If you have ever wondered if you can refreeze bacon once it has been defrosted, you are not alone. I know in our household of 5, bacon does not last long. But sometimes life gets busy and we may not get to cooking that bacon when we planned to. We would hate to waste a thawed-out package of bacon, especially for what it costs.
Whether you have a full pack or partially-used package of thawed bacon in your refrigerator, you can refreeze it. This article will share how to safely refreeze uncooked or cooked bacon. As long as the bacon has thawed and was stored in the refrigerator it will refreeze well. Never leave bacon on the counter to defrost, whether or not you will use it all right away.
Is it Safe to Refreeze Bacon?
Simply put, yes it is safe to refreeze bacon. This is true for pork, turkey, or Canadian bacon. They all can be frozen again as long as it was thawed safely. Bacon refreezes well and easily if it has been thawed in the refrigerator.
Unfortunately, if the bacon was not thawed safely in the refrigerator, I do not recommend refreezing it. It is not recommended to refreeze bacon that was thawed in the microwave or on the counter. It is never a good idea to thaw bacon that way no matter your intention.
How to Refreeze Uncooked Bacon?
It is best to refreeze uncooked bacon within 3-5 days of it being defrosted. Thawed bacon in an unopened package can go right back into the freezer to refreeze. This is as long as it has been stored in the refrigerator for those 5 days.
If the package has been opened and partially used, it is best to refreeze it within 3 days. To do so, make sure you are sealing thawed bacon tightly when refreezing. Begin by wrapping the raw bacon tightly with plastic wrap. Next, add that wrapped bacon to a ziplock bag. Make sure to squeeze all the air out of the bag before sealing it. This helps keep moisture out. This ensures that the frozen bacon does not get freezer burn from that air.
How to Refreeze Cooked Bacon?
The best way to refreeze thawed bacon that has now been cooked is to wrap it as tightly as you can. I suggest doing the same as you would a partially used package as outlined above. Begin by wrapping the bacon tightly with plastic wrap. Follow that by sealing the cooked bacon into a Ziploc bag. Make sure all the air has been squeezed out to keep from any possibility of freezer burn.
You can also refreeze cooked bacon when it has been crumbled into bites. Place the broken pieces into an air-tight container. Then place in the freezer for storage.
How Long Will Refrozen Bacon Last?
Once you have frozen your bacon for a second time, the clock moves a bit quicker than it would from the initial freeze. When you initially freeze a package of bacon, it will last for up to 4 months in the freezer.
Refrozen bacon will last up to 30 days for an unopened package of raw bacon. But if the bacon is raw from an open package it should only freeze for another 10-14 days. Cooked bacon can be refrozen for up to 2 weeks. For more information, check out the FDA Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart.
Top Tips
LABEL! Make sure you put a date on the package of bacon. When freezing any food, it is important to label it. This is even MORE true when you refreeze something. Make sure to label the bacon with the date frozen and add a "USE BY" date too.
PLACE! The other best thing you can do is make sure you place it in the right place in the freezer. Since you will need to use refrozen bacon quickly. Place the package in the front or top of your freezer items. This way you will see it often and grab it to use quickly. If it gets buried, it will go bad and that is sad.
How to Thaw Bacon
Whether you are defrosting a new package of bacon or one that has been refrozen, it's important to do it safely. The best way to thaw bacon is by placing the package or frozen pieces into the refrigerator. It typically only takes about 12-24 hours for it to defrost in the fridge.
Once the bacon has been thawed, use it quickly. An unopened package of bacon that was refrozen should be cooked within 4 days. For a partial package, use it within 2 days.
So make sure to only pull it out of the freezer when you are ready to cook it. I DO NOT recommend you refreeze bacon twice. I recommend you only refreeze bacon once. Once your refrozen bacon has defrosted, use it or lose it.
Reheating Frozen Cooked Bacon
To reheat bacon that was cooked and frozen is quite easy. Simply place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. When you are ready to grab a slice for breakfast or add it to a recipe, it takes just a few seconds or minutes to warm it up. You can do so in either the microwave, oven, or toaster oven.
To reheat cooked bacon in the microwave follow these steps. Place the precooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate. Place it in the microwave for heating. Per slice, cook for 20 seconds at a time until it is ready to your liking.
To reheat cooked bacon in an oven or toaster oven, preheat to 400°. Once it is preheated, place the bacon on a baking sheet with a rack (rack is optional but works best for crispy bacon). Cook for 3-4 minutes or until it is to your liking. We like our bacon extra-crispy so sometimes 5+ minutes is our style!
Simple Bacon Recipes
Now that you have safely frozen, thawed, refrozen, & defrosted again your pack of bacon, it is time to use it. These tasty bacon recipes are just what you need to have a great meal or side dish. Or you can quickly just cook it your favorite way in the skillet or microwave - mine is in the oven. Like sharing How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven.
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