Unopened bacon does go bad.
Unopened bacon will last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 8 months to a year in the freezer.
Freezing the bacon makes the bacon last longer than it would last in the refrigerator since the freezing temperatures prevent bacteria from growing on the bacon.
Generally, unopened bacon can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 8 months to 12 months in the freezer.
Meanwhile, bacon that has been opened but not cooked may only last around 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.
After bacon is purchased, it may be kept refrigerated for about 1 week after the "sell-by" date on the package if it has been properly stored.
Properly stored, unopened bacon will maintain best quality for about 1 to 2 months in the freezer, but will remain safe beyond that time.
How can you tell if bacon is bad?
The best way is to smell and look at the bacon: signs of bad bacon are a sour smell and a slimy texture; discard any bacon with an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.