I recently threw out about ten pounds of that bulk pack bacon that I bought last summer. Usually I break it down into 1 pound portions and wrap in plastic wrap then freezer paper. This stuff went rancid tasting pretty fast, but I'm not sure how long it sat in the open cooler at the store before I purchased it The bacon that is vacume packed in thick plastic seems to keep for a couple years , but I won't be buying that bulk stuff again. Remember, if it is cured with salt it never freezes as well as fresh meat.