Getting a new freezer, any recommendations?

[GardenStream]

Right now we have a 10.5 cubic foot chest freezer that's 20 years old. We like to buy our meat from local sources and it's not enough space. So, I plan on getting a new freezer in the next couple of months. It needs to be big enough to hold half a cow, a pig, 12-15 chickens and various things from the garden. I probably freeze about 1 cubic foot of garden produce a year.

Right now I'm leaning toward either a 20 or 25 cubic foot chest freezer. What do you think? I'm feel so confined now that I really want the 25. Is that way too big?

[mamadelbosque]

Get as big of a freezer as you can afford and have space for!!

[Farmer'sWife]

If you plan on freezing all those things I don't think a 25 would be out of line. I have a 20 cu ft. freezer and it's currently full and we freeze all the things you mentioned, except we only do a 1/4 beef (there's only DH and I and a 2 yo), but I like doing a lot of freezer meals. I was told when I was looking for a freezer that stepping up in size doesn't use very much more energy to run. We have a Kenmore, which I LOVE the dividers in the bottom. It's so easy to keep things organized and see how much of what you have. For example I put hamburger in one section, roasts in another, chicken in another, etc.

[GardenStream]

Originally Posted by Farmer'sWife

If you plan on freezing all those things I don't think a 25 would be out of line. I have a 20 cu ft. freezer and it's currently full and we freeze all the things you mentioned, except we only do a 1/4 beef (there's only DH and I and a 2 yo), but I like doing a lot of freezer meals. I was told when I was looking for a freezer that stepping up in size doesn't use very much more energy to run. We have a Kenmore, which I LOVE the dividers in the bottom. It's so easy to keep things organized and see how much of what you have. For example I put hamburger in one section, roasts in another, chicken in another, etc.

That's the one I was looking at. I'm trying to plan for the future. Right now it's only DH, me, a 4 yo and a 2yo. We only do 1/4 beef right now too, but I know we'll bump that up to half in a few years. I'm scared that when the boys are teenagers I will regret not getting the biggest freezer I can. We have tons of space for a freezer and the price isn't a problem either.

I'm so glad to hear that you like the Kenmore and the dividers!

[Chicky2]

Crosley all the way, Baby! We got a 21 (I think) cu ft upright. Crosley has been around forever and it is the ONLY brand you can get that has a 10 yr warranty on the compressor. My dh does HVAC (includes refrigeration) and the compressor is the most expensive thing to replace. For the price of a Crosley, you get the warranty included. For any other brand, you have to pay extra for the extended warranty.

We just put 20 rabbits, 1 lamb, 3 goats, and lots of fish in ours.