In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Can you get sick from eating expired bacon?” with an in-depth analysis of signs of bad bacon. Moreover, we are going to discuss the storage and nutritional value of bacon.
Can you get sick from eating expired bacon?
Yes! You can get sick from eating expired bacon.
Expired bacon consists of bacteria and many other microbes such as Salmonella, E.coli, Clostridium, or tapeworm, which can cause food poisoning.
Expired bacon also contains parasites that can result in toxoplasmosis or trichinosis.
What are the symptoms of getting sick from expired bacon?
If you have eaten expired bacon, it can make you sick.
Following are the symptoms that you experience after eating expired bacon;
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal cramps
- fever
- chest pain
- dehydration
How to know that bacon has gone bad?
Bacon can go bad.
Bacon comes with the best by date which is written by the manufacturers to let you know that you can enjoy the best quality of bacon till that date.
But bacon doesn’t expire by the best date for a certain period (at least 1 week). However, if your bacon has gone bad, you should throw it out.
Following are the signs that let you know that your bacon has gone bad;
Decolourization:
If there is any decolourization such as brown, blue or green in the bacon, it is an indication of the bad bacon.
Molds:
If you notice any molds grown on the surface of your bacon, it makes it clear that bacon has gone bad and you no longer can use it.
Unpleasant smell:
If you smell your bacon and it smells not like fresh meat but smells very fishy, sour and unpleasant, it is an indication of the bad bacon.
You should discard the bacon.
Abnormally slimy texture:
If your bacon on the touch feels abnormally slimy, it is also a sign that your bacon has gone bad and you should throw it off.
How to discard bad bacon?
If your bacon has gone bad, you should discard it in the following way;
- Wrap the bad bacon in plastic or aluminum foil and throw it away.
- It will protect you from bad smells and contamination of other food due to the presence of bad bacon.
How to properly store bacon?
- To store bacon, you should keep it in a cool place away from the oxygen.
- You can store your bacon in the fridge. Use an airtight container or sealed bag to keep the bacon in the fridge.
- You can also store the cooked bacon in the fridge.
- You can also freeze the bacon. You can freeze both the cooked and uncooked bacon.
- Remove the cooked bacon from heat slightly earlier and put it on a paper towel.
- Once it has been cooled, you can freeze it in the freezer bags. Make sure to use vacuum-sealed bags to remove the air and ensure a tight seal.
What is the shelf life of bacon?
The shelf life of the bacon depends on its storage. If the bacon isn’t properly stored, it will contaminate faster.
So, if you have stored your bacon in the fridge;
- Unopened bacon stays good in the fridge for 1_2 weeks.
- Open bacon will last for 1 week in the fridge.
- However, if bacon has been frozen, it can last for 6 months.
- But male sure to check the expiration date and also the bacon whether it has gone bad or not for your safety.
- Also, don’t use the bacon that has been frozen for more than 6 months.
Can you eat cooked bacon that has been left overnight?
Once the bacon has been cooked, try to refrigerate it for 2_4 hours to avoid the growth of any bacteria or microbes.
If you have kept bacon within 2_4 hours in the fridge, you can use it the next day.
However, if you have kept the bacon at room temperature, it depends on the temperature of the room whether you can or can’t use it.
Bacterias grow faster at warm temperatures, so if you haven’t kept it in a cool place try to not eat it to protect yourself from food poisoning.
What is the nutritional value of bacon?
The nutritional value provided by the USDA for 3 slices(34.5g) of bacon is as follows;
- Calories: 161
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: 579 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 0.6 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugars: 0 grams
- Protein: 12 grams
Here are the recipes for the bacon that you can make yourself and enjoy.
Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Can you get sick from eating expired bacon?” with an in-depth analysis of signs of bad bacon. Moreover, we discussed the storage and nutritional value of bacon.