…… freezers- what size to get?
- Thread starter mtncat
- Start date
AlaskaSue
North to the Future
I actually found an old chest freezer in the back acreage…I rehabbed it and got it running. Around 20 cu feet. It’s not that expensive on electric and I can get things cool before canning (salmon, moose, beef, veg…). I know every cent counts, for sure…but some things will pay big dividends if you can work it!
Please note that all requests for assistance are supposed to use the HELP prefix. (This is particularly true since a freezer is not FOOD.) Please remember this moving firward.
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SpokaneMan
Veteran Member
I would stick to smallish and get two. They are extremely cheap in a warm summer garage. But then the other 12 months we were frozen. Hell I used to store kegs of beer in my garage at a right temp of 35.
Seriously though, get two smaller ones for different needs. You don't have to store everything together, just saying...
Seriously though, get two smaller ones for different needs. You don't have to store everything together, just saying...
In general, one cannot get a small freezer in an upright, so chest is your only option. Electric cost of a small freezer isn’t worth worrying about. These aren’t units built in the 60’s after all. Just get the freezer before its cost doubles.
Chop chop..,.
Chop chop..,.
Bad advice IMO.
It’s called “garage-ready.” That’s the exact spec that you need to ask for.
BassMan
Veteran Member
Clueless here, but when we were shopping, it seemed like they had separate "garage" models for A) very hot and B) very cold temps.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
How come?
i don’t know much about freezers, but am also thinking about ggetting one.
So, can you please explain why?
BassMan
Veteran Member
Dennis can probably elaborate, but something about the compressor. It is a "heat pump" that depends on certain outside temps. Freezing is also an issue, so some models have a heater on the compressor.
They’re designed for extreme temperatures. Plug “what is a garage ready freezer” into your search engine of choice.
Namsgrls
Veteran Member
We got a 3.0 cubic ft upright from Amazon last summer. It’s small, but has 3 shelves and serves it’s purpose, as we don’t have room for a big chest freezer in our new house. We use it in our garage, mostly for meat that won’t fit in our kitchen freezer, with no problem. Can’t see that it’s affected our electric bill much at all.
Not if the condenser coils are just under the outside skin.
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Whatever you decide to do, do it quickly.
The exact same 5 cubic foot chest freezer I bought 6 months ago for $221 is now going for $258.
Electric bill went up $2 a month, far less than the replacement cost of the meat stored in it.
The exact same 5 cubic foot chest freezer I bought 6 months ago for $221 is now going for $258.
Electric bill went up $2 a month, far less than the replacement cost of the meat stored in it.
Josie
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The newer freezers are more energy efficient. But they also won't be lasting as long as the older ones and that's from a repair guy. Chest type are more efficient because cold air settles and when you open the lid, most of the cold air stays in the freezer. However, they are the devil if you are short like me and you're trying to retrieve some thing from the bottom. And things get "lost" in those suckers easily. Uprights are easier to navigate but every time you open the door, all the cold air spills out.
My freezer went out over this last weekend. I had a 10 cubic foot chest but am replacing it with an 8. Two reasons....there is just the two of us now and I could get an 8! Well, actually it's scheduled to be delivered on the 24th. But since we seem to be moving quicker around the toilet bowl, who knows if that will happen. If I feel that I really need more freezer space, I will supplement with another smaller one at a later time.
I
My freezer went out over this last weekend. I had a 10 cubic foot chest but am replacing it with an 8. Two reasons....there is just the two of us now and I could get an 8! Well, actually it's scheduled to be delivered on the 24th. But since we seem to be moving quicker around the toilet bowl, who knows if that will happen. If I feel that I really need more freezer space, I will supplement with another smaller one at a later time.
I
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Just an opinion based on many years of rummaging bent over in chest freezers: I much prefer an upright. Small up rights tend to not be from known brands so we bought a 20C.Ftr a year ago. Well, ordered Nov, 2020, received Mar 2021.
Much easier to organise & access. I checked power consumption then & it looked like literally pennies more a month but we're in a concrete & brick building; I'm sure location & structure would be factors. Thinking of getting another; there's only two of us but when there's a deal, I like to take advantage of savings.
Besides we might need to rely on stored goods for a while. I have to check my solar capacity first though to be sure.
Much easier to organise & access. I checked power consumption then & it looked like literally pennies more a month but we're in a concrete & brick building; I'm sure location & structure would be factors. Thinking of getting another; there's only two of us but when there's a deal, I like to take advantage of savings.
Besides we might need to rely on stored goods for a while. I have to check my solar capacity first though to be sure.
The new refrigerants don't work in much lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit...
Summerthyme
I found some plastic produce crates that fit well in mine.
Pork, beef, chicken, fish...each get a crate. The little shelf on the side gets odd stuff.
Yeah, you lose a little space efficiency, but I can have it empty in about a minute.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
All true but personal preference and in a lot of cases, Physical limitations come into play. At 40, hauling the Easter ham out was no problem; at 60, not as easy and as I near 80, I flat out don't flex like I used to. It is what it is.
alpha
Veteran Member
I, admittedly, have a rather large solar system capacity and therefor opt more for freezer capacity to preserve vegetables as well as meat. That being said, we chose to purchase four 7 cu. ft. units (250 watt intermittent power consumption each) which allows us to reduce overall power consumption by consolidating as each of the freezers empty. A full freezer runs more economically than partially full. We raise essentially all of our food and have multiple backup systems to keep them running regardless of the threat. Having more than one freezer also minimizes your loss should one fail.
Babs
Veteran Member
I am short also, so my argument has always been that I spend so much time with the door open, trying to find what I want, that I let all the cold air out, so I don't think it's more efficient, at least in my case. My upright freezer is very easy to organize. I open the door, pull out exactly what I need and the door gets closed.
Jeff B.
Don’t let the Piss Ants get you down…
Dang, Hoss... you are a clever one!
That's a really good idea. Going to take a look at doing that with some of the heavy duty, commercial milk crates.
At some point, we intend to move over to an upright, for all the reasons stated, plus I don't want to find HQ6 in the freezer after she leaned in too far getting a steak of bag of spaghetti sauce. (Height challenged)
Jeff B.
Babs
Veteran Member
Yes, defrosting them and getting to the water in the bottom is a real challenge too. I darn near tipped over into the freezer once.
