How Long Can Cooked Bacon Sit Out

Bacon is universally adored for its crispy salty taste. Even if you don’t like hog bacon, you probably like turkey or chicken bacon.

Bacon is quite likely the most delectable food on the world. Its hard not to purchase a package of bacon every time you go to the store and take it home and fry it until it is nice and crispy.

Even if you cure your own bacon at home, it’s difficult not to slice it all up, fry it, and eat crispy bacon till your heart’s content.

Nonetheless, just as you need to know how long bacon can be stored in the fridge, you also need to know how long bacon may be left out.

How Long Can Cooked Bacon Sit Out

It is usually ideal to eat bacon as soon as it is cooked. The bacon is at its best immediately after cooking.

However, there are occasions when you are unable to finish your bacon and leave it on the counter. So you need to know how long bacon can be stored at room temperature.

Food enters the danger zone when it is left out at room temperature.

The danger zone is between 40F and 140F. germs proliferate rapidly in the danger zone, therefore leaving bacon at room temperature for too long can contaminate it with so many germs that it is dangerous to consume.

Cooked bacon may usually only be left out for 2 hours.If the temperature in your room exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the bacon will only be edible for one hour.

After 1-2 hours, the bacon will have accumulated so many germs on its surface that it is no longer safe to eat.

If uncured cooked bacon is kept at room temperature for a few hours, it will typically acquire a rotten odor.

If your bacon has a stable shelf label, it may be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.

How Long Can Cured Cooked Bacon Sit Out

Bacon is a kind of cured meat. This indicates that the raw bacon has been cured with salt and sodium nitrates.

Bacteria will not grow if the bacon is cured.

If you leave cured cooked bacon at room temperature overnight, it will not deteriorate.

Some even claim that cured bacon may be left out for a few days without being contaminated. I would not, however, advocate putting bacon out at room temperature.

Remember that after 2 hours, the bacon will be infested with germs, therefore discard bacon that has been left out at room temperature overnight.

How to if Cooked Bacon Is Bad

Knowing whether bacon is toxic will save you from getting food poisoning. Food poisoning is never enjoyable.

You may feel headaches, nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.

If the bacon smells rancid, it is rotting. If the bacon feels slimy, it has gone bad and should be thrown right away.

In addition, wash your hands and any surfaces touched by the bacon with hot soapy water.

If your cooked bacon has mold or is discolored, throw it out right away.

If you bought cooked bacon from the grocery store, it almost certainly had a best-by, sell-by, use-by, or expiry date. If any of these dates have gone, throw out the bacon right away.

Does Cooked Bacon Have to Be Refrigerated? 

When you fry bacon, the moisture content of the bacon is substantially decreased.

germs thrive in damp environments, so frying it helps to keep germs at away.

Cooked bacon, on the other hand, must be refrigerated, particularly if not consumed within 2 hours.

Refrigerating cooked bacon may increase its shelf life from 2 to 5 days.

When you purchase cooked bacon at the shop, it contains preservatives that make it stay longer.

However, this does not imply that store-bought pre-cooked bacon may be kept at room temperature.The chemicals will merely lengthen the bacon’s life.

Unless you purchased treated bacon that is expressly meant to be kept at room temperature, keep it in the fridge like ordinary cooked bacon.

Furthermore, since bacon has a high fat content, it spoils quickly.

Allowing cooked bacon to sit at room temperature hastens the deterioration process. This is why cooked bacon should always be refrigerated.

How To Store Bacon

In general, it is ideal to consume bacon as soon as it has been cooked. However, if you are unable to consume all of the bacon in one sitting, the refrigerator is the next best alternative.

Because bacon is a highly sought-after, delectable meat, you don’t want to squander any of the crispy goodness a few hours after it’s cooked.

As a result, you must store it carefully in order to maintain it for as long as feasible.

To preserve cooked bacon in the fridge, put it in an airtight container or zip lock bag and refrigerate for 5 days.

If you’re storing your bacon in a ziplock bag, squeeze out any extra air.

How to Freeze Bacon

Cooked bacon may also be frozen. Wrap your bacon in paper towels separately, then put it in a ziplock container and freeze it for up to 6 weeks.

You canthaw your baconin the fridge overnight.

Alternatively, you may crisp up the frozen cooked bacon in a pan for a minute.

You may also use the microwave to reheat frozen cooked bacon.

However, just heat the bacon for 30 seconds or it may get very dry.

If cooked bacon is warmed in the microwave for an extended period of time, it may acquire a leathery texture.

Final Thoughts

Fresh bacon is the finest. However, you may not always be able to complete the full stack of bacon cooked in your cast-iron pan.

It is not a good idea to leave cooked bacon at room temperature.

It will only last around 1-2 hours. So, chill your bacon until you want a piece of salty, crispy nirvana.