fully cooked through. This kills any potentially harmful bacteria.

• Watch portions – stick to smaller serving sizes in case the flavor seems at all off.

• Mask it – chop up the bacon and use it in cooked dishes like casseroles, soups, pasta, etc. where any off-notes won’t be as noticeable.

• Freeze for later – cook it up then freeze in recipes where you can’t detect slight degradation as much.

While you may notice some decline in texture and flavor compared to fresh, using expired bacon in cooked recipes is perfectly safe. The cooking process helps compensate for any degrade in eating quality over time.

The Bottom Line

So can you eat bacon after the use by date printed on the package? The answer is yes, you likely can if it was properly stored. Trust your senses during a thorough quality inspection. Look for obvious signs of spoilage and take a quick taste after cooking a small piece. If it looks, smells and tastes like good bacon, it should be fine to eat or cook with for 5-7 days past its date.

However, it’s always better to be on the safe side when dealing with perishable foods. If in any doubt, remember it’s better to just discard it than risk getting sick from a foodborne illness. So stay vigilant about fridge organization, follow FIFO principles, and cook expired bacon thoroughly whenever enjoying it past its prime. With the proper storage and handling, bacon can deliver tasty, crispy perfection for more than just a few days past its use by date.