One of the nice things about beef (or most any meat for that matter) is that it stores well for up to two years in a good freezer. Some people say that you shouldn’t store it for more than 1 year to maximize taste quality, but in cases of emergency that wouldn’t matter much. So the length of preservation in a freezer really depends on your goals.
So let’s say you want to stock up on beef. How much cow do you need to purchase to fill up your freezer?
As a general guideline, one cubic foot of freezer space allows you to store between 35 and 40 pounds of packaged meat. Why the variability? Because different meat gets packaged in different shapes which will change the amount you can squeeze in.
Using this guideline, let’s look at how much meat you can get into common size freezers.
The size of a deep freezer needed for half a cow can vary depending on the weight and size of the cow, as well as the amount of other items you plan to store in the freezer. As a general rule of thumb, you would need a freezer with a capacity of at least 7-10 cubic feet to store half a cow.
Top Freezer Above Refrigerator
You can usually only store about an eighth of a beef in the top portion of a fridge/freezer (3-4 cubic feet) combo especially if you have an ice maker or are storing a few other things.
9-12 Cubic FT Freezer
If you plan to store anything else in your freezer, 9-12 cubic feet is a good size for half a beef.
Can a Half Cow Fit In a 7 Cubic Foot Chest Freezer? Lets See!
FAQ
What size deep freezer do you need for a half cow?
How much beef will a 7 cubic foot freezer hold?
How much can a 7 cubic foot freezer hold?
How much cooler space do I need for half a cow?
How much freezer space does a cow need?
1/8 Share of Beef: Approximately 3 cubic feet. 1/4 Share of Beef: Ranges between 5-7 cubic feet. Half a Cow: Requires 8-10 cubic feet. Whole Cow: Needs about 16 cubic feet. Please note that these figures are approximate estimates. The actual freezer space required can vary based on the butchering, packaging, and arrangement of the meat.
How big should a freezer be for half a cow?
If you plan to store anything else in your freezer, 9-12 cubic feet is a good size for half a beef. This is the minimum size we recommend for a whole beef order but it may be tight, so consider going a little bigger. Personally we recommend 21 cubic foot freezers to accommodate a whole cow while keeping things well organized with bins or shelves.
Can you store a half cow in an upright freezer?
For Half a Cow: Efficient organization can enable you to store a half cow in an upright freezer of less than 10 cubic feet. For a Whole Cow: For storing an entire cow, consider a larger upright freezer. Models with two or three doors, offering a capacity of 35 cubic feet or more, are suitable for this purpose.
How big of a freezer do I Need?
How large of a freezer do you need for ⅛, ¼, ½, or whole beef? You will need 3 to 5 cubic feet of space for ⅛ of a cow, 5 to 7 cubic feet of space for ¼ of a cow, 8 to 10 cubic feet of space for ½ a cow, and 18 to 20 cubic feet of space for a whole cow. Clearly, this would need to be empty, free space, to accommodate all of the beef.