Can You Refreeze Bacon? Only if You Follow These Rules

If you buy a package of bacon but don’t use all of it at once, you can freeze part or all of it for future use as long as you package it properly and follow basic food-safety rules.

Bacon is usually made out of pork but can be made out of beef or other meats as well. A lot of the rules for refreezing bacon will depend on what the bacon is made of and whether it is cooked or uncooked bacon.

But don’t worry because these rules are easy to learn, and a lot of them are plain common sense.

Package of bacon that you can refreeze

Can You Refreeze Bacon? A Quick Answer

Yes, you can refreeze bacon. As a general rule, you can take frozen bacon out of the freezer and use a few slices, then refreeze the product afterwards. The main thing to remember is to use a plastic bag made for freezing and to squeeze as much of the air as possible out of the bag before you place it in the freezer. This helps to prevent freezer burn and allows you to keep the bacon in the freezer for much longer.

Most importantly, you’ll want to refreeze your bacon within three days of it thawing out.

How To Refreeze Bacon Safely

Here are some important tips for refreezing your bacon:

  • Uncooked bacon. If you have uncooked or unopened bacon that needs to be frozen, always place it in some type of freezer-friendly bag first. While it won’t ruin the bacon if you put the unopened package directly in the freezer, placing it in a bag first means a fresher taste in the future when you decide to thaw out and eat your bacon.
  • Cooked bacon. If you’re refreezing cooked bacon, you might want to flash-freeze it first on a cookie sheet, then place it in your freezer bag when it’s completely frozen. This prevents the leftover bacon pieces from sticking together, which makes it easier to take out just a few slices when you need them.

Which Is Better for Refreezing: Raw or Cooked Bacon?

While both raw and cooked bacon can be refrozen, keep in mind that if bacon is cooked before it is placed in the freezer, it will have a shorter shelf life than raw bacon. If you refreeze raw bacon, it’s good for around six months, but refreezing cooked bacon means that it’ll last around a month in the freezer. Bacon that hasn’t yet been opened usually lasts around eight months in the freezer.

Package of bacon that you can refreeze

When To Avoid Refreezing Bacon

While refreezing both raw and cooked bacon is a simple task, just remember that you should never refreeze bacon that has been thawed out at room temperature or bacon that has been left outside the refrigerator (e.g., on your countertop) for more than two hours.

As soon as bacon sits out on your counter and starts to thaw, harmful bacteria can grow. To avoid this, simply thaw out the bacon in the refrigerator or let it thaw out for only a short period of time on your countertop (less than two hours).

How Many Times Can You Refreeze Bacon?

You can refreeze bacon as many times as you like as long as you don’t let it thaw out on your countertop for more than two hours beforehand. Once you reach the two-hour limit, bacon can no longer be refrozen without potential negative side effects that include illness and discomfort. As long as you’re thawing it out in your refrigerator, you can refreeze bacon numerous times.

How Long Does Bacon Last in the Freezer?

Once you put your bacon in the freezer, the lifespan of the bacon varies depending on whether it’s uncooked or cooked. Here are the basic rules to follow:

  • Uncooked bacon: keeps in the freezer for up to six months.
  • Cooked bacon: keeps in the freezer for up to one month.

Keep in mind that as with a lot of other frozen food, it’s best to take your bacon out of the freezer and cook and eat it as soon as possible for the freshest taste.

Can You Refreeze Canadian Bacon?

Yes, you can refreeze Canadian bacon, but not for very long. Most experts recommend keeping Canadian bacon in the freezer for four to eight weeks at the most. And as with regular bacon, make sure that it has some type of plastic wrap or bag suitable for freezer use.

Now you can enjoy the delicious taste of bacon and refreeze some for later!