How Long Does Uncured Bacon Last? – All You Need to Know

Bacon. It’s there on the restaurant menu, sizzling on the burner or enticing you in its greasy goodness.

Bacon is an all-rounder you can use in your dish – a savory side dish, pair with your breakfast, or topping. So, stuffing your pantry with an ample amount of uncured bacon is indeed a savvy decision. However, at the same time, you should consider their shelf life – how long does uncured bacon last? 

Typically uncured bacon lasts for 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. However, the shelf life can increase depending on how you store it. If you freeze the bacon in a plastic container, it can last 6 to 8  months. Remember, the suitable temperature to store uncured bacon is 4 degrees Celsius or below.

Uncured bacon is cured in a different way than cured bacon. So, it tends to spoil sooner than the cured bacon.

In this article, learn how to preserve the uncured bacon and whether uncured bacon is good or bad for you.

What Exactly Is Uncured Bacon?

Let’s face it, all bacon is cured before we can consume them. Then the question arises, what is uncured bacon? 

Simply put, the bacon cured with natural nitrates is called uncured bacon. 

While normally cured bacon is cured with artificial-sourced nitrates and nitrites, uncured bacon is cured with nitrates found in different veggies, including celery and beets. It makes the bacon much better in terms of bringing more flavors. 

Another thing about recognizing uncured bacon in the supermarket is to check the label. If the label reads “sodium nitrate-free, ” you are good to go.

It is a crucial label to look for because sodium nitrate-containing products can harm your health.

Here are a few uncured bacons available at the store that you can enjoy with delight and without worry.

How Long Does Uncured Bacon Last?

The best before the date of uncured bacon is around one to two weeks when stored in normal conditions. But there are many factors upon which the shelf life of uncured bacon depends.

Factors like freezing the bacon and how you keep it will also affect the shelf life. It also depends on where the uncured bacon is kept and how hot, cold, and wet it is.

As we already know, uncured bacon is also cured naturally; you will be able to preserve uncured bacon for longer than raw bacon. But as cured bacon have artificial nitrates and nitrites, it will last longer than uncured bacon.   

How Long Can You Keep Uncured Bacon in The Refrigerator? 

You can store uncured bacon for more than 1 to 2 weeks by properly storing it in the refrigerator. However, it depends on how you keep the bacon.

If you freeze the uncured bacon in a plastic container, you can increase the shelf life by 6 months. You can use Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers for safe storage.

But, if you place the bacon without covering it, it will deteriorate. The bacon will be like a gelatinous substance.

When keeping bacon, you not only need to be mindful about maintaining the appropriate temperature but also be concerned about the humidity. The temperature suitable for storing uncooked bacon is 4 degrees Celsius or below.

You might be wondering now, “how long does uncured bacon last in the fridge unopened?” The response to the question is also affected by a combination of factors. 

By wrapping the uncured bacon in tinfoil, you can store it until you are set to use it. But anything other than this might make the bacon go bad even if you don’t open it.

How Do You Know If Uncured Bacon Is Bad?

You don’t need any sophisticated equipment to identify whether or not the uncured bacon has become bad. Your senses are the most trustworthy tool for determining it.

There are three things that, if observed, will lead you to the decision that the bacon has become bad. 

Look

If your bacon is pink in color then probably it is safe for you to consume it. The fat in the bacon might also indicate if it is alright to eat or not. The fat of the bacon should remain white or yellow.

On the other hand, if the piece of uncured bacon has taken a shade of brown or grey with a hint of green or blue, then it is safe to assume that the bacon is spoiled. 

When the flesh is subjected to excessive air, a chemical reaction occurs within the flesh, resulting in a color change.

Smell

If your bacon smells anything more than meaty, the meat has gone bad. 

Bacon might smell fishy, sour, or rotten if there is any bacteria growth within it. The bacteria makes the bacon smell bad.

Touch

You can also determine whether uncured bacon has gone bad or not by touching it.

If the bacon is still good, you will feel the tenderness of the meat by touching it. The meat will also be fresh and juicy. 

A piece of spoiled bacon will have the consistency of slime and a sticky coating. Lactic acid bacteria are the culprits behind the production of slime on meat.

Is Uncured Bacon Good Past The Use by Date? 

Every uncured bacon has an expiry date on the packet. The question you might be wondering is that weather the uncured bacon is good even if it crosses the use-by date?

The simple answer is that it is. Yes, uncured bacon may still be edible after the expiration date has passed. However, to maintain the bacon’s quality, it is necessary to comply with the guidelines we went over earlier.

We know the normal shelf life of bacon is usually 1 to 2 weeks. And we also know that by maintaining certain steps, bacon has a long shelf life.

Is Uncured Bacon Healthy?

Sadly, there is no difference in terms of health advantages between cured and uncured bacon. However, even though it is still cured, uncured bacon is considered to be of somewhat higher quality than bacon that has been artificially cured.

We will go through some factors why even uncured bacon can’t be considered healthy. 

1. Presence of Saturated Fat 

Uncured bacon has 25 grams of fat per 3 ounces. 

It is true bacon contains good fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that really can replace saturated fat in the diet. However, 3 ounces of bacon still contains 8.5 grams of saturated fat.

Because of the presence of saturated fat, bacon is also not a good source of protein. Despite the fact, that approximately 34 grams of protein are present per 3 ounces of uncured bacon. 

2. High in Calories

Uncured bacon provides 400 calories per ounce.

In comparison, lean meat such as skinless chicken breast has only 90 calories per 3 ounces.

In addition, you will not be eating uncured bacon only for your meal. Those 400 calories are only a part of your lunch because you’re probably not eating bacon alone. 

3. High in Sodium

Even though uncured bacon is cured through natural ingredients, it still possesses a high amount of sodium. 

A 3-ounce fresh pork loin contains only 425 milligrams of natural sources of sodium, whereas the same amount of uncured bacon contains 1,360 milligrams. 

According to the American Heart Association, this is close to the maximum sodium an adult should consume in a single day.

FAQ’s:

• Can you eat raw uncured bacon?

Consuming raw bacon is associated with an increased risk of contracting a number of foodborne diseases, especially toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, and tapeworms. As a direct consequence of this, consuming raw bacon might be dangerous.

• Does uncured bacon taste good?

Uncured bacon is not much different from cured bacon in terms of flavor. They’re both high in fat and salt. 

The taste might differ from one product to the next based on the pig cut section, the curing agents, and the processing procedures.

• How Can You Cook Uncured Bacon?

Bacon that hasn’t been cured or smoked can be made in the oven and is ready to eat the next day. 

Before being wrapped in foil and cooked in the oven for a few hours, raw pork belly is rubbed with smoky paprika, salted, and peppered.

Allow it cool completely before refrigerating overnight. Your bacon is now ready to cook and enjoy.

• Why is uncured meat better?

Uncured meats can be treated using natural ingredients like celery, beets, and sea salt. 

While nitrates are still present in some plants (such as celery), Vitamin C in such veggies inhibits the nitrites from being converted to nitrosamines.

Bottom Line

Are you still stuck on the question – how long does uncured bacon last? Well, it usually depends on how and where you store it.

In the refrigerator, uncured bacon lasts for around 2 weeks. However., if you keep them in the freezer packed in an airtight container, you can enjoy them for 6 to 8 months.

The term uncured bacon may make you confused while storing them. So, know the correct instructions for keeping them so that your bacon-eating experience might not get ruined.

Follow certain steps to make sure your uncured bacon doesn’t get rotten. And always make sure to use your senses to determine whether the bacon has become bad or not.