You’ve made the greatest meal there is: one that includes bacon. In a classic case of your eyes being bigger than your stomach, however, there are leftovers and—whoops!—you forgot to put the bacon in the fridge. Now it’s the next day and you are looking at it longingly and wondering, “Is this safe to eat?”
You should not eat bacon that’s been left out at room temperature for more than two hours. All perishable foods that have been left out for more than two hours are considered unsafe to eat. This is because the bacterial growth starts to multiply. Store your bacon in the fridge as soon as it has cooled down.
What’s a clear indicator that bacon has gone bad? Are there any visible signs? What kind of symptoms can you expect to experience if you’ve consumed bad bacon? Continue reading as we’ll cover the topic.
How Long Can Different Types of Bacon Sit Out?
The USDA says it is not safe to eat foods left in the “Danger Zone” (40–140°F / 4–60°C) for more than two hours. If it is a hot day and your room temperature is over 90°F, the window of safe, non-refrigerated time is reduced to just one hour.
That said, cooked bacon is a unique food because it is salted, (usually) treated with nitrites, and has a low water activity level, all of which slow bacterial growth.
You will want to pay attention to the kind of bacon you’ve cooked and other factors described below when deciding if it’s safe to eat after being left out overnight.
As always, remember that the best rule of thumb with food safety is: better safe than sorry.
Bacon
Cured bacon has been treated with nitrites, which reduces the chances of botulism and slows the growth of bacteria. Still, if the bacon has been left out at room temperature for an entire night, it’s not worth taking the chance.
If it’s just for an hour or two, the bacon might be in the safe zone but we don’t recommend eating any perishable food that’s been sitting out for about 2 hours or more. Because bacon is cured it might be a bit safer than other foods when it gets close to that 2-hour mark.
However, beware of cross-contamination. If your leftover bacon has eggs, condiments, or other food on it, these foods (which of course have not been cured) could have bacterial growth and cause food poisoning.
Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon is pork bacon’s healthier alternative, but all the same rules apply when it comes to storing the leftovers. The safest scenario is that the turkey bacon is placed in an airtight container and put into cold storage within two hours of being cooked.
If you leave it out overnight, the same guidelines apply: You should most likely not eat the bacon if it’s been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours.
Use your judgment: is it a warmer than average room temperature? Did the bacon come into contact with any other foods and therefore more likely to experience bacterial growth? As always, better safe than sorry.
Pancetta
Pancetta is an Italian bacon that has been cured and salted for up to two months which removes nearly all the moisture from the meat. This process slows bacterial growth, making it safer to consume if it has been left out overnight.
As always, play it safe and pay attention to other factors. The USDA says that if cooked food is left out of cold storage for more than two hours, it poses a food poisoning risk.
If your room temperature is warmer than usual (90°F or warmer) or if the food has been in contact with any other, non-cured foods, play it safe and opt out of eating the leftovers.
Vegetarian Bacon
If you love bacon, but don’t love the idea of eating animals, veggie bacon is a great alternative. However, if you’ve left it out overnight, it is not safe to eat.
Vegetarian bacon is usually made from soy products which do not last long outside of cold storage. Unlike the animal-based bacon products, vegetarian bacon has not been cured, and it will go bad if left out of cold storage.
Follow the USDA’s guidelines on this and put it safely into cold storage within two hours of cooking and serving. If you forget to do this, pass on eating the leftovers.
Smoked Bacon
Smoked bacon that has been left out overnight should not be eaten. It has been through a seasoning and curing process that enhances its flavor wonderfully but also makes the preservatives in the meat less effective.
Follow the USDA safety guidelines strictly here, and get smoked bacon into cold storage within two hours of cooking. If you forget to do this, pass on the leftovers; a great excuse to cook more smoked bacon!
Pork Loin
If you’ve made yourself some pork loin instead of bacon, you’ve enjoyed a tender and delicious cut of the pig’s back that has gone through less processing than traditional bacon. For this reason, if you’ve made too much, be sure to refrigerate immediately.
If you’ve left the pork loin leftovers out overnight, it is not safe to eat. USDA guidelines urge cold storage within two hours, so if left out, discard and do not risk food poisoning.
What Can Happen If You Eat Bacon That’s Gone Bad?
If you just can’t resist the temptation—it is bacon after all!—and you eat leftovers that have not been properly stored, you run the risk of food poisoning. Symptoms will range from mild abdominal discomfort to more severe cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Better idea! If the bacon has been left out overnight, play it safe. Throw it out and make a fresh batch. Hot, crispy deliciousness and no threat of stomach pain (unless, of course, you eat too much!).
How Can You Tell If Bacon Has Gone Bad?
You can tell if bacon has gone bad using a simple three-way test: check the smell, the color, and the texture.
Bacon that has turned bad will have a sour smell to it, and since we all know that bacon smells amazing, this is a good first test.
Bad food will also be discolored. In the case of bacon, it will lose its pinkness if it’s uncooked or show gray, black, or greenish spots of mold if cooked. Stay away.
Finally, if the bacon has changed texture and has become slimy, it’s not worth the risk. Cooked bacon that is left out will definitely lose its crispiness and could still be okay, but beware of any leftovers that have a slick or slimy feel.
What Is The Best Way To Store Bacon?
Uncooked bacon will do best in its unopened vacuum-sealed bag in the refrigerator or freezer. Once you’ve opened this bag, you will want to store any uncooked, unused bacon back into a re-sealable airtight bag and place it back into cold storage immediately.
Once you’ve cooked your bacon, allow it to cool completely, then place it in an airtight container and place the container in cold storage within two hours of cooking.
If you plan to freeze your leftovers, wrap individual portions in paper towels and then place in an airtight container. This step will prevent the bacon from freezing together in a clump and make reheating easier.
How Long Can Bacon Be Stored?
Uncooked bacon in its original vacuum-sealed packaging will be safe to prepare up to a week after its expiration date. It’s a cured meat with a lot of preservatives, so will last longer than most meats if stored properly.
Once cooked, store in the fridge as described above and you can enjoy your leftovers for up to a week. If you freeze your cooked bacon, it will last in airtight containers for up to 6 weeks.
Bacon is such a crowd-pleaser that leftovers are rare, but when you have them, you want to make sure you make the most of them!
Follow these steps for safety and storage and enjoy leftover bacon in breakfast, salads and side dishes in the weeks to come.