Can You Refreeze Bacon? (Cooked-Uncooked)

Buying Bacon in a large quantity is an excellent way to have frozen Bacon stored at home at all times. But what to do if you have accidentally thawed more Bacon than you actually need. At this point, you might be wondering, can you refreeze the Bacon?

Refreezing bacon is entirely safe. Cooked and uncooked Bacon can be kept refrozen for 6-8 months if you follow the refreezing instructions carefully. You can refreeze Bacon more than once if you don’t keep it outside the freezer or refrigerator. However, the only thing that constant refreezing and thawing might slightly affect is the texture and taste of Bacon.

It is thus vital to understand a few essential tips and steps to safe refreezing of cooked and uncooked Bacon as you definitely do not want to end up with spoiled Bacon.

Is it Safe to Refreeze Bacon?

Refreezing bacon is entirely safe as long as you follow the refreezing instructions carefully. Wrap the Bacon well and avoid thawing it at room temperature. As thawing it at room temperature will increase the risk of bacterial contamination.

You can safely refreeze uncooked Bacon if you thaw it in a refrigerator. You can pop the sealed pack of raw Bacon back into the freezer if the ice crystals are still present on the surface of the pack.

You should avoid refreezing uncooked meat after the ice crystals have melted away or the meat is no longer cold.

Moreover, to avoid thawing/defrosting more Bacon than needed, you can divide it into portions so that you only thaw the required amount.

Refreezing Cooked Bacon is completely safe, given that you don’t let it sit at normal temperature for an extended period.

The best way to refreeze Bacon that has thawed at room temperature is by cooking it before refreezing.

Once you have cooked Bacon, let it cool for a few minutes before putting it in freezer-safe bags. Wrapping up the meat while it’s hot is not recommended. Before wrapping the Bacon, make sure no extra air is present inside the bag as it will lower the quality of refrozen Bacon.

Thus, refreezing cooked Bacon is a great way to save the leftovers to avoid wastage of food.

The Best Way To Safely Refreeze Bacon

To ensure a safe refreezing of Bacon, you can follow the steps given below:

For safe refreezing of uncooked Bacon

1. Take the uncooked bacon strips/slices and divide them into portions, small or large, depending on your personal preference.
2. Place the strips on a freezer-safe tray so that no strip is in contact with the other strips.
3. Next, carefully pop the tray into the freezer and let the strips freeze overnight.
4. Once the bacon strips have frozen solid, take the tray out of the freezer.
5. Start wrapping the frozen strips individually in plastic wrap or cling film. Doing so lets you refreeze the strips in portions so that you can easily take out the required amount only.
6. Now you are ready to place them inside a freezer-safe bag or container to avoid freezer burns and place the bag/container into the freezer.

For safe refreezing of cooked Bacon

1. If you are dealing with cooked Bacon, make sure you let it cool thoroughly before proceeding.
2. Wrap the cooled-down Bacon in an aluminum sheet or cling film.
3. Once wrapped, place the Bacon inside an airtight container or a freezer-safe container to avoid any freezer burns.
4. Finally, place the freezer-safe container inside the freezer for refreezing with a label on it.

Can You Refreeze Defrosted Bacon?

You can safely refreeze defrosted Bacon as long as you thaw it in a refrigerator. However, if the Bacon is thawed in a microwave or over the counter, refreezing the Bacon is not recommended. Bacon thawed at room temperature is at significant risk of bacterial contamination.

You should either throw away or consume the Bacon immediately if it has thawed on the countertop or in a microwave.

How long can you refreeze Bacon?

In case of uncooked Bacon

An unopened pack of Bacon can last for up to 8 months in the freezer, whereas an opened pack of uncooked Bacon will last for six months.

In the case of cooked Bacon

You can keep cooked Bacon refrozen for about 1-2 months.

It is important to remember that refrozen Bacon will not taste as good as the fresh one.

When poorly refrozen, Bacon will break down even before the time limit is crossed. Also, after the said time has crossed, Bacon’s taste, texture, and quality will start degrading.

If you feel like the Bacon has rotten or is giving out an unpleasant stench, you should discard it immediately.

Is It Safe To Refreeze Bacon More Than Once?

Bacon can be safely refrozen more than once if you keep the Bacon in a refrigerator at all times.

However, please remember that refreezing and thawing the Bacon again will harm its quality. Bacon that has been refrozen several times will have a compromised taste and texture.

To avoid the Bacon from losing more quality, you can refreeze it in portions. Refreezing in portions helps you quickly take out and thaw the required amount only. It keeps the unused Bacon from undergoing further quality degradation.

Important Things To Know Before Refreezing Bacon

1. Refreezing the Bacon will increase its shelf life for 6-8 months.
2. If the Bacon is left in the freezer for a little too long than the recommended period, it might lose the taste, and you’ll notice a drop in the quality.
3. Defrosting Bacon is safe and you can defrost in three different ways depending on your preference.
4. You can store a sealed pack of Bacon as long as the expiration date is not crossed.
5. Before cooking, it is important to defrost the Bacon carefully, or there is a massive risk of bacteria growing inside.

Conclusion

With a little cautious effort, you can safely refreeze Bacon, either cooked or uncooked. All you need to do is focus on the thawing methods and wrap it in freezer-safe packaging for longer shelf life.

So, you are ready to use the frozen Bacon for perfectly delicious meal prep and enjoy its taste and texture with a hint of natural spices.