In this article, we will answer the question “How long can you keep turkey bacon in the fridge?”, and how to identify bad turkey bacon?
How long can you keep turkey bacon in the fridge?
Turkey bacon lasts 7-14 days past the printed date if stored correctly. However, it is better to err on the side of caution and not let the meat sit for more than 7 days in the fridge. Cooked turkey bacon lasts 4-5 days in the fridge and 8 weeks in the freezer.
If you do not intend to consume turkey bacon within one week after its printed date, freeze it for up to 6 months. Consume within 3-4 months of storage for best quality.
How to store cooked turkey bacon?
Preparation
The cooking process and the ingredients used impact the shelf-life of cooked turkey bacon. The most common cooking method for turkey bacon is pan-frying or deep frying.
Lean varieties of turkey bacon stick to the pan so it’s better when it is deep-fried. Turkey bacon tends to become dried when grilled but it is not a bad idea if carefully executed.
In the fridge
Let the cooked turkey bacon cool completely before storing it. Wrap, preferably twice with foil or cling wrap for safety. Shallow-airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags would also work.
In the freezer
Tightly wrap the cooked turkey bacon twice with either foil or cling wrap. Then toss it in the air-tight container or heavy-duty and resealable freezer bag.
Thaw overnight in the fridge before use. If wrapped in foil, thaw directly by baking it in the oven at 180℃ for 20-30 minutes.
How to tell If the turkey bacon has gone bad?
Turkey bacon should not be kept for more than 7-14 days after the sell-by date. However, It’s best to stay on the lower side of this timeframe.
Inspecting the smell, texture, and appearance are 3 ways how you can identify spoiled turkey bacon.
I am not a big advocate of tasting the potentially spoiled turkey bacon for confirmation because who would want to do that! It’s gross. So let’s dig deep into this topic.
Appearance
The turkey bacon has a subtle pink color naturally. Any deviation from this color is an alarm that something is up with the bacon. What usually happens is turkey bacon develops a telltale brown or grey hue.
Often this color change is accompanied by green or blue fuzzy patches. Now blue and green discoloration is an obvious sign of spoilage.
At this point, the bacon is letting out unheard screams to toss it in the bin. Anyways if you are still unsure at this point, you can inspect the smell and texture.
Smell
Bad turkey bacon has a way of letting you know it’s bad because of its intolerable rotten smell. If you know you know how fresh raw meat has a distinct smell that you do not find very pleasant but it is not gross either. When turkey bacon goes bad, the sour, rancid, or putrid smell is too sharp to ignore.
Texture
The texture of the turkey bacon degrades significantly when it rots. Fresh meat should have a moist and soft or slightly squishy feel to it.
Spoiled turkey bacon has lactic acid bacteria multiplying over and inside it. This leads to the formation of excessive slime on the meat surface. Goey or slimy-looking turkey bacon is bad bacon.
Tips for keeping turkey bacon fresh for longer
- The quality degradation process occurs much slowly in a sealed package. It is recommended to not tear the original packaging of the turkey bacon until just before you’re ready to use it.
- Store the leftover turkey bacon as soon as possible. Use a good quality air-tight container, resealable bags, or even plastic wraps to store the turkey bacon.
- Discard the turkey bacon that has been sitting for more than 14 days in the fridge. Yes! even If it looks okay-ish.
- Turkey bacon should be frozen within its refrigeration timeframe. The initial quality of the meat determines its shelf-life in the freezer. Freezing the turkey bacon keeps it safe for months.
How to use turkey bacon?
Turkey bacon makes for a great topping for salad, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches (BLTs), etc. It can be stuffed into jalapeno to make bacon jalapeno poppers.
It can be tossed into casseroles, macaroni, and cheese, chicken alfredo or pasta, or simply served with breakfast or steamed veggies.
Diced turkey bacon can be swapped into any meat-based dish. There are endless ways to incorporate this meaty goodness into your meals.
Other FAQs about Turkey that you may be interested in.
How long can you freeze ground turkey?
How long can you freeze a turkey breast?
How long can you freeze a whole turkey?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “How long can you keep turkey bacon in the fridge?”, and how to identify bad turkey bacon?
