Freezer Recommendations

[jordansmom]

I finally decided to take the plunge and switch Jordan to raw food. The trips to the vet and the continual antibiotic therapyfor his allergies really got to me, and my wallet. Anyways, for the past few weeks I've been purchasing the raw patties every week. Yet I would like to be able to store at least a months supply of the packages, plus the other food items I've been preparing on a weekly basis. The freezer will go in the garage, and space is a bit limited. Can anyone give me an idea as to the following:

1. What freezer space would be adequate for a month's supply (minimum)?
2. Upright or top load?
3. Brand recommendation

Thanks!

 

[Capri]

We have both an upright and a top load. I would recommend you getting the biggest freezer you can, just so you can buy in bulk and get the best offers available. We started with just the topload, but it's much easier to arrange the bags into the upright. But you can fit MUCH more in the top load than in the upright. We usually put the bones (bones, chicken, porkribs etc..) and veggie boxes in the topload and everything else in the upright freezer.

 

[newfy]

Have/had both, the chest type freezers are cheaper, go to Sears;
my father was a refrigeration contractor for years, & he always recommended people either pick their appliances out at Sears or
a local supply store.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I have six freezers, various shapes and sizes...because several times I got a windfall of meat (once it was a bufallo!) and bought a freezer to put it in. some of them I got second hand, very cheap, and they work great. I do have one upright, and while it does a great job of freezing and saves floor space, it isn't really good because it seems to be half the size of the others..even though rated the same for square footage. I am thinking of exchanging the upright to be our human food freezer, because it IS easier to see what I have in that one, whereas for dog meat, it doesn't much matter.

 

[jane]

I use a 5 cubic foot chest freezer. I have 3 newfs I feed raw. The freezer will hold about 125lbs of meat.

 

[nowhavethreebears]

Check Sam's Club first if you have access to one. Ours here offers a five CF and a seven CF chest model and the prices are very reasonable. I think they are Whirlpool.
Lowe's also carries several brands of uprights and chests and has great prices this time of year.

 

[Diana]

We have both an upright and a chest freezer. Sure, the upright is much easier to find stuff in...but meat gets freezer burn much quicker than the chest type.

 

[Lori]

If you don't want to get a brand new one right now, check out Craigslist in your area. You might be able to pick up one there for a reasonable price.

 

[ardeagold]

Move to ND and put it outside.. :lol:

Actually most of the country would work! hahahaha

 

[sbyer]

Move to ND and put it outside.. :lol:

Actually most of the country would work! hahahaha

:!rolling::!rolling::!rolling::!rolling:

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I actually DO have meat out beside the garage in red rubber tubs this year...The joy of winter is that I don't have to worry about freezer space!

 

[jordansmom]

So it looks like a mix of both, including environment (that was funny!). Gives me something to think about. Thank you all...

 

[Snowden]

If you don't want to get a brand new one right now, check out Craigslist in your area. You might be able to pick up one there for a reasonable price.

I agree I got both my uprights and my chest freezer from craigslist. I think for all 3 I paid $150.00 and they work great!

 

[newfy]

Modular walk-box with remote refrigeraton...
You can pick any size you want, cheaper to run then having multiple freezers.

 

[JackandKelly]

I have a pretty big chest style freezer, Nothing wrong with it other than dusty on the outside from being stored for the last year.
It's free to any NN person who wants to come pick it up. It used to be where I now have Lola's grooming table so I have no room for it anymore. I think it's 5' or 6' long

 

[Summer]

Donna, were you peeking in my yard? I also use a metal garbage can in the winter to store the dogs raw food.

 

[R Taft]

We have both an upright and a top load. I would recommend you getting the biggest freezer you can, just so you can buy in bulk and get the best offers available. We started with just the topload, but it's much easier to arrange the bags into the upright. But you can fit MUCH more in the top load than in the upright. We usually put the bones (bones, chicken, porkribs etc..) and veggie boxes in the topload and everything else in the upright freezer.

We have pretty much the same.....Top-load is usually full of brisket bones and vertebra's. And any other bones we get, when the butcher has them.
The upright is full of prepackaged meats and veg which were in season or bought in bulk. I Blanche (quick dip in boiling water) all my veg and they keep well out of season. I also fill up if there are any specials or bulk free stuff. I can get day old fresh fish really for free sometimes, when it did not sell. And I freeze it. Sometimes stock is low, sometimes it is bulging. It is easier to rotate stock in the up-right. I always seem to be head down in the top-load freezer. And in the freezer world bigger is better

 

[jordansmom]

Well, today we were at Best Buy and they had two chest style freezers, 1 a 5 cu. ft and the other 8 cu ft. The prices weren't bad either. My husband wanted the 8, which does look like there is more room "to move around" (41.5 inches wide). With 1 newfy, its probably a good deal.