[Can it be frozen? ] How to freeze bacon, storage period, and 5 recipes!

Did you know that if you freeze bacon, it can be stored for nearly a month even after opening? Bacon sold at supermarkets is usually packaged in vacuum packs.

That's why it lasts for a while, but once it's opened and exposed to air, it goes bad in just a few days.

Even if you buy a block of bacon at Costco, there are probably many people who can't make the most of it.

This time, we will talk about how to freeze bacon that can solve such problems.

By using the freezing method introduced here, bacon can be stored for nearly a month even after opening, and has other benefits as well.

With just a little work, you can preserve it for a long time, so please give it a try.

Advantages of freezing bacon

First, let's talk about the benefits of freezing bacon.

Allows long-term storage

Freezing bacon allows it to be stored for a longer period of time.

Bacon is essentially a preserved food, so if it is made using traditional methods, it can be stored for up to a month (or longer depending on the product) without refrigeration.

However, most of the bacon we commonly see is not made using traditional methods, so it only has a shelf life of one week to 10 days.

What's more, once you open the package, some products will go bad within 2-3 days.

Freezing storage solves these problems and allows food to be preserved for nearly a month.

Saves time in cooking

When freezing bacon, it is first cut into various shapes according to the purpose of cooking and then stored.

After thawing, you can freeze bacon in a shape that suits the dish you want to use, such as thickly cutting it if you want to use it for bacon potatoes, or thinly slicing it if you want to add it to a salad.

By doing this, you can skip the time and effort of cutting bacon, washing cutting boards, and knives when actually cooking.

How to freeze bacon

Here we will explain the specific method of freezing bacon.

If you want to freeze a block of bacon, please refer to methods 1, 2, and 3.

If you want to freeze sliced bacon, please refer to methods 2 and 3.

1. When freezing in thick slices

1) Cut into 1-2cm thick pieces (determine the thickness depending on the purpose).

2) Wrap each piece in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze (in the photo, the bacon pieces are wrapped alternately to prevent them from sticking together).

★If the bacon is wet, wipe it dry with a paper towel, then wrap it in plastic wrap.

2. When slicing and freezing

1) Cut into 3-5mm thick pieces (determine the thickness depending on the purpose).

2) Wrap each piece in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze.

3. When cutting into pieces and freezing

1) Cut the thinly sliced bacon into 1cm wide pieces (determine the width depending on the purpose).

2) Wrap in plastic wrap in convenient amounts and freeze in freezer bags.

How to thaw bacon and how long to store it

Next, we will talk about how to thaw frozen bacon and how long it can be stored.

How to thaw bacon

There are two ways to thaw frozen bacon.

The first method is to defrost it in the refrigerator.

This is suitable for thawing bacon that has been cut into thick slices and frozen.

If you freeze thick slices, the core of the meat may not be cooked through when cooking for a short time, such as in stir-fry dishes.

Therefore, when making bacon potatoes, for example, we recommend thawing them in the refrigerator before use.

What you need to be careful about here is thawing at room temperature.

When frozen bacon is thawed at room temperature, the temperature changes rapidly and drips occur.

Drips not only impair the taste and flavor, but also lead to the growth of bacteria during the summer.

Therefore, when defrosting bacon, make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator.

Another way to use frozen bacon is to cook it from frozen.

With the exception of frying thick-sliced bacon as mentioned above, you can cook it while it's frozen, whether it's thinly sliced or shredded, or by any freezing method.

Also, if you're cooking a stew like soup, there's plenty of time to cook it, so it's okay to use frozen thick-sliced bacon.

To put it simply, frozen thick slices = thawed in the refrigerator, and other types of frozen = cooked while frozen.

bacon shelf life

Bacon has a shelf life of 3 to 4 weeks.

This period is the same regardless of whether the food is frozen in thick slices, thin slices, or thin strips.

It will be easier to remember if you think of it as approximately 1 month after freezing.

Of course, this storage period is just a guideline, and it depends on how you store it in the freezer and the condition of the bacon before freezing, so in the end, please use your own eyes and nose to judge.

>> [Freezing for a long time] 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

5 easy recipes using bacon

Baked bacon and potato cheese

☑材料（１人分）
・ベーコン　50g
・じゃがいも　1個
・スライスチーズ　2枚
・サラダ油　少々
・塩コショウ　少々

<How to make>
1) Thaw the frozen bacon in the refrigerator, then slice it thinly into strips about 1cm wide. Cut the potatoes into 5mm pieces.
2) Tear the cheese into small pieces.
3) Heat salad oil in a frying pan and fry bacon and potatoes.
4) Once the bacon and potatoes are cooked, add the cheese and once it's melted and coated, season with salt and pepper and it's done.

★You can also sprinkle with black pepper or parsley if you like.
★If you cut the bacon in advance and freeze it, you can cook it while frozen without thawing it.
★You can also enjoy it not only by thinly slicing, but also by slicing thickly.

Bacon wrapped asparagus

☑材料（2人分）
・アスパラ　2本
・ベーコン　適量
・ブラックペッパー　好みで

<How to make>
1) Thaw the frozen bacon in the refrigerator and slice it into pieces large enough to wrap around asparagus.
2) Cut the asparagus to match the bacon.
3) Wrap the asparagus in bacon and skewer it with toothpicks (about 2 asparagus per toothpick).
4) Arrange (4) in a frying pan without oil, sprinkle with black pepper, and brown both sides to complete.

★In addition to asparagus, you can also wrap tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, etc.
★If you pre-slice bacon and freeze it, you can use it frozen without thawing it.

Stir-fried spinach and bacon with butter

☑材料（2人分）
・ほうれん草　適量
・ベーコン　適量
・バター　10g
・塩コショウ　少々

<How to make>
1) Thaw the frozen bacon in the refrigerator, slice it thinly, and then cut it into strips about 1cm wide. Boil the spinach lightly.
2) Heat a frying pan over medium heat, then add the butter. Before it melts, add the bacon and fry over high heat.
3) When the bacon is lightly browned, add the spinach and stir-fry further. Finally, add salt and pepper to taste and it's done.

★If you have frozen the bacon in thin strips in advance, you can stir-fry it while frozen without thawing it.

Stir-fried bacon and enoki mushrooms

☑材料（2人分）
・えのき　2袋
・ベーコン　70g
・バター　大さじ2
・和風顆粒だし　小さじ1
・醤油　小さじ1
・小口ネギ　適量

<How to make>
1) Cut the frozen bacon into thick slices about 1cm wide (if frozen, you don't need to thaw it if you can pass it with a knife). Cut the enoki mushrooms into about half length.
2) Heat a frying pan, add butter, and once the oil is absorbed, fry the bacon.
3) Once the bacon is lightly cooked, add the enoki mushrooms.
4) When the enoki mushrooms become soft, add the dashi granules and soy sauce and mix well.
5) Arrange on a plate and sprinkle with small green onions to complete.

bacon and eggs

☑材料（2人分）
・ベーコン　50g
・卵　2個
・塩　少々
・サラダ油　大さじ1
・ケチャップ　好みで

<How to make>
1) Thaw the frozen bacon in the refrigerator, slice it thinly, and then cut it into bite-sized pieces.
2) Heat a frying pan, add salad oil, and fry the bacon until both sides are golden brown.
3) Mix the eggs and salt together, add to the frying pan, and mix as you would with scrambled eggs.
4) Stop stirring when the eggs are a little soft and transfer to a plate.
5) Finally, sprinkle ketchup on it and it's done.

★If you use pre-sliced frozen bacon, you can also cook it while frozen without thawing it.

Conclusion

So, how do you store bacon in the freezer?

We have introduced thick slices, thin slices, and thin slices, but in the end, all you have to do is cut it into the appropriate size and wrap it in plastic wrap.

If you use this method, for example, even if you buy a block of bacon, you can plan your menu without worrying about expiration dates.

Bacon is an ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of dishes, so please use the methods introduced here to make it useful in your daily life.

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