Food and Recipes Meat Bacon This Is The Best Way To Freeze Bacon Extra bacon? We'll show you how to freeze it and give you some ideas on how you need to use it. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 15, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Although we can always come up with a delicious reason to cook with bacon (hello, Bow-Tie Crackers), sometimes you end up with a few leftover slices. Uncooked bacon should be used within seven days or stored in the freezer. If you're freezing the bacon, this is our preferred method, which allows you to defrost individual slices. iStock / Getty Images Plus 1. Separate the bacon If you have parchment or wax paper on hand, either will make this task much easier. Tear off a large sheet of parchment and place it on a baking sheet. (Make sure the baking sheet will fit in your freezer. You may need to eat some ice cream to make room.) Separate the bacon slices and place each slice vertically on the parchment, leaving a bit of space between each slice. 2. Roll it into spirals Start at one end of a bacon slice and roll the slice into a spiral. Repeat with the remaining bacon slices. 3. Flash-freeze the spirals Place the baking sheet in your freezer for at least 30 minutes or until the spirals have frozen solid. 4. Store in a freezer bag Place the frozen bacon spirals in a ziplock freezer bag and place the bag in the freezer. Because the spirals have been individually frozen, they should not stick together. How to Cook Bacon in the Oven 5. Defrost it safely Like all foods, bacon can be frozen indefinitely, but it is best used within one month. The safest way to defrost frozen bacon is in your refrigerator, but you can also defrost it under cool running water or in the microwave. Never defrost bacon by leaving it on your kitchen countertop; harmful bacteria can develop if the bacon is left at room temperature for too long. Bacon Recipes 01 of 05 Maple-Bacon Smokies Southern Living Recipe: Maple-Bacon Smokies You only need four ingredients to make this simple appetizer. Start with bacon and toss it with brown sugar and maple syrup. Wrap this sweet bacon around a salty mini smoked hot dog and secure it with a toothpick for a perfect flavorful treat. Add black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, or any additional spices based on your preferences. 02 of 05 Bacon-and-Tomato Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Davick Recipe: Bacon-and-Tomato Breakfast Casserole Enjoy this bacon-and-tomato casserole for breakfast or dinner, which takes 15 minutes of active cooking time. The bottom layer of pita chips forms a textured base for this egg bake. Great for feeding a crowd, this divinely smelling dish is topped with basil and halved grape tomatoes. 03 of 05 Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche Shredded potatoes and bacon tucked into this golden crust create a delicious meal perfect for any time of the day. Use Gruyère cheese, or substitute your favorite variety to add a nutty and creamy flavoring. Pre-bake the pie crust to get the texture crisp. 04 of 05 Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Alison Miksch Recipe: Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Make this quiche up to two days ahead of serving and chill. This cheesy bake tops grits with creamy half-and-half and bacon custard. Make sure to spread the custard and remaining cheese to the edges. 05 of 05 Bacon Pancakes Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Bacon Pancakes Combine two favorite breakfast foods into one dish with this bacon pancake recipe. Make this dish kid-friendly by pouring the batter directly over the bacon and creating handheld pancakes you can dip into maple syrup. It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit