Food Safety: Everything You Need To Know Before Refreezing Bacon
Bacon is usually stored in the freezer to prevent spoilage, but what happens when you take out too much bacon than you needed, but it was already thawed out? Or what happens when you plan to use your thawed bacon, but you never get around to doing so? These are important questions, as nobody wants to waste good bacon, and the solution is to refreeze it. In this article, we examine the basic rules of refreezing bacon.
Is It Possible to Refreeze Bacon?
Of course! However, this is only advisable if the bacon was carefully thawed in the fridge for at most seven days before getting frozen again. Bacon thawed at room temperature, in a microwave, or under running water is no longer safe to refreeze.
How To Freeze The Different Forms Of Bacon
There are different forms of bacon, and they all have different methods of freezing.
1. Raw bacon: This applies mostly to unopened bacon packages. Wrap the package with aluminum foil or multiple layers of plastic wrap before freezing, and be sure to use it within four months, as it will only lose its quality after that.
2. Raw but opened bacon: Put these in a zip-lock bag but ensure no air is trapped inside before putting it in your freezer. It will maintain its quality for another four months.
3. Cooked bacon: You can rim a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper and then arrange strips of it in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. If there is a lot of bacon to be frozen, you can repeat the waxed paper and bacon layers, then freeze through the night or for many hours. Afterward, transfer the strips to a zip-lock bag and squeeze out all the air. If this is done properly, the bacon can last as long as six months however it is recommended that you use it within one to enjoy the best quality.
How to Refreeze Bacon
Bacon that was formerly frozen and has been thawed in a fridge is the only one that can be refrozen. To do this, put the bacon in a zip-lock bag, squeeze out any additional air and move it to the freezer within seven days.
How To Thaw Bacon Properly
This can be done overnight, but if you can’t wait that long, you can put the quantity you want in a zip-lock bag and then defrost it in the cold, flowing water. It is worth noting that any bacon thawed in this manner needs to be immediately cooked and can no longer be refrozen. This method takes several minutes, but if you want to do it faster, the best bet is to use the microwave with the defrost option.
