Raw bacon left out for 4 hours

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Bacon refers to the salt-cure meat obtained from pig belly. It is considered unsafe to eat this popular meat item raw as food poisoning is increased. Rather than that, it would help if you cooked it thoroughly; however, you should never overcook it.

This article will mention all about the uncooked bacon that you have just bought. If you’re also a bacon lover, do not forget to give 5 best bacon cookers and 5 best microwave bacon cookers a read. Like the meat of any other animal, bacon does not sit out for longer than usual. Therefore, there are some important details for you to get a hold on. Let’s then continue to read along with us.

  • How Long Can Uncooked Bacon Sit Out?
  • What Happens if Uncooked Bacon Sits Out Too Long?
  • What Should You Do If Uncooked Bacon Is Left Out Too Long?
  • How Long Can Uncooked Bacon Be In The Car For?
  • Does Uncooked Bacon Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?
  • Do Uncooked Bacon Go Bad If You Lose Power?
  • What Temperature Is Safe For Uncooked Bacon?
  • How to store Bacon?
    • Store it in the fridge
    • Wrap it properly
    • Storing the leftover
    • Place it away from heat.
  • Can you freeze Bacon?
  • How long does Bacon last?
  • How to tell if Bacon is bad?

How Long Can Uncooked Bacon Sit Out?

Raw bacon is usually vacuum sealed and comes with a best-before date or use-by date. So that mentioned date is a very good approximate for how long it will sit out.

Though the preservation techniques will enable you to elevate the shelf life of your raw bacon, however, if you open its pack, that uncooked or raw bacon may retain its quality only for around one week. Or it will be even less if it has been opened after the date mentioned on the label. If you can store it in optimum conditions, you can also eat it as bacon grease.

What Happens if Uncooked Bacon Sits Out Too Long?

Suppose you have allowed your uncooked bacon to sit out for too long and then wonder what has happened with it in a while.

From a general point of view, the uncooked bacon should not be allowed to sit out for more than two hours at room temperature conditions. That is because pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella and Staphylococcus show the capability of multiplying at room temperature. 

What Should You Do If Uncooked Bacon Is Left Out Too Long?

So now, when your stock of uncooked bacon is left out for too long, you must be wondering what to do next to that. No need to bother! Let’s get to know that right below.

So, if uncooked bacon at your home has been sitting out for more than two hours, the best approach is to toss it in the trash right away. Believe it! It may seem painful to you, but it will save you from developing any food-borne illnesses.

To help your raw bacon reach a maximum shelf life, consider refrigerating or freezing it. Later you may defrost it and use it the way you like.

How Long Can Uncooked Bacon Be In The Car For?

The general culinary school rule of food safety for raw meat suggests that your meat items should not sit out for more than four hours. It is most probably a good rule of thumb for your raw bacon. The same goes for your uncooked bacon, which has been left out in the car. Always be extra careful with raw pork products because of an illness known as trichinosis.

Does Uncooked Bacon Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

Yes, your favorite uncooked or raw bacon at room temperature is always at risk of getting subjected to spoilage, which may compromise your health and hygiene. It will retain its quality for a very short period. So, store and preserve it well as if you neglect it, all you will have to do is regret and discard it by the time it spoils.

Do Uncooked Bacon Go Bad If You Lose Power?

As per the recommendations of the USDA, your refrigerator can keep your food safe for up to 4 hours in case of a power outage. The same goes for your uncooked bacon. If you face any difficulty, such as a power outage, keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible for you.

It goes bad after 4 hours and usually remains safe to consume before the abovementioned duration. Remember! Do not try to taste if you’re dealing with cooked bacon; rather, use the time duration thing to clear up your confusion.

What Temperature Is Safe For Uncooked Bacon?

The final thing we would like to include in this informative piece of writing is the safe temperature for your raw or uncooked bacon. Right after buying raw bacon from any of your nearest supermarkets, take it home immediately and keep it inside the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. You may eat refrigerated bacon within seven days. However, freezing it and providing it with 0 degrees Fahrenheit is also fine for its preservation.

How to store Bacon?

For every food to last long, it is very important to store it in good condition to retain the taste and quality for a long time. For meats, it is common that they are stored in refrigerators or freezers. Bacon being the same texture as meat, can be stored the same way as the meat. For storing Bacon, you need to take care of the following things.

Store it in the fridge

The refrigerator is the best place to store the Bacon, whether it is opened or unopened. The far corner of the fridge is best for Bacon. It should be wrapped properly before storing it in the fridge. It will avoid the drying out of Bacon and prevent it from leaking the smell to the other fridge’s other foods.

Wrap it properly

The Bacon should be wrapped properly before putting it in the fridge. If the original package is okay to use, then use it; otherwise, foil and plastic wrap are the best options. Wrap the Bacon properly with the aluminum foil and then put it in the fridge.

Storing the leftover

Once you have cooked Bacon and some part is left uncooked, and you do not want to use it, the fridge is the best place for it as well. It would help if you went for an airtight container or a freezer bag. Wrap it tightly and then store it in the fridge.

Place it away from heat.

Two types of Bacon come from the store. One is shelf-stable, and the other is for refrigeration. However, the shelf-stable Bacon can sit at room temperature for a while until it is opened. It would be best if you placed it away from the heat sources; otherwise, there will be more chances of going bad. After it is opened, the refrigerator is the best place to keep it to retain its quality.

Can you freeze Bacon?

Freezing Bacon is a very common thing, and it is one of the best ways to store it for a long period. It is better to freeze the cooked Bacon than the raw one because it freezes better. So, it would be best if you cooked the Bacon first before freezing it. If you have cooked the Bacon, you need to cut it into slices or chunks to freeze it. Wrap these slices or chunks properly in freezer bags or airtight containers and then store them in the freezer. It would help if you defrosted it before taking it out of the freezer.

How long does Bacon last?

The shelf life of Bacon is not a longer one. The raw Bacon comes with a sell-by date written on it. It retains its peak quality till the date mentioned on it. It can be stored for a few days after that in good conditions. An opened bacon retains its peak quality for almost a week.

On the other hand, cooked Bacon can also last for about five days. In this period, it can be freeze if it is not used. Moreover, there also comes precooked Bacon that is shelf-stable. It can last for about a week. If it is opened, it is better to use it within a week. It can be store in the refrigerator for few days as well.

How to tell if Bacon is bad?

If a food product gets bad, there is a change in its texture, taste, color, and smell. It is harmful to eat rotten food. As mentioned above that, Bacon can also spoil as it is not shelf-stable for a long period. It is easy to tell if the Bacon is bad or not.

  • Discoloration: Bacon comes in natural pink color. Check the Bacon’s color, and if it is not pink and has turned into a dark brown color, it is not good to eat. It would help if you got rid of it immediately.
  • Foul Smell: Bacon has its natural meaty smell. Sniff it. If the smell is fishy and rotten or unpleasant, then it is a sign of mold formation. Avoid eating it.
  • Check the Texture: Fresh Bacon is very soft, fresh, and moist. Bacteria formation in the Bacon can cause some changes in its texture. Touch the Bacon to check whether it is good or bad; if it feels sticky and slimy, then you should get rid of it immediately before it contaminates other meat products.

Sources:

  • myrecipes
  • doesitgobad
  • smarterhomemaker
  • foodsafety

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