Freeze Bacon

While bacon should only be refrigerated for up to seven days,[1] you can prolong the freshness of your bacon by freezing it. However, if you freeze the entire package, you’ll need to thaw and cook the entire package, too! For those times when you need a couple slices of bacon for your dinner recipe or are craving just one slice (or two… or three…) to go with your morning eggs, here are a couple methods for freezing bacon individually.

Steps

Folding Your Bacon in Wax Paper

  1. Cut a long strip of wax paper. You want to have enough wax paper to spread out your entire package of bacon with a couple inches between each piece.[2] You can also use parchment paper.[3]
  2. Lay your wax paper on your counter. Be sure your counter is clean and free of crumbs.
  3. Place your bacon on the wax paper. With your fingers or tongs, place one piece of bacon on one end of the wax paper.[2] Smooth the bacon flat.
  4. Wrap your bacon.[2] Grab the other end of the wax paper and pull it toward your bacon until it touches the edge of the slice you just laid down. Create a crease so that your bacon stays put.
    • Your first slice of bacon is now covered with wax paper on both sides.
  5. Add another slice of bacon. Place it directly on top of the wax paper covering the top of your first slice.[2]
  6. Repeat your fold.[2] Pull the end of your wax paper that is free of bacon back over the top of your second slice of bacon.
    • You are essentially creating an accordion fold around each slice of bacon so that they are individually wrapped.[2]
    • Continue this process until all your bacon is folded into the wax paper.
  7. Place your bacon in a freezer bag. [2] Place your wax paper-wrapped bacon stack in the bottom of the bag and use your arm to flatten the rest of the bag against the counter. Be sure to squeeze all the air out of the bag.[4]
    • Write the date on your freezer bag so that you remember how long you have stored it.
  8. Freeze.[4] There’s no need to deep freeze your bacon, just be sure that your freezer is set at zero degrees.[5]

Rolling Your Bacon Individually

  1. Prepare a baking sheet. Line your baking sheet with a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. The lined baking sheet will serve as your surface for creating and freezing your bacon rolls.
  2. Create your rolls. You can lay your bacon onto your prepared baking sheet or roll your bacon as you pull it out of the package. Begin on one end of the bacon strip and roll it until the entire piece is wrapped around itself.[6]
  3. Place your rolls on your baking sheet. Be sure that the end of your bacon roll is on the bottom so that the bacon doesn’t uncoil. Your bacon will resemble the shape of a snail.[6]
    • Be sure that the bacon rolls aren’t touching each other.
  4. Freeze your bacon. Once you have completed all of your bacon rolls, place the baking sheet into your freezer.[6] Wait until the bacon is frozen solid.
  5. Put your bacon in a freezer safe bag. Once your bacon has frozen into the rolls, you can take them off the baking pan, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, and put them back in the freezer immediately.[6]
    • You can now use your bacon as needed. You won’t need to pry frozen bacon off of wax paper, and the bacon strips will only be frozen to themselves (not each other).[7]

Flash Freezing Your Bacon

  1. Prepare a baking sheet. This method also requires that you line your baking sheet with a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. The lined baking sheet will serve as your surface for laying out and freezing your bacon slices.[8]
  2. Place your bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer. You don’t need to leave a lot of space between each slice, but be sure the sides of your bacon are not touching.[8]
  3. Add another layer. If have more bacon than fits on your baking sheet, you can add another sheet of wax paper on top of your first layer of bacon. Then you can finish spreading out your bacon on top of that second sheet of wax paper.[8]
  4. Freeze your bacon. Place your baking sheet in the freezer.[8] Wait until the bacon is frozen solid.
  5. Separate your bacon. Once your bacon is frozen on your baking sheet, pull off the slices of bacon from your wax paper, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, and put them back in the freezer immediately.

Handling Bacon Safely

  1. Grab the bacon last. At the supermarket, be sure that your bacon is the very last item you select before checking out.[9] If you pick up your bacon at the beginning of your supermarket trip, it’s potentially developing bacteria while you are checking the other items off your list.
  2. Freeze immediately. Do not use previously opened bacon that has already been stored in your fridge. Cured meats like bacon can spoil or develop bacteria at temperatures higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit[10], so be sure to prepare your bacon for individual freezing immediately after purchasing it.[2]
  3. Wash your hands. While this step might seem obvious, it’s still important. Even beyond washing your hands before and after you prepare your bacon, you should also wash your hands at any point after touching the bacon and before touching any supplies.
    • For instance, if you need to grab some more wax paper or a freezer bag, don’t forget to wash your hands first. Otherwise, your roll of wax paper or box of storage bags will be contaminated.
  4. Disinfect your counter top. It’s important to disinfect both before and after you prepare your bacon for freezing. Any bacteria that is on your counter can be transferred to the wax paper and onto your bacon.
  5. Check the date. Be sure to check the “use by” date and the number of days recommended for refrigeration, as well. While freezing keeps your bacon fresher longer, you should definitely freeze your bacon prior to the expiration date. Likewise, if you needed to store the bacon in your fridge before freezing it, be sure to freeze it before the end of the suggested refrigeration period,[11] which is seven days.[1]
    • The longer bacon is stored, the less flavorful it will be. For best quality, store your bacon in the freezer for no more than one month.[10] Three months is the recommended maximum storage time.[4]
  6. Use your bacon immediately after thawing it. Always thaw food in the refrigerator or in cold water. If using cold water, replace the water at 30 minute intervals. Do not thaw bacon at room temperature.[12]

Warnings

  • It is best to freeze unopened packages of bacon.[4] However, if you do follow one of these methods, be sure to keep your bacon frozen at 0 degrees Farenheit[10] and use it immediately after defrosting.
  • Check your bacon before cooking to make sure it hasn’t gone bad. If your bacon is slimy or has a dull color, discard it immediately.[11]

Things You'll Need

  • Wax paper or parchment paper
  • A baking sheet
  • Freezer bags or an airtight container

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/ucm109315.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-freeze-individual-slices-of-bacon-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-184687
  3. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/freeze-bacon-slices-individually-with-wax-paper-to-avoi-1578895104
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/bacon.html
  5. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm253954.htm
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.thekitchn.com/heres-another-easy-way-to-freeze-bacon-222182
  7. ↑ http://www.wiveswithknives.net/2015/09/14/kitchen-tips-the-best-way-to-freeze-bacon/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www.foodrenegade.com/easil-store-bacon/
  9. ↑ http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/98dfaf58-75f3-4535-a0fa-589ca077cc76/Bacon_and_Food_Safety.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/ucm109315.pdf
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16431
  12. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/peopleatrisk/ucm182679.htm
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