Taking the deep freeze plunge! HELP!

[digitS']

Have 2: both are chest types. Keeping meat organized doesn't seem difficult. Veggies are in bags & boxes.

I don't know the sizes but the larger one is a Kenmore and the smaller is a GE. I am sure that price was important especially with the GE. We just needed one for a half a beef . . . and, continuing.

Yes, it is kind of silly to put meat in the cheaper one but the larger Kenmore was a replacement for another larger chest freezer and the only one we had for quite a few years. So, it held both meat & veggies. The veggie freezer fills by fall. It also has a lock and the other doesn't . Right. Someone will steal our greenbeans and leave the prime rib alone . . . Well whatever the case, they are both in the garage and there are enuf tools in there to get at the beans in a matter of seconds.

Steve

 

[Mickey328]

Excellent point RR...and since it's only water, if you need the space you can take it out and set it on the floor. We will need to be freezing soda bottles to provide cool for our rabbits come summer, so they'll come in handy for that. Now...to just make some space, LOL. Come to think of it, it might be time for us to get another freezer...will keep an eye on Craig's List. That's where we got the one we have now for very little cash and it's been humming along for about 10 years now.

When we do, I'm going to keep a clip board beside each one with a list of what, when and where, too.

 

[baymule]

I have an upright. I like opening the door and everything I have is accesible, I can see it and have the shelves loaded with the different catagories of food. It does not take up a lot of floor space like a big chest freezer would. I don't like standing on my head to find something at the bottom of the chest freezer or moving everything around trying to get something from the bottom. You have to figure out what would work best for you.

 

[catjac1975]

I have the USED one that my sister gave me 35 years ago and have never had trouble with it. It is not frost free which keeps the electricity usage. I have only defrosted it a few times. I would imagine new ones are more efficient but they don't last forever like the old ones do. Look for a used one on Craig's list or some such ad. Many people get things and end up not using them.

 

[lesa]

Wow- having bottles of ice in the freezer is a great idea! You guys are so smart. Gotta tell DH about that idea.

 

[Jared77]

We have an old upright. I found it at the Salvation Army. I was dropping off a load of clothes and thought I'd wander around. Someone had just dropped it off earlier that day and I saw it. They hadn't even checked to see if worked. They said they'd plug it in and hold it for me till the next day to be sure it worked. It did, they called, I picked up, and we've had it ever since. That was probably 8 years ago. Its not frost free, it has the old coils through the shelves. Its a bit of a beast but I love it.

We do want a 2nd freezer but we're looking for a chest. It will be for meat only and that's why we want a chest. I like the milk crate idea for organizing, thats pretty slick. The upright will be for fruit and veggies.

We've been very happy with the upright freezer for most things. Meat goes on the bottom and the veggies and what not are up higher. Its easier to organize. Plus my wife's vertically challenged so a chest freezer is not something she wants to lean over into very often.

 

[ducks4you]

ONLY buy the chest freezer if you are buying a small one. You always have to dig with them. The upright freezers take up less space, and you can organize like you do your refridgerator.

 

[April Manier]

I can't add anything to what the others are saying. But building on Mickey's post. If it's not full, fill up milk cartons or something with water and freeze that. The ice comes in handy for me when I'm butchering chickens for example, but if it is full of ice and you lose power the stuff will stay frozen a lot longer.

Now that's smart!