Chest Freezer Purchase

[A-Jay]

Going to take advantage of the holiday sales to purchase a chest freezer.

It's just time. Should have purchased one of these a long time ago.

I'm looking for any and all "Lessons Learned" from current and past owners of said units who are willing to share.

Thank in advance.

A-Jay

[slonezp]

AJay, I'm a refrigeration mechanic. There's not much to the chest freezers. Not a whole lot to go wrong. Chances are the cmpressor is the only moving part. Most smaller systems like that dont even have a condenser motor to go bad, just a compressor and a thermostat. Look for the cubic feet you need at the best price.

[grimlin]

I brought one when I moved up here and into our house.Me or my wife don't like driving during the winter for food. So we stock up on meat in it.We like ours and really wouldn't know what to do without it.

We got one of the smaller ones,paid less than $100. Best money we've spent.

Forgot to mention ours is going on 7 years now....not a single problem with it.

[Bluebasser86]

I was given a smaller, year old model last winter and it has been a huge time and money saver! Now when there is a sale at the grocery store we can stock up at the discounted price and in turn make fewer trips to the grocery store. My parents have a chest freezer that's older than I am and they have never made a single repair on it. I believe it's an old Sear's model but can't swear to it.

[Fishes in trees]

I prefer upright freezers to chest freezers primarily because it is easier to keep stuff orgainzed for me. Stuff can get lost at the bottom of a chest freezer and stay there for years. You probably won't notice it on your electric bill.

The only bad thing about a chest or upright freezer is if you suffer a long power outage. You'll lose a bunch of food and you can't imagine the stench it will create.

[jeb2]

I'd suggest getting a frost free chest freezer. I've had both and much prefer not having to hassle with removing the frost every year. Our current one is a Kenmore frost free that we've had for 8-10 years, I guess. Never given us any problems at all.

[Sfritr]

The best advice I can give you is "whichever one you are thinking of buying, get the bigger model"

Much like an outboard, you will NEVER complain about getting the bigger one......

[clayton86]

I got one on the side of the road 12 years ago me and my buddys rode our bikes by and seen it was free they were moving so we went home fast grabed our skate boards and pushed it home its still I'm my moms garage today full of what's left of last years deer.

[Lund Explorer]

Morning A-Jay!

Some good advice so far, but a few other things to consider.

First, buy the biggest unit that will fit the space you have for it. Keep the unused portion of the freezer full by putting in bottles/containers of ice water. The more in the freezer, the more efficient it will work. The stored ice will also help in the event of a power outage.

Second, see if you can find some containers to store your frozen goodies in. I've used the older style plastic crates that they used to use for milk products. In our 26 cubic foot job, you can stack them two front/back, two deep, and five wide. We sort out product by type and make sure we rotate what goes into it.

Third, buy a vacuum sealer and bulk bags. They do help fight off freezer burn. Label all of the bags with the date you put it in the freezer.

[A-Jay]

OUTSTANDING !

Thank You ALL Very Much for your input and advice.

WE decided go with a model just under 10 cu ft. That's the most our spot could accommodate but it should be sufficient. As is often the case, there was drama . .

Picked it up today at the local Lowes (where a military ID card is worth 10% off

e v e r y t h i n g , and that's on top of any sales.) Got it home, removed the packing/carton, and the unit was buckled and bent and the top was creased in the middle. The box was unmarked so apparently, it was packed and shipped to the store that way. I was not impressed. Called "Mark" the salesman. He said what he was supposed to and they delivered us a replacement this evening.

So it'a all good.

And now - bring on the meat !

Thanks again everyone. btw - Lund - 26 cu/ft - holy smokes - are you freezin dem deer whole or what ?

A-Jay

[clayton86]

Soon ur back yard will be one big freezer lol

[A-Jay]

Soon ur back yard will be one big freezer lol

THAT is Not Funny - It's True But Still. . . Not Funny

OK - It's a little funny

A-Jay

[clayton86]

THAT is Not Funny - It's True But Still. . . Not Funny

OK - It's a little funny

A-Jay

I'm in buffalo its not much better here we got 2 holidays its either christmas or the 4th of july

[Lund Explorer]

26 cu/ft isn't all that big when I had to feed the size of the tribe we had. Once a year we stuffed a whole cow into it, along with at least 1/2 a pig, a couple of deer, and untold amounts of fish. Those salmon aren't small! My favorite time of the year was when Jackie took all the kids to pick strawberries for freezer jam.

So how big was the walk in freezer aboard that ice breaker?

[A-Jay]

26 cu/ft isn't all that big when I had to feed the size of the tribe we had. Once a year we stuffed a whole cow into it, along with at least 1/2 a pig, a couple of deer, and untold amounts of fish. Those salmon aren't small! My favorite time of the year was when Jackie took all the kids to pick strawberries for freezer jam.

So how big was the walk in freezer aboard that ice breaker?

So can I get 1/2 a cow in a 10 cu/ft ? - my brother-in-law is working on making that happen.

And as for the walk-in - I'm an old salt and My first unit out of basic training was a Light Ship (google that)

I've been know to store a few Tuna and Mako shark that was ear marked for human consumption . . . .

A-Jay

[J Francho]

I think we have a 13 cu. ft. unit. Wasn't expensive and really suits my small family's needs. No more "Awe crap, that won't fit in the freezer," issues.

[Dwight Hottle]

So can I get 1/2 a cow in a 10 cu/ft ? - my brother-in-law is working on making that happen.

And as for the walk-in - I'm an old salt and My first unit out of basic training was a Light Ship (google that)

I've been know to store a few Tuna and Mako shark that was ear marked for human consumption . . . .

A-Jay

I don't care about the storing part of it. I just want to know did you catch em?

[A-Jay]

I don't care about the storing part of it. I just want to know did you catch em?

Yes I did catch them. And it was fairly challenging to say the least. The ship was anchored, my tackle always seemed in sufficient and we used Mono back then. The fight was Always an adventure which routinely ended abruptly with a gunshot to the cranium, of the fish that is.

I'll scan in some photo's later this week and post them up.

It's some wild stuff~

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

Yes I did catch them. And it was fairly challenging to say the least. The ship was anchored, my tackle always seemed in sufficient and we used Mono back then. The fight was Always an adventure which routinely ended abruptly with a gunshot to the cranium, of the fish that is.

I'll scan in some photo's later this week and post them up.

It's some wild stuff~

A-Jay

Cool I'll look forward to it. I figured you might have had a hand in the capture.

[A-Jay]

Cool I'll look forward to it. I figured you might have had a hand in the capture.

Yup - the Capture, the Carving and the Consumption !

A-Jay

[scrutch]

When you finally get one, go and get yourself one of these cheap thermometers. Throw the sensor inside the freezer and stick the readout to the outside of the freezer. Then you can check it at a glance whenever you walk by it.

[shootermcbob]

X2 on the vacuum sealer.

also, be careful. It is easy to go overboard on the ice cream