The Cleanest Way To Store Raw Bacon Is Also The Best

Considering that bacon has its own unofficial holiday on the first Saturday of every September, it's safe to say that the sliced breakfast meat is as culturally impactful as it is culinarily. But even if International Bacon Day didn't grace our calendars, this savory and versatile delicacy would not go unappreciated. Whether it's served on a breakfast sandwich, next to a stack of pancakes, or covered in brown sugar and chili flakes before being snacked on by itself, bacon can bring a crunchy, salty element to any meal.

For day-to-day use, many people opt to use raw packaged bacon in their cooking. Packaged bacon is convenient and usually delicious, but it does have an issue: The inside of the packaging can quickly become a bit wet from the contents. As long as there's no strong odor or slimy texture (which can indicate that the bacon has gone bad), this extra moisture isn't technically a problem. However, it can make the bacon unpleasant to handle. To avoid this issue and a potential mess in the refrigerator, simply take the bacon out of its packaging and wrap it in parchment paper.

Start by placing a sheet of parchment paper (about a foot long, or so) flat on your counter. Next, place the strips of bacon onto the parchment paper vertically, leaving at least an inch of space between each piece. After you've filled up the paper, gently begin rolling everything up from the bottom of the sheet. This may take a bit of practice, so feel free to start with fewer pieces of bacon. Ideally, you should have a roll that is tight enough to keep the bacon in place without breaking the paper. Once this has been achieved, use a pair of scissors to cut through the gaps between the bacon. You'll be left with individually wrapped bacon strips that can be stored in a zip-top bag or a plastic storage container in the refrigerator.

This hack makes grabbing a few pieces of bacon to cook extremely fast and easy, all without having to coat your hands with bacon juice. And since the strips are already on parchment paper, you won't have to pull extra paper or foil to cook them. After it has been removed from the package, the bacon should last in the fridge for about a week, according to the USDA. Just make sure you cook your bacon using the best method possible to get the most out of this delectable staple.