You'll need about 8 to 10 cubic feet of freezer space for a half cow. A half cow, once processed, usually weighs around 200 pounds of meat. To store all of this, think about the size of a large chest freezer.
50 lbs of meat - 2 cubic feet. 100 lbs of meat - 4 cubic feet. 200 lbs of meat - 6 cubic feet. 400 lbs of meat- 12 cubic feet.
How much freezer space do I need? A general rule is 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 15-20 pounds of meat. For a whole hog 7-7.5 cubic feet is recommended. For a half hog 3.5-4 cubic feet will be needed.
You'll receive approximately 200 pounds of beef when you oder a half share. Your medium freezer will require 8-10 cubic feet of freezer space.
If you choose a medium-sized upright freezer, ranging from 10-18 cubic feet, it can accommodate approximately 100-250 pounds of meat. For those with larger storage needs, a large upright freezer, 19 cubic feet or more, can hold 250 pounds or more, depending on the model.
For a half cow, you'll want around 6 to 8 cubic feet of freezer space. This gives you enough room for all the different cuts, plus a little extra for your other frozen goods.
A half cow would be half of the 750 lbs. hanging weight (which would come to approximately 375 lbs. hanging weight), estimated to yield approximately 200 lbs.
As a general rule of thumb you should plan for 35 lbs of meat per cubic foot of freezer space. A standard kitchen fridge/freezer combo is around 7 cubic feet meaning that if it were totally empty (Not likely) then you could fit 245 lbs. of beef in there (a half plus some).
Chest (Box) freezer:
These will fit more meat, but will be less organized since you have to stack from bottom to top. Chest freezers can also take up a little more space, but typically stay cooler.
Light Eaters. If you're a family of 4 and you only go through about 4 lbs of meat per week, your half cow would last you right around 12 months.
“Garage ready” freezers are built to withstand fluctuating temperatures, ranging from 0°F to 110°F, so you can place them in your garage to help maintain the optimal temperature inside your freezer without compromising food quality. Maytag brand offers a garage ready freezer to help keep your food cold without worry.
Keep in mind that your pork will maintain quality for at least 6 months in your freezer.
A general rule is you need 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 15-20lbs of meat. For reference, the interior of a milk crates is slightly more than a cubic foot. For a half hog you need 3.5 cubic feet and for a whole hog you will need 7 cubic feet.
What are my food-shopping habits? If you buy in bulk, an additional freezer is an excellent choice. 1 cubic foot of freezer space accommodates approximately 35 pounds of food. To help determine what size freezer you'll need for your family, we suggest multiplying the number of people in your family by 2.5 cubic feet.
To freeze ground beef.
If you have a vacuum sealer, this is the time to use it. Otherwise, place the portions in separate freezer zip-top bags. Use a quart-size bag for 1/2-pound portions and a gallon-size bag for 1-pound portions. Use a rolling pin to firmly and genly flatten the meat to 1/2-inch thick.
According to the USDA, frozen meat kept at 0°F or lower will always technically be safe to eat. This low temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms and microbes like bacteria and mold.
Per FSIS-USDA guidelines, if kept frozen continuously, chicken will be safe indefinitely, so after freezing, it's not important if any package dates expire.
USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Half Beef (or whole pork)
Again, this would mean just enough room for the meat, and some difficulty in sorting and searching. Recommended size for a half-steer is a 10-14 cu. ft.
A 7 cubic foot freezer may accommodate around 175 lbs of food. This is a smaller freezer size and would be a good choice for overflow items that won't fit in your refrigerator's freezer. Keep in mind that the weight and volume (or space) of an item may vary.
The hanging weight of a half cow is generally between 340 lbs to 460 lbs, and usually fits in 5 large picnic coolers.
New York Strips (8 ea 12oz. steaks) Ribeye (10 ea 12oz. steaks)
The Commercial grade is limited to steers, heifers, and cows over approximately 42 months of age.
Purchasing half of a cow (also known as half beef, side of beef, half a steer) can be so daunting.