Bacon Sell By Date

Tamsin_Temrin

How long does bacon keep?

Found a packet of bacon in fridge with a sell by date of August 2011 (I clean the fridge and check the yogurts, just missed this).

Its vacuum packed, looks fine and has been been in fridge all this time. Is it worth using?

Linda32

No I wouldn't use it, not worth the risk for a couple of quid!

Edited to add, also bacon usually has an actual date, not just the month and year (I know yours possibly does as well) But what I mean is, it must need to be really pretty acurate if it says a full date not just a month and year.

jimd-f

of course you can use it.
i regularly freeze bacon and have some thats been in the freezer for around a year.
i don't see what the issue is.

Middy

Open it - if it smells awful, bin it. Overwise, use it.

rachbc

the whole point of turning pigs into bacon is to preserve it - so it lasts ages. Secondly the vacuum packing keeps the nasties out - so yes, I'd open it, sniff and use it seems ok

andrewmp

It's not a sell by, it'll be a use by.

Personally I wouldn't go months past a use buy date, regardless. It might be ok if it smells ok but I wouldn't take the risk for the sake of a pound or two.

stephen77

jimd-f wrote: »

of course you can use it.
i regularly freeze bacon and have some thats been in the freezer for around a year.
i don't see what the issue is.

The OP's bacon was in the fridge and not the freezer.

Bacon does last longer than the use by. Personally I would not risk 5 months longer and occasionally you can get a little hole in the plastic which you get away with a for a few days but not months.

geoffky

If only in the fridge,you will get ill if you use it a week past its use by date..
DO NOT MESS WITH PORK

Lynsey

No way would I eat it if it's just been in the fridge.
Lidl have bacon on offer at only £1.29 for 332.5g (250g + 33% extra free).

Lynsey

asparagusnextleft

You can tell just by looking at bacon if it's gone bad. If it's gone green and slimy then it's definitely off. It will also smell nasty if it's off.

There's a website that gives you the shelf life of things after the use by date and it says for unopened bacon 1-2 weeks.

I'm not one for discarding things because they've gone past their date, I go on how things look and smell but this is months so I'd probably chuck it.

Bongedone

Even if it smells and looks fine it may taste rancid when you come to eat it. I've had this issue once when 2 weeks past use by date.