The number one question looming on people’s minds “How much space do I need for beef in my freezer?” For us we buy the biggest appliances we can, but don’t worry I will provide a picture and some measurements and tidbits on freezer beef space.

First, consider the space in your home if you don’t already have a large stand-a-lone freezer or if you need to upgrade. Measure your space and compare freezers on the market. The old saying when organizing closets is “vertical space is your friend”, so think about a stand-up freezer versus a freezer chest that is long and takes up more floor space, something some people don’t have enough of in their homes. We chose a stand-up freezer with a capacity of 20 cubic feet…that measures out to be 33” W x 24.5” D x 65.75” H. A quick internet search says 1 cubic foot of space is needed for 35-40 lbs of meat, or half a cow requires 8-10 cubic feet of freezer space…HEY!…That’s what my picture shows you!

Second, consider if you want a stand-up freezer or a chest freezer. Consider the space available we just discussed above. Also, consider if you want to stand and grab your food from a stand-up freezer versus bending over and digging into a chest style freezer…think of your back’s health and consider your own height, I am short and already cannot dig out all my clothes out of the washer and dryer LOL. Therefore, we have a stand-up freezer. In the picture it is holding half a cow, or 133 lbs of meat (this was a smaller cow) and you can see there is plenty of room leftover for more things and even a whole cow!

Thirdly, consider the types of cuts you have. Think of the ol’ fashioned game Tetris and plan to store your meat cuts according to their shape and size. Some cuts won’t stack well, and other cuts will stack nicely. Utilize the shelves versus the drawers versus the door racks to the best of each one’s ability.

Now that you have learned of a few things to think about when buying freezer beef and/or a freezer, and tidbits on storing it HAPPY SHOPPING for freezers and beef! And don’t forget to buy a freezer thermometer with an alarm to protect your health and your investment!