do any of you have a chest freezer?

[sma]

I know that they aren't all that great as far as emergency food storage, but are they worth it to stock up on everyday foods?

We have a small fridge/freezer and it's often stuffed full after grocery shopping. Then it doesn't cool evenly and there's water/ice build up and a big mess for me to clean up. We rent so buying a new one isn't an option. Alot of the vegetarian stuff we buy is frozen, and I like to freeze shredded cheese and bread. I also have one of those food savers that I'd hoped to use to freeze some fresh veggies but we don't ever have room in our freezer!

I saw a small chest freezer for about $100 that I could plug in down in the basement. I thought that it would be a way to save money in the end by being able to buy in bulk or stock up when stuff is on sale.

Do you think that it would be a good investment?

[gypho]

I have a chest freezer AND an upright freezer. I also can (jar) veggies and fruits.

I use my foodsaver and both my freezers for everything. Both mine were good investments. I use my chest freezer mainly for when we slaughter beef :o

If you need the room, surely it would be worth the $$$.

gypho

[SubVetChief]

We have 2 of them.Both large... one for beef and one for pork/chicken/sausage/ and a slew of other stuff that gets packed in. Also a large upright freezer that has Lord only knows what in it......but no body parts! ;D

[pinetreefarm]

We currently have 2 chest types. One is empty now. We used to butcher lamb but no longer do. In fact, we are thinking of just using the very small chest type. We are coming more to Jackie Clays idea of not using a freezer at all. Canning and dehydrating. Meat to go in refrigerator freezer for we have 2 refrigerators. We find that we are eating less and less meat. We use a lot of TVP and purchase in large quanities stored in 5 gal buckets. We gain protein from our own stone ground wheat and we make our own tofu and other soy products. times change..does that quality us as aging hippie types?

Pine Tree

[SubVetChief]

We raise 1 beefer and 2 pigs each year. Giving up meat is not a viable option for us. Never found a veggie that tastes as good as Bar-B-Q'ed steak..... ;D ;D

As for being a yuppie......well I better not say anthing cuz Oliver will hit me with the "red-letter" thingy...... ::) ::)

Oh yeah....all of our freezers have the Energy Star rating so electric consumption is not shabby at all..... ;D

[MNMOM]

We have an upright freezer, and I couldn't get along without it. The one thing that I've never canned is meat. I probably should start just to be more self sufficient.

[Shamrock1121]

I know that they aren't all that great as far as emergency food storage, but are they worth it to stock up on everyday foods?

We have a small fridge/freezer and it's often stuffed full after grocery shopping. *Then it doesn't cool evenly and there's water/ice build up and a big mess for me to clean up. *We rent so buying a new one isn't an option. *Alot of the vegetarian stuff we buy is frozen, and I like to freeze shredded cheese and bread. *I also have one of those food savers that I'd hoped to use to freeze some fresh veggies but we don't ever have room in our freezer!

I saw a small chest freezer for about $100 that I could plug in down in the basement. *I thought that it would be a way to save money in the end by being able to buy in bulk or stock up when stuff is on sale. *

Do you think that it would be a good investment?

There's not a real simple answer, it's more about weighing the convenience of having the freezer to the amount of energy it uses and being able to justify the additional energy cost. I doubt that a small freezer would reduce your trips to the store.

Refrigerators and freezers are the big energy users in the home. If you have space, and if your refrigerator is fairly old (and it sounds like it's on it's last legs and not working efficiently at all), it may be more practicle to get a bigger, more energy efficient, refrigerator that has more space in the freezer and apply that $100 there.

My bottom line is energy use. We recently moved and had to leave our refrigerator as part of the sale of the home. When we put pencil to paper about energy use, we gave our 9-year old (small) upright freezer to my SIL. As it turned out, it was an energy hog for only a little bit of convenience. We got an energy efficient side-by-side (NO water/ice dispenser), and there has nearly the same amount of space in the freezer as there was in our upright freezer. We haven't missed the freezer at all.

The bigger picture... I no longer consider cold-storage foods to be a good idea and a potentially unwise investment for people who have several freezers full of food. I think we are going to have more power problems in the near future, and I'd rather be able to subsist without refrigeration than to have food spoiling because of brown outs and power failures. We've gotten too accustomed to the conveniences in our lives and may need to rethink what to do when we don't have them any longer.

That doesn't mean having freezers is wrong, that means if you have the bulk of your food storage in one, what are you going to do when the energy is a problem. And I mean when, not IF. My BIL is in the power plant business - he'll tell you it's when, not IF.

-Karen

[gypho]

Giving up meat is not a viable option for us. Never found a veggie that tastes as good as Bar-B-Q'ed steak..... ;D ;D

AMEN. ;D

gypho

[gypho]

We have an upright freezer, and I couldn't get along without it. The one thing that I've never canned is meat. I probably should start just to be more self sufficient.


Me too. Need to start soon, too, I think.

gypho

[sma]

hey pine tree...could you tell me how you make your own tofu...that would be a cool thing to learn... also, i saw on a site where you can order tvp in bulk..is it any good? we buy the frozen tvp for chili, etc... it's the boca crumbles. I like it, but i'm more then willing to try something dried if it's just as good.

and subvetchief... i've never been fond of bbq steak, but i make a mean vegetarian chicken and dumplings that even the die hard carnivores like! ;D

canned meat...blech! :P i'll take my veggies anyday! hee hee! :D :D

[pinetreefarm]

I'm with Karen on this one. We are setting up our "schoolroom" which is attached to garage to solar. Right now it also houses 1 freezer and 1 lg refrig. The solar will not support all of the energy useage. So as we have read more and more of Jackie Clay, the more her plan seems to be for us too. Our greenhouse has a shallow well ( that the state knows nothing about)and we can make it potable if necessary. Plenty of kerocene for lamps, heater if necessary plus a 1000 gal LP tank full and ready too.

We are always short of gasoline...we have a generator but with no gasoline...well useless. Need to work on that.

Medical supplies are kept up to date. We have ordered antibiotics on line plus extra meds for those that need it regularly. On the self-reliance board, I followed some of ArmySgts advise on what to stock.

We never feel fully prepared..always think we need to re-evaluate. sigh.

I also downloaded everything from this forum to my harddrive and will print hard copies. If the elec. becomes an issue we need to get to the information here quickly. ISP's will only be able to stay on line for so long...ourselves included. We have backup systems for all the servers and generators etc..but we can only last so long.

Pine Tree

[SubVetChief]

and subvetchief... i've never been fond of bbq steak, but i make a mean vegetarian chicken and dumplings that even the die hard carnivores like!

LOL! Never heard of such a thing as veggie-chicken! Put the fixing list up here if ya will and I'll give it a shot!

If it has that TOFU stuff tho I'll have to pass on it. Every time I have tried that in any manner it gives me the "trots" and ruins my day.... ::)

[gypho]

and subvetchief... i've never been fond of bbq steak, but i make a mean vegetarian chicken and dumplings that even the die hard carnivores like! ;D

sma...

Why don't you post that recipe on the BHM forum user's recipes thread... listed in the Food board.

I don't know how you make "chicken" from veggies... but I might give it a try too.

And SubVetChief.... watch what you eat... them "trots".... *shudder*... they'll ruin everything. And I do mean everything. ;)

gypho

[SubVetChief]

And SubVetChief.... watch what you eat... them "trots".... *shudder*... they'll ruin everything. And I do mean everything.

LOL! Yer preaching to the choir on that issue.... ;D ;D

[Penny_Plinker]

I recently got an upright because the chest type in the basement was getting full of animals or skins that i'm saving to taxidermy (when i learn how).

If at all possible don't put your freezer in the basement. I insisted the new upright go in the kitchen, and i'm loving it! No more trips down the stairs and i use it more. And with the upright, no more standing on my head!

Ditto what Karen says, though about potential blackouts and losing your stash. I'm keeping little meat stored there, and i can afford to lose the vegetables. I'm going to start canning more meat, too.

Penny

[Tuckahoe]

We bought a small chest freezer last year for arond 200 bucks new. The freezer on the fridge is small and wouldn't hold all our frozen stuff from grocery shopping either. We can now take advantage of on sale meat. Last year Food Lion had a crazy cheap sale on turkeys after thanksgiving. We bought six of them and put em away. We ate the last one a week ago. Turkey meat can be cooked so many ways it worked out well. My dad has six freezers and a building just for them. He raises cows and buys pigs right from the slaughter house.

[Zarah]

We've had our chest freezer just under a year now. For us, it has been a huge savings in terms of time and money. It allows us to stock up on things when they're on sale, but the greatest savings we've found is that it gives us a way to cook in large batches and set aside for later.

Because I'm a full-time student who works on the side, and my husband works 60+ hour weeks, it's important for us to have quick & easy meals during the week. So at the beginning of the school year, we'll make big batches of homemade "convenience" foods like chili, rice & beans, and our favorite -- homemade frozen pizzas. Our meals end up being less expensive and more healthy than store-bought convenience foods or eating out... and we get exactly what we want, too.

Obviously this wouldn't be as relevant to other folks, but for us the deep-freeze has been a real blessing.

[RangerRick]

Yep, gotta chest and an upright. *It'd be hard to make it without em. *Where ya gona keep the deer, elk, pig, catfish, crappy, dove, quail, squirrel, rabbit and chickens?

Ranger Rick

[lost1]

I have both a chest type and an upright. The chest type holds the bulk of meats and such until they are moved to the upright, probably the backward way of doing things but it works for me.
Pretty handy to look through the upright after a long day, better than digging through the chest.
I am looking at pressure canners now as I suspect electricty might not be all tha reliable in the near future.
My advice start a garden and get a canner.

[kyhillbilly]

i have a chest freezer too,m i use it to keep meats in mainly. usualy what i kill or fish i catch, when the supermarkets have a real good sell i try to buy quite a bit of it. kroger had them big sausages on sale a month ago each pack was only a dollar so i bought 30 of them. i dont keep much frozen veggies in them as i can most of mine. but i do like freezing corn on the cob better than canned corn so i do some of each.

[leera]

But of course we do!Ours is a smaller one,but not the smallest one out there........it will hold 1/2 steer and one hog........and assorted other things. :)

I remember paying $107.00 for it at Lowes,a few years ago.

We used to have an upright,but the cat got one of her toys under there and managed to fry the wiring.....with the chest freezer,she can not do that. :)

I would like to just can everything and not use the freezer at all.......but alas,that whole pressure canning thing I still haven't got figured out. ;)

[sma]

LOL! Never heard of such a thing as veggie-chicken! Put the fixing list up here if ya will and I'll give it a shot!

If it has that TOFU stuff tho I'll have to pass on it. Every time I have tried that in any manner it gives me the "trots" and ruins my day.... ::)

Nope...no tofu. :) I often cook by taste, not by recipe and this is one of those things I made up. So I don't have exact amounts of ingredients, but you'll get the idea!

One bag of Morningstar Farm's Meal Starters Chik'n Strips (these are a TVP and can be found in the frozen foods section at the grocery store.

Dumplin's (I've bought frozen, or you can make homemade ones or just tear up some canned biscuits...whatever you prefer)

About 2 tbsp chopped garlic

Dehydrated or fresh onion, chopped fine

Hot peppers, chopped fine. (you can take out the seeds if you don't want them too spicy)

2 or 3 vegetable boullion cubes

some oregano and basil (about a pinch of each if dried, less if fresh)

salt and pepper

I fill a big pot up with water, add boullion cubes and bring to a boil. Then I add my dumplins, garlic, onion, peppers, and herbs. I cut the chik'n strips into smaller bite sized pieces and throw them in. I cook it for awhile on medium heat until the dumplin's are done. The dumplin's usually thicken it up, but sometimes it's still a little too thin for my taste. I like it to be stick-to-your-ribs thick. I'll scoop out a cup of the liquid and add a tbsp or 2 of flour and whisk it up good and pour it back in. If you add flour directly too the pot it just clumps up. Add salt and pepper to taste. It's great on a cold winter day! Mmmmm... :)

Hope you like it! ;D

[SubVetChief]

Got it and thanks sma.....we are not that far off from cool temp weather so I'll give it a shot for sure...... ;D ;D

Note to self: Don't set the Kitchen on fire.....this time.....

[gypho]

Got it and thanks sma.....we are not that far off from cool temp weather so I'll give it a shot for sure...... ;D ;D

Note to self: Don't set the Kitchen on fire.....this time.....

Thanks from me too, sma!

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D Don't set the kitchen on fire... you kill me SVC.... LOLOL...

gypho

[DBackFan]

I also have an upright and a chest freezer both. I also raise my own beef and like Chief I love my steaks!

You will save money for sure if you buy the frezer. You can stock up on that cheese and bread etc when it is on sale. :)

[jajbellsouthnet]

I presently have two large chest freezers and am on the lookout for more. I get them for free because the ones I am looking for are dead. I take them home, flip them up on their rear side (compressor down) and use them for work benches. The price is right, the size is right and you can use the inside for protected storage. Oh yeah, It helps to put a couple of 2x4's or 4x4's under it so you can still get the door open.

[MYellowRose]

I've been considering getting a small chest type myself. Since there's only me I think it would be sufficient to keep a few things in. When I buy my meat I parcel it out into single serving portions, then freeze it until I need it. A lot easier on me that way. At the beginning of last month I bought a family pack of boneless beef ribs and cooked them on the grill before freezing them. Oh yes, because of their size I was able to get two portions out of most of them which meant that I had something like 12 servings altogether. I've also grilled hamburger patties and then frozen them to reheat later. Since my microwave is dead I put a little bit of water in a small skillet and then put the meat in that to reheat. Seems to add the mositure that the cooking took out of it and doesn't dilute the flavor.

[hillbilly_mom]

For those that are considering canning meat, it is easy. Get the directions at your extension office.

I buy my seals by the case at the end of "canning" season and I always try to have 2 cases on hand. That way if there is ever a time when the electricity never comes back on we pull out the trusty wood stove and I start canning the freezer food into jars as it thaws. This way we don't lose the contents of our freezers. But, while we still have electricity we use the convienence of the freezers to put our butchered beef and hogs into. Also our garden produce and the occasional chicken that decides to wander into the garden. Those chickens never live long around here. They end up in the freezer.

We have 2 chest freezers and we want another one, because the two we have stay packed most of the time. When the summer kitchen gets finished we will get another one. No room in the house to fit one. So we will have 2 out there and one in here that I won't give up, because I use it to cut out my quilts and to fold my clothes on. They are the perfect working height. ;)

[leera]

Two cases? WOW,and my friend thought I was nuts when I bought 10 boxes of canning lids...........

She's just getting into canning and preserving......I simply told her that she will need a lot more than she thinks she does........

They are a good height for working too......I use mine all the time. It's like extra counter space when it's baking day,or to spread things out on when I'm getting ready can something.

(HEHEHE) I use hubby's drafting table to cut my quilts blocks and things out on.......... :)

[hillbilly_mom]

I asked for a case of canning seals for Mother's Day. ;D I got it too.

[mangyhyena]

QUOTE:That doesn't mean having freezers is wrong, that means if you have the bulk of your food storage in one, what are you going to do when the energy is a problem. And I mean when, not IF. My BIL is in the power plant business - he'll tell you it's when, not IF.QUOTE:

I believe investing in a diesel generator and a battery bank to be a good idea for this very reason. Even if we find a place to buy that is hooked to the grid I believe we'll disconnect and use the generator/battery bank to supply our electricity needs.

The main reason is that electricity will be the next thing they jack the price up on, just like they recently did with gasoline.

That being said, I plan to use a chest freezer after we move. I'll get one that is energy efficient and since we'll be using the generator, in combination with bio-diesel, we should not have to worry about brown/black outs. Also, using a chest freezer is a good way to keep meat until you can dehydrate it or can it, IMHO.

[mangyhyena]

I was just wondering if anyone uses the freezing winter weather to keep the freezers cold as opposed to plugging them in.

Couldn't one open the freezer, say one out in the garage, on freezing cold nights and then close it the next morning? I've heard a chest freezer will keep food frozen for 2 days if the power goes out. So leaving it unplugged and opening it at night would keep the food frozen without using electricity, wouldn't it?

Just wondering.

[DM]

Keep in mind, to keep food frozen properly, it needs to be below zero.... Is it that cold in your garage???

DM

[bookwormom]

I also keep flour in mine, whole grain flour gets rancid.
I think I could do without one if we were vegetarian, husband is a meat eater, so we need one.

[Shamrock1121]

I also keep flour in mine, whole grain flour gets rancid.
I think I could do without one if we were vegetarian, husband is a meat eater, so we need one.


Bookwormom - You'd be much better off to keep grain (which can last for years) and own a good mill to make your own wholegrain flour, rather than freezing whole wheat flour.

Milling your own flour insures it's the freshest possible and has all the nutrition. The nutrition degrades quickly after it's milled. Freezing whole wheat flour only slows down the degredation of the flour - NOT prevent it. If you purchase commercial whole wheat flour, it doesn't have the wheat germ in it. It's removed (by law) to keep the flour from going rancid quickly. The removal of the wheat germ is also removing most of the nutrition - especially Vitamin E. Commercial whole wheat flour is nothing more than white flour with bran racked back into it.

-Karen

[Catalpa]

I bought a small chest freezer last fall and I love it. I can buy stuff on sale and stock up; and each year I buy a quarter of an organically raised buffalo from a local farm. I'm really hoping that this year I can use it for a deer that I shot, rather than one I hit with the car.

Power outages are a concern, though if the freezer is full, and has a good seal, the food will stay good for a day or two. Mine's in the basement where it stays cooler. Also I have a generator so I can still run the freezer and the well pump and the furnace if I have too.

Of course, don't know what to do once the gas is gone.....

Hopefully when I move to my new home I'll finally be able to follow the advice here and do a lot of canning.

But anyways, if you're in an area with reliable power supply, and if you get a freezer with a good energy star rating, it is certainly worth the investment.

Cat