Unopened raw bacon can usually stay in the fridge for about 1 week, and cooked bacon for about 4–5 days, as long as it’s stored properly and still within its date.

How long can bacon stay in the fridge?

Raw bacon (unopened)

  • Standard supermarket bacon: about 7 days in the fridge at or below 4 °C (40 °F).
  • Some brands say unopened bacon can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge if kept sealed and cold, but you should still respect the package date.
  • For longer storage, you can freeze it for about 4 months for best quality , even though it can remain safe longer if kept frozen solid.

Raw bacon (opened)

  • Once opened, raw bacon should be used within about 7 days if tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Keep it as cold as possible (back of the fridge, not the door) and make sure it’s not exposed to air to slow spoilage.

Cooked bacon

  • Leftover cooked bacon keeps about 4–5 days in the fridge when stored in a sealed container.
  • For longer storage, you can freeze cooked bacon for about 1 month for best quality.

Quick signs your bacon is bad

Even if the time window looks okay, always check:

  • Color changes: gray, green, or brown patches instead of pink meat and white fat.
  • Off smell: sour, sulfuric, or “rotten” odor instead of mild smoky or meaty smell.
  • Slimy or sticky surface: a tacky or slippery film is a strong spoilage sign.
  • Mold: any visible mold means it should be thrown away, not trimmed.

When in doubt, throw it out — food poisoning from spoiled meat is never worth the risk.

Simple safety tips

  • Keep your fridge at or below 4 °C / 40 °F for safe storage.
  • Store bacon in airtight packaging or containers to limit air and moisture.
  • Don’t taste-test questionable bacon; rely on time, look, smell, and texture.

Example

If you opened a pack of bacon on Sunday and kept it tightly wrapped in the fridge, it’s generally fine through the following Saturday (7 days), as long as it still looks, smells, and feels normal.

TL;DR:

  • Raw unopened: about 1 week in the fridge.
  • Raw opened: up to 7 days.
  • Cooked: 4–5 days in the fridge.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.