Canadian bacon has less fat than the American-style bacon sold in the United States. American bacon comes from a pig's belly. The leaner Canadian bacon is cut from a pork loin. This loin is from the mid-back region of the pig, which is why this type of bacon is called back bacon in Canada, Great Britain and Europe. The bacon that Canadians term Canadian bacon is more akin to ham, as it is back bacon that has not been smoked.

Storing Canadian bacon in a reliable freezer in good working order significantly extends the length of time you can keep this type of bacon. In the refrigerator, sliced Canadian bacon can only be kept for three or four days. When sliced Canadian bacon is stored in a freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit, in terms of the quality of taste when thawed and cooked, it can be frozen for one to two months. After that period of time, the flavor can be affected.

Canadian bacon is safe to eat far longer than the recommended freezing limit for peak flavor quality. Securely wrapped, Canadian bacon can be kept up to one year in a freezer with a stable temperature of zero degrees F or less. As long as there are no obvious signs of spoilage, such as a bad odor when defrosted, the Canadian bacon will be safe to eat. Wrapping the meat well helps to protect it from freezer burn, which can destroy the quality of the bacon.

Freeze Canadian bacon in individually wrapped portions or the amount required for a typical meal. This is a convenient and safe way to store it and avoids having to try to separate the desired amount from a large, frozen quantity. Carefully wrap the Canadian bacon in plastic wrap. Be generous with the plastic wrap and draw it tightly around the bacon. Place the wrapped bacon in freezer bags. Label the bags with the date the meat was put into the freezer. Store in the coldest part of the freezer.

Thawing Canadian bacon at room temperature on a kitchen counter is never a good idea. It is best to slowly thaw it in the refrigerator. If there isn't time for that, Canadian bacon can be safely thawed by putting it in a plastic bag and placing it in a bowl of cold water, emptying and replacing the water every 30 minutes until it is thawed. It will take about an hour to thaw packages of 1 pound or less. It is also possible to safely thaw Canadian bacon in the microwave. Use this method only if the bacon will be cooked right after thawing, as the warmth produced by the microwave can encourage bacteria to grow.