How much freezer space do I need?
A lot of people have been asking us how much freezer space they need for a quarter, half or whole beef. One of the nice things about beef (or any meat for that matter) is that it stores well for a year or more in a good freezer.
So let’s say you want to stock up on beef. A good rule of thumb is roughly 30 pounds of packaged meat can fit into 1 cubic foot of freezer space. Some say 35-40 pounds per cubic foot. Why this variation? Because different meats get packaged in different shapes which will changes the amount you can squeeze in.
So for example if you have a 14 cubic foot freezer, it will fit 420 pounds of meat, or more. Which should be more than enough space for a half beef, a few chickens, some lamb and other bulk food purchases.
There are upright freezers and chest type freezers. We have both types, but we prefer chest type freezers with organized compartments so that we can see at a glance what we have on hand.
I've never quite had the success of being as organized in an upright as I am in a chest style freezer. If you have a great organized upright freezer, send me a picture. I'd love to see it! A well stocked freezer is a thing of beauty!
Another reason I prefer a chest freezer is because I once accidentally overpacked my upright freezer, causing the door to not close completely. Everything started to thaw. We ended up making a lot of freezer meals to store away for those nights when I needed a quick meal of roast, chili, sloppy joes, stew and casseroles, ready to heat and serve.
Whichever type of freezer you prefer, having ample freezer storage allows you to take advantage of bulk food specials, saving you time and money. It might even keep you from eating out as much because it is also convenient.
The bigger the freezer, the more varieties of meats and vegetables (or frozen pizza, cheese sticks and waffles) you can keep on hand. So if you don't already have one, put a freezer on your wish list. Maybe even gift one to your kids for Christmas! That's what I'm doing. I can even recommend a good local place to buy one!
Let Weise Farms help you stock your own "Freezer Section" with the absolute best price on the highest quality beef, chicken and lamb for your family.
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