Can you eat raw bacon? No, you cannot. It is dangerous to consume raw, uncooked bacon. That is because bacon can carry maladies transmitted by livestock. As a result, your bacon must always be cooked.
Bacon is a popular protein in many households, so several people are often apathetic or unconcerned about how well cooked or even if it makes a difference if it is cooked or eaten raw.
As a result, you should be aware that eating raw bacon is not recommended; that’s why this article sheds light on the subject.
It will also go over the effects of eating raw bacon on your well-being and what you can do if you happen to eat uncooked bacon.
What is bacon?
Bacon is made from the meat taken off the side of the pork meant to make the spareribs.
It can be cured, dried, pickled, or smoked. Some types, most notably Canadian bacon, are made from the leaner loin of the animal.
Bacon was the staple meat of the peasantry in Western Europe for centuries. As with the Irish or Italian styles, variations of bacon became denoted by the cut of meat, or their curing procedure; these styles became normalized in association with nations or regions.
Bacon was the only meat to become significant as a trade product in the late nineteenth century due to its long storage life.
The five most popular methods of commercializing bacon in the United States during the 20th century were slab, regular sliced, thin sliced, thick sliced, and ends and pieces.
Bacon generally has an epidermis on one side and has thin and fat streaks. The slab of bacon is cut into slices, and the skin is typically removed before packaging.
The side or stomach of a hog is also used to make slab bacon after it has been cooked and smoked, and then refrigerated for 14 days.
SEE: Can Bacon be Left Out Overnight?
Can you eat raw bacon?
No, you cannot consume raw bacon. If you eat raw bacon, you run a higher risk of getting foodborne illnesses like toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, and tapeworms.
To get rid of these parasites and reduce your risk of getting food poisoning, cook the meat correctly.
SEE: How Long Does Cooked Bacon Last in the Fridge?
Can you eat raw bacon smoked?
No, you can’t. Meat should never be consumed raw, whether it has been smoked or not, as it increases the chance of food poisoning.
Instead, you should thoroughly cook the bacon, being cautious not to overcook it as this will cause more carcinogens to form.
Can you eat turkey bacon raw?
You can, indeed. There is no need to cook it because it is smoked similarly to deli ham. It is cured pre-formed turkey with a bacon-like appearance.
Although it might be gross to eat; however, it has been cured, so technically it doesn’t need to be cooked.
What does undercooked bacon look like?
Undercooked or raw bacon will have a pinkish meat color and a white or cream fat color. Therefore, it is a combination of pink and cream.
How long after eating undercooked bacon will you get sick?
These symptoms can last anywhere between five and forty-five days, but they usually begin to manifest ten to 14 days after consuming the contaminated meat.
Abdominal symptoms may appear around one and two days after infection. In its milder forms, trichinosis can be mistaken for cold or other infectious diseases. Be sure to contact your doctor if you get any symptoms at all.
SEE: How Long Can Raw Meat Sit Out Before It Goes Bad?
Will you die if you eat raw bacon?
Even though a severe infection can occasionally result in death and cause difficulty breathing and uncoordinated muscles, there are few cases of such occurrence.
Moreover, it may take two to eight weeks after consumption for severe symptoms to manifest. You may have detoxed your system before active symptoms show.
What should you do if have eaten raw bacon?
Contact your doctor if you have consumed undercooked or uncooked meat and exhibit trichinosis symptoms.
How to tell if bacon is bad
It is best to throw away spoiled bacon as soon as possible to prevent it from contaminating your other beef products. Make sure to wrap it in PVC as you dispose the spoilt meat to prevent the odor from seeping into your entire kitchen.
Here is a list of some signs of spoilt meat you may have noticed but missed if you’re unsure how to tell if your bacon is bad.
Change in appearance
The bacon is still safe if the fat is white or yellow and the color is still its natural pink. However, if your bacon already has a brown, gray, or a faint hint of green or blue, it has spoilt.
A chemical process brought on by prolonged exposure to the atmosphere causes the meat to change color.
Foul smell
Fresh bacon will forever have that characteristically meaty smell. If your bacon smells fishy, rotten, sour, or just bad, it’s spoiled. The growth of bacteria and rancidity can produce an unpleasant bacon odor.
Change in texture
Soft, young, and moist describe good bacon. Bad bacon has a slimy texture to the hands and a sticky sheen. On meat, lactic acid bacteria create slime.
SEE: What Is The Best Freezing Temperature For Meat?
How to properly store raw bacon
Before you store bacon, confirm it has been cooked before buying. Invariably check the sell-by date to make sure you are purchasing the freshest product available.
If this is not the case, you should do the following to store uncooked bacon:
- Wrap your bacon in paper towels before storing it. These towels will absorb the moisture required for respiration.
- Place wrapped bacon in the freezer or fridge. Unopened bacon has a shelf life of one to two weeks in the refrigerator and between six and eight months in the freezer.
- If the bacon has been opened, wrap paper towels and keep it in the refrigerator for one week or the freezer for six months.
- To increase the shelf life of opened bacon further, you can use a sealed bag, tin foil, or cover it with plastic wrap.
Ensure that you check your bacon often. If it is not properly stored, bacon will go bad. If it has spoiled, dispose of it immediately to prevent contaminating other products.
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FAQs
What is the difference between ham and bacon?
Bacon is made from the meat of the pig’s back, loin, or belly. Meanwhile, ham is made from the pig’s thigh or rump.
Bacon is either wet-cured when submerged in a fluid brine or dry-cured when it is smoked, packed with a lot of salt, or exposed to cold air.
Is bacon meat or pork?
Bacon is a variety of cured pork meat. It is among the most well-liked foods in the country. The term “bacon” in the U.S. refers to smoked bacon, which is produced from the stomach or sides of pigs.
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Is it okay if the bacon is a little pink?
Yes, it is. The bacon is still safe if the fat is white or yellow and the color is still in its natural pink. However, if your bacon has turned brown, gray, blue, or green, it has already gone bad.
How do you know if bacon is cooked?
Bacon is considered fully cooked when the color of the meat shifts from pink to brown, and the fat has time to render out.
Conclusion
Eating raw bacon is a bad idea that it can land you in the hospital and keep you there for weeks if you don’t take precautions.
As a result, always cook your meat properly, but don’t overcook it so it does not lose its tanginess. Also, be sure the meat is properly preserved to prevent it from going bad quickly.
Regrettably, if your meat begins to smell off or rotten, it should be discarded. As unpleasant as it is to throw away bacon, it is preferable to becoming ill.
Thanks for reading.
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