According to People, to ensure food safety and prevent waste, it’s crucial to recognize spoiled bacon and store it correctly. Raw, unopened bacon lasts about one to two weeks past its sell-by date in the refrigerator, while opened raw bacon lasts up to a week, and cooked bacon lasts about four to five days when properly stored. Fresh bacon is pink with white streaks of fat, but when it spoils, the color changes, and if the bacon turns brown, gray, green, or has orange hues, it indicates bacterial or mold growth, signaling it should be discarded. When in doubt, it’s always safer to discard potentially spoiled bacon than risk food-borne illness.
