How long does bacon keep?

[Steve Harford]

I have cured some pork loins as bacon and the majority remains unsmoked after 2 weeks due to the weather turning too warm ( I will post separately about that). It is in the fridge and still looks and tastes good but I'm just wondering how long it can safely be left in that state?

[Smokin Monkey]

Wade will answer this one. You will be surprised at how long you can store it, and the difference between dry cure and wet cured.

[Steve Harford]

44 minutes ago, Smokin Monkey said:

Wade will answer this one. You will be surprised at how long you can store it, and the difference between dry cure and wet cured.

 

44 minutes ago, Smokin Monkey said:

Wade will answer this one. You will be surprised at how long you can store it, and the difference between dry cure and wet cured.

Great. I should perhaps have mentioned. I used a dry cure. 

[Smokin Monkey]

Dry cure all the way for me.

[Wade]

Hi Steve

Unsliced, dry cure bacon will keep refrigerated for up to 6 weeks. Once it is sliced then you should eat it within a week. If you want to keep your bacon longer then you should freeze it.

The chilled shelf life of unsliced immersion cured or pump is only a week. 

The graph below shows typical water uptake for immersion cured bacon at  0, 7 and 14 days. 

For dry cured bacon there is a reduction in weight for both loin and belly as the salt/sugar draws out water from the meat.