This Is The Best Way To Freeze Bacon

Although we can always come up with a delicious reason to cook with bacon (hello, Bow-Tie Crackers), sometimes you end up with a few leftover slices. Uncooked bacon should be used within seven days or stored in the freezer. If you're freezing the bacon, this is our preferred method, which allows you to defrost individual slices.

How To Freeze Bacon

The trick to freezing bacon is to do so in individual slices. This requires rolling them up. Here are the steps to take to freeze bacon:

1. Tear off a large sheet of parchment or wax paper and place it on a baking sheet. (Make sure the baking sheet will fit in your freezer. You may need to eat some ice cream to make room.) Separate the bacon slices and place each slice vertically on the parchment, leaving a bit of space between each slice.
2. Start at one end of a bacon slice and roll the slice into a spiral. Repeat with the remaining bacon slices.
3. Place the baking sheet in your freezer for at least 30 minutes or until the spirals have frozen solid.
4. Place the frozen bacon spirals in a sealable freezer bag, write the date on the bag, and place the bag in the freezer. Because the spirals have been individually frozen, they should not stick together.
   

What You Need To Freeze Bacon

• Parchment paper or wax paper
• Baking sheet
• Freezer bag

How Long Can You Freeze Bacon?

Opened bacon can only be frozen for one month at most, and is better when frozen for shorter time periods. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, the high fat content can cause bacon to develop a rancid flavor even in the freezer. Bacon from an open package should be frozen as soon as possible to a temperature of 0° F or lower.

An unopened package of bacon can be frozen for a month, or up to four months at the outside. The flavor and quality will begin to deteriorate the longer it is in the freezer.

If you freeze the entire package, those strips will solidify into a block, making it difficult to use individual pieces. Fortunately, we're sharing the best way to freeze bacon so that you can defrost a few slices as needed.

How To Defrost Frozen Bacon

As we mentioned above, frozen bacon is best used within one month. The safest way to defrost frozen bacon is in your refrigerator. Place the bacon in the refrigerator a day or two before you plan on using it.

Never defrost bacon by leaving it on your kitchen countertop; harmful bacteria can develop if the bacon is left at room temperature for too long. You can defrost bacon quickly in cold water. The bacon must be in a leak-proof bag before you submerge it in a bowl filled with cold tap water. Exchange the water every 30 minutes (bacon often thaws within an hour). Cook immediately after thawing.

Finally, you can defrost your frozen bacon in the microwave. Once again, it must be cooked immediately and thoroughly after defrosting.

Bacon Recipes To Try

• Maple-Bacon Smokies: You only need four ingredients to make this simple appetizer. Start with bacon and toss it with brown sugar and maple syrup. Wrap this sweet bacon around a salty mini-smoked hot dog and secure it with a toothpick for a perfect flavorful treat. Add black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, or any additional spices based on your preferences.
• Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche: Shredded potatoes and bacon tucked into this golden crust create a delicious meal perfect for any time of the day. Use Gruyère cheese, or substitute your favorite variety to add a nutty and creamy flavoring. Pre-bake the pie crust to get the texture crisp.
• Bacon-And-Cheddar Grits Quiche: Make this quiche up to two days ahead of serving and chill. This cheesy bake tops grits with creamy half-and-half and bacon custard. Make sure to spread the custard and remaining cheese to the edges.
• Bacon Pancakes: Combine two favorite breakfast foods into one dish with this bacon pancake recipe. Make this dish kid-friendly by pouring the batter directly over the bacon and creating handheld pancakes you can dip into maple syrup. It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty.