Last Updated on October 26, 2023
Good bacon makes everything better—which is why you should never waste it.
Thankfully, the freezer extends the shelf life of quality bacon by several months. You probably know that you can freeze it by the pack, but what if you don’t want to use a whole pack in one sitting?
Below, we’ve compiled tips on freezing individual pieces of bacon to be enjoyed whenever you need to add some succulence to a meal. And, if you’d like to freeze it by the pack, we’ve got tips to do it successfully.
The 3 Best Methods for How to Freeze Bacon to Use Later
As with most food storage, there are a few different methods you can take depending on what you have on hand and what end result you’re looking to accomplish. Whether you have a lot or a little of what you want to store is a key factor. In this case, it depends on how much bacon you have, how it’s packaged, and how you plan to use it in the future.
There are three main methods for how to freeze bacon. Because, after all, we firmly believe your freezer should never be without bacon again.
Method # 1 – Freeze Bacon by the Pack
Perhaps the most obvious option for freezing raw bacon is to freeze it in the package it came in. This method is quick and straightforward, but you’ll want to keep a few things in mind if you freeze bacon by the pack. (ButcherBox bacon comes frozen, so we’ve already covered part of this for you.)
Our bacon packs arrive frozen. If you’re not ready to use right away, freeze the whole sealed pack for later.
- Only freeze bacon by the pack if you plan to use all of it immediately after thawing. Are you saving bacon for a big brunch or another meal where you’ll need all of it? Then go ahead and freeze the pack of bacon. Otherwise, consider some of the individual freezing methods below.
- Factor in thawing time. Individual pieces of frozen bacon will thaw quickly, but a whole pack will take longer. Remember to defrost your bacon in the fridge overnight or in a bowl of water well before you need it.
- Store it properly. If your bacon came in an airtight, sealed package, go ahead and throw it in the freezer. Just take note of the day you froze it. If, however, you purchased bacon from the butcher counter and it’s not airtight, be sure to seal it in a freezer bag and take note of the date you froze it.
Method #2 – Freeze Bacon Slices Individually
The accordion or fan method is a great way to freeze individual slices of bacon.
Want to prolong the shelf life of your bacon but only need a couple of pieces at a time?
Try freezing the pieces individually, and grab them out of the freezer whenever you have a hankering for bacon and eggs or need to jazz up a simple dish. Or if you want to know how to freeze bacon so you can grab a slice for your individual morning breakfast, this is the method for you.
Here’s a foolproof method that requires only a bit of wax paper and a freezer bag.
- Lay out a big sheet of wax paper. You’ll be folding slices of bacon between this sheet of wax paper accordion-style, so pull out more wax paper than you’d think.
- Lay a slice of bacon on the edge of the wax paper. Then, fold the wax paper over the bacon.
- Lay the next slice of bacon on top. Repeat the folding process until you’re out of bacon.
- Store your accordion-folded bacon in a gallon freezer bag. Pull out slices as you need them and thaw. Pro tip: You can cut bacon while it’s still frozen for easy, clean cuts.
Method #3 – Make Frozen Bacon Coils
This photo from Dish Dlights illustrates this last method perfectly. Rolled up bacon coils, placed on parchment to freeze. Then you can store in ziplock bags.
Don’t want to mess with folding the parchment paper? There’s another quick and easy way to freeze slices of bacon individually. Read on for the bacon roll method.
- Make room in your freezer. You’ll need to place a baking sheet in there for a few hours.
- Roll individual slices of bacon into snail-like coils. These cute little bundles take no time at all to roll up. Just place them on the baking sheet with a bit of space between each one.
- Freeze the coils until solid. This will take a few hours.
- Place the coils in a freezer bag. Throw that plastic bag in the freezer and pop out a few pieces whenever you need them. They won’t stick because of the prior freeze, and they can be thawed, microwaved, or chopped up straight out of the freezer.
For more tips on food storage, cooking, and saving for later, we’ve got you covered on the JustCook blog.
