10+ Benefits of Owning a Freezer for Meat Storage
Owning a meat freezer is budget-friendly, safe for meat storage, retains flavor, provides long-term storage, meals for guests, and preservative-free.
Having been raised by a busy working mom who could magically produce delicious meals out of thin air – I was convinced she must be a magician! Little did I know then that those “magic tricks” were stored in our trusty old meat freezer.
The benefits of owning a freezer for meat storage are that it’s budget-friendly, preserves meat safely, retains its flavor and texture, and provides long-term storage for seasonal meats. It supplies meals for unexpected guests and mid-week dinners. Frozen meat is preservative-free and nutritious.
Storing meat in a freezer and saving money may sound straightforward. Sadly, it’s not, as some cuts last longer than others. So, if you want to know my tried and tested meat-freezing hacks and some helpful tips and tricks – read on!
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The Top Ten Benefits Of Owning A Meat Freezer
Investing in a freezer to store your meat is one of the most excellent decisions you will ever make! Especially if you have a large family to cook for on a tight budget. So, without further ado, here are 10 outstanding benefits to consider.
Budget Friendly
There’s nothing more frustrating than spotting meat at a bargain basement price and not having adequate space to store it in your tiny upright freezer!
The beauty of owning a spacious meat freezer is that you can purchase large quantities of meat, like an entire side of beef (or whole cow), and divide it into roasts or juicy steaks.
While buying a lot of meat at once and going through the effort of cutting, packaging, and marking it takes time. It’s a once-off investment that can save you a lot of hard-earned money in the long run, mainly because meat is usually the most expensive aspect of your monthly food bill.
Food Safety
Anyone who has had nasty food poisoning will understand the importance of safely storing meat.
Like dairy, meat has the tendency to grow bacteria at a rapid rate, which can make you sick if it is stored at warmer temperatures.
So, it’s no wonder that any meat stored in a refrigerator only lasts a few days, even though it is stored in a cooler environment which slows down bacterial growth.
According to the USDA, meat frozen at an icy temperature of 0°F (-18°C) safeguards it from growing infective bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Meat Flavor And Texture Retention
Another significant advantage of having a meat freezer is that it retains its delicious taste and texture when stored at the correct temperature.
To illustrate this point, meat stored at warmer room temperatures will slowly break down and oxidize. As a result, it will quickly start looking grey and inedible.
Therefore, it is also recommended to thaw frozen meat in the fridge, not overnight, on your countertop.
Long-Term Food Storage
Meat frozen at the correct temperature can technically last forever. However, according to the
FDA and firsthand experience, meat frozen for too long will start to deteriorate over time.
So, it’s essential to know how long you can safely freeze the following fresh (raw) beef, lamb, veal, and pork meat cuts, to ensure that nothing goes to waste:
- Bacon: 1 month
- Sausages: 1–2 months
- Chops: 4–6 months
- Roasts: 4–12 months
- Steak: 6–12 months
- Including other meat cuts like tongue, chitterlings, and liver: 3–4 months
Pro-tip: before you pop your meat cuts in the freezer, add a label noting the type of meat and the date it was frozen.
Pack meats with a longer storage duration at the bottom of your freezer and those that will expire soon or are more readily used, like bacon, where it is easier to retrieve.
Environmentally Friendly
One aspect of owning a meat freezer, which is often overlooked, is that it reduces the number of times you must go food shopping.
Apart from decreased fuel costs, it also reduces your carbon footprint. And you don’t have to spend time looking for parking or stand in ridiculously long queues. So, it’s a win-win in my books!
Unexpected Guests
A freezer filled with ready-cooked meat has “saved my bacon” countless times! Especially when visitors decided to stick around at dinner time. And let’s face it, knowing that you don’t have to cook a meal from scratch is fabulous.
Preservative Free
It’s well-known that most of our western diet is packed with toxic preservatives in processed foods.
Frozen meat does not contain preservatives, so you can produce healthy, guilt-free meals.
Seasonal Meats Storage
Because we are so used to purchasing meat and fresh produce all year round, only some people realize that meat is also seasonal, like vegetables and fruit. For example, ham is traditionally enjoyed during Easter, while turkeys are a Thanksgiving staple.
Seasonal meats like venison, goose, or duck are typically cheaper than those sold out of season. So, having a big meat freezer is ideal as you can make the most of mother nature’s bounty and save your hard-earned cash.
Mid-Week Dinners
After a long day at work, knowing there is a home-cooked meal in the freezer is a lifesaver!
And being able to use your meat freezer for mid-week dinners means you can spend more time focusing on ticking off your to-do list.
Pro-tip: if you have time for meal-prepping, cook your meat in bulk, portion it out in containers, pop it into your meat freezer, and put it straight into the oven or microwave at dinner time.
Meat Freezers Preserve Nutrients
Meat is rich in protein and nutrients like Iron, Niacin, B6, B12, Calcium, Selenium, and Zink, including several other vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health. So, combining that with other nutritious vegetables gives you a super healthy meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type Of Freezer Is Best For Meat?
Even though chest freezers take up more space than upright freezers, they have a lot more space, so you can easily store odd-shaped bulky cuts of meat.
Chest freezer bins are also convenient, as you can organize your cuts of meat in various compartments, making them easy to retrieve.
But, apart from space, their most significant advantage is energy efficiency. So even if the worst happens, and you have an extended power cut, your meat will stay frozen for nearly three days. And you will have a lower energy bill.
What Size Freezer Do I Need For 300 Lbs. Of Meat?
While there is lots of conflicting information about freezer sizes, you should have ample space with an 8 cubic foot freezer to store 300 Lbs. of meat.
What Size Freezer Do I Need For 200 Lbs. Of Meat?
A 5 cubic feet freezer should provide ample storage for this amount of meat.
How Big Of A Freezer Do I Need For A Beef?
A meat freezer should ideally provide 1 cubic foot of space for every 35-40 Lbs. of meat, with enough “breathing room” to accommodate oddly shaped packaged meat.
The freezer should not be much bigger than the amount of meat you would like to store. Meat freezers only perform optimally if they are relatively full, with less air space.
Pro tip: when shopping for a new meat freezer, measure the space where you would like to place it, and add at least 1 inch at its width to promote airflow around the freezer.
Conclusion
Owning a freezer for meat storage is one of the best buys you will ever make! Apart from storing large amounts of meat at budget-friendly prices, the most significant benefit is that you can provide highly nutritious meals in the heart of your home.
Further Reading
- https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/buying-beef-for-home-freezers.html
- https://www.food-safety.com/articles/3563-the-benefits-of-blast-freezers-for-food-safety-and-business
- 7.0 cu ft (195 L) Capacity: Spacious 7.0 cubic foot (195 liter) flat-back deep freeze offers plenty of storage for your frozen goods so you can buy in bulk, reduce food waste and save money
- Manual Defrost with Easy-Access Drain: Front-mounted drain allows easy access for hassle-free draining when defrosting or cleaning your freezer
- Removable Storage Basket: Organize your contents and keep small and commonly used items easily accessible with a hanging wire basket made of corrosion-resistant vinyl-coated wire
- Convenient Stay-Open Lid: Freezer lid opens easily with one hand and stays open for as long as you need; rear-mounted hinges prevent the lid from hitting the wall and ensure a tight seal when closed
- Reliable Compressor Cooling: Quiet, dependable compressor technology, external temperature control dial, and strong magnetic lid seal maintain your freezer's temperature between 0 and -24C (32 and -11.2F)
- Mechanical Control with Adjustable Thermostat from -12 to -28 Degrees (Great for Storing Frozen Food, Ice Cream, Ice, etc).control_type : mechanical
- Contains 1 Hanging Wire Storage Basket
- Hinge-Style Door Remains Open from 45 to 75 Degree Angles
- External Product Dimensions: 21.46" L x 19.49" W x 33.46" H
- Full 1-Year / Compressor 2-Year Warranty
- Compact Chest Freezer Dimensions : 7.0 cubic feet free standing Chest Freezer, Measures: 21.97”(W)*33.46”(D)*32.17”(H).Compact Freezer is saving space design.Large Capacity is Great using for breast milk, meat, aquatic products, cold drinks, quick-freezing and other purposes.Perfect for Home,Dorms,Kitchen and Office.
- Adjustable thermostat control : Adjustable 7-grade temperature control to select your desired temperature.“1” being the warmest and “7” being the coldest.“0”( OFF ) stops cooling the freezer.Temperature can be controlled from 6.8 ℉ to -7.6 ℉.Power on light (red) & Run light (green) indicate proper functioning of the unit.
- Freezer with Hinge-Style Door : Balanced Hinge-Style Door can remains open from 45 to 90 Degree Angles.Opening and closing door without Noise,It can be used longer.
- Energy Saving & Low Noise : Using R600a high efficiency and low energy consumption compressor, this freezer can cool quickly. Only 0.68 kilowatt-hour power needed per day. In addition, noise below 40 db, promise a sweet dream.
- Hanging Wire Storage Basket : keeping smaller items readily available, and sliding easily, can quickly see items underneath.
- Our GARAGE READY chest freezer has a large capacity, allowing you to effortlessly store your favourite recipes, home groceries, and delicious foods.
- REMOVABLE BASKET - You can effortlessly position trays, containers, and cartons for smooth drop-in and retrieval thanks to the detachable vinyl coated food storage wire basket that comes with our Freezer.
- ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT - The temperature may be adjusted with a simple movement to the right or left on the adjustable temperature control knob. It has seven temperature settings, allowing you to select the ideal temperature for your freezer based on your individual food storage requirements.
- CONVENIENT - Navigating your new freezer is simple thanks to an easy top opening and a power-on indicator light. The unit also has two levelling legs that can be adjusted and a space-saving design.
- EASY TO CLEAN - Cleaning and maintaining your deep freezer has never been easier thanks to an easy access exterior defrosting drain.
- [THE ONLY DIGITAL CONTROL PANEL ON THE MARKET] Located on top of the lid, the digital control panel lets you adjust the temperature between -14.8° F and 50° F. Ditch the old-fashioned dial — just pick your temp and go.
- [FAST FREEZE MODE] Flash-freeze items for long-term preservation and get them to a safe storage temperature without freezer burn.
- [DOOR ALARM] If you've ever lost a freezer full of food, you know just how expensive — and heartbreaking — it can be. That's why the Newair Compact Chest Freezer features a door alarm to prevent accidental losses.
- [SELF-DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM] Get an alert when something is wrong and solve issues right away. Troubleshoot issues on the spot.
- [COMPACT WITH BIG BENEFITS] This mini freezer fits anywhere and is packed with features like a storage basket, door-activated LED light, defrost d drain plug, and a quiet compressor.
- [Hinged Door Design] The hinge angle of our freezer door is between 45 ° and 90 °. It facilitates the storage of food. The removable storage basket is convenient for storing, sliding and moving small items. You can quickly see the items under the meat freezer. The vertical freezer has adjustable leveling legs to balance the device on an uneven surface.
- [Low Noise & Energy Saving] Less than or equal to 40dB, low noise level, you can hardly feel it. Using R600a high-efficiency low-energy compressor, this refrigerator can cool quickly.
- [Compact but Large Capacity] All functions of our chest freezer are designed so compact (22 x 22 x 32 inches). Our 7.0 cubic foot compact freezer is designed to save a lot of food in the kitchen. It can be used to preserve seafood, ice cream, meat, etc.
- [Temperature Adjustable Control & Manual Defrost] There is adjustable 7-level temperature control at the front of deep freezer. It can be controlled from - 7.6 ° F to 6.8 ° F (- 14 ° C to - 22 ° C). The higher the water level, the lower the temperature. Features with the Manual Defrost design, our chest freezer keeps your food fresher.
- [Packaging information and warranty] Our chest rezzer is packaged in a box, including a refrigerator, a basket and a user manual. It is best to keep the mini refrigerator upright for at least 24 hours before use. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us, and we will reply to you within 24 hours.
- [Hinged Door Design] The hinge angle of our freezer door is between 45 ° and 90 °. It facilitates the storage of food. The removable storage basket is convenient for storing, sliding and moving small items. You can quickly see the items under the meat freezer. The vertical freezer has adjustable leveling legs to balance the device on an uneven surface.
- [Temperature Adjustable Control & Manual Defrost] There is adjustable 7-level temperature control at the front of deep freezer. It can be controlled from - 7.6 ° F to 6.8 ° F (- 14 ° C to - 22 ° C). The higher the water level, the lower the temperature. Features with the Manual Defrost design, our chest freezer keeps your food fresher.
- [Low Noise & Energy Saving] Less than or equal to 40dB, low noise level, you can hardly feel it. Using R600a high-efficiency low-energy compressor, this refrigerator can cool quickly.
- [Compact but Large Capacity] All functions of our chest freezer are designed so compact (21.7 x 21.7 x 31.5 inches). Our 5.0 cubic foot compact freezer is designed to save a lot of food in the kitchen. It can be used to preserve seafood, ice cream, meat, etc.
- [Packaging information and warranty] Our chest rezzer is packaged in a box, including a refrigerator, a basket and a user manual. It is best to keep the mini refrigerator upright for at least 24 hours before use. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us, and we will reply to you within 24 hours.
- SPACIOUS CAPACITY: The 3.5 cu. ft. capacity provides you with the extra storage for all your frozen goods such as meat, pizza, cold drinks, fruits and vegetables and ice cream – making it perfect for homes, basements, garages, RVs and more
- QUICK FREEZING SYSTEM: The D-Type Refrigeration tube has more surface area, a larger heat exchange area and a higher efficiency, allowing the freezer to get colder faster than other chest freezers. The aluminum-lined interior with a heavy-duty gasket also creates a tight seal, preventing cold air from escaping
- ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT: The adjustable thermostat is easy to access and features a minimum/maximum control dial that allows your temperature to be controlled from -10 to 10 °F
- REMOVABLE WIRE BASKET: Convenient hanging coated wire storage basket easily removes and slides for easier organization and helps you keep smaller items readily available so they don’t get lost
- BALANCED HINGE-STYLED DOOR: Built-in strong and balanced metal hinges lets you keep the freezer door open at different angles (45-90 degrees), allowing you to work hands-free while preventing the door from dropping
- 7.0 Cubic Foot Chest Freezer with Adjustable Thermostat Control.amperage : 15 amps
- Power on indicator. Front Controls Allow for Easy Temperature Adjustments
- Holds Approx. 135 Lbs. of Frozen Food
- Easy-Access Defrost Drain
- Includes Wire Basket for Easy Storage
- 【Adjustable Thermostat Control】Using the 7-grade temperature control, set the desired temperature.“1”refres to refrigeration Point, and "7" is the coldest. The small freezer's cooling system is turned off by pressing "0" (OFF). The temperature can be changed from 10.2to -11.4°F. The unit's power on (red) and run (green) lights show that it is operational.
- 【Compact Design with a Big Capacity】The space-saving design of this 3.8 cubic foot free standing chest freezer measures 22.8*22.6*32.3. The Large Capacity can be used for a variety of things, including breast milk, meat, aquatic items, cold drinks, rapid freezing, and more. It could be utilized at home, in dorms, in the kitchen, or at the office.
- 【Power Saving】High efficiency and low energy and whisper-quiet consumption compressor makes this chest fridge can cool quickly without much noise. Lower energy consumption design with R600a high-efficiency compressor.
- 【Super Quiet】This small chest freezer compressor runs very quietly when it is working. we specially deal with its noise so that the noise will not be louder than 40 dB. Say goodbye to too much noise and heat to disturb your rest and work!
- 【Movable wheels】No need for two people to move, this freezer chest is equipped with sturdy wheels, and you can move it to the place you want it to be placed by yourself.
