Hello everybody,

I am trying to buy a separate freezer for all dog/cat raw food. We got 4 cats and 3 dogs (27lb, 45lb and 50lb) all on raw diet. We do not have access to any bulk sellers yet, still searching. How big a freezer should we get? Currently I am looking online at Sears

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/Compare?storeId=10153&catalogId=12605&partNumber_1=04607711000P&partNumber_2=04603800000P&partNumber_3=04607611000P&partNumber_4=04616949000P&prodCount=4.

I would greatly appreciate your help!

Ana

First off I would say that you can most likely fit more food in a chest freezer than an upright of the same cu ft size, if for no reason other than you can just pile the food on top of each other. WIth an upright you cannot pile it in quite the same way, without it falling out the door when you open it, but have easier access to the food items. You can also fit a chest freezer in a more confined area than an up right.

I will add that, if you find a restraunt wholesale supplier (like I buy from) you will most likely need to buy in 40lb cases & that will also dictate the freezer size you will need. I have a medium size (don't know the cu ft size, but I think it is 16cu ft) upright that is primarily devoted to dog food. Most of my food in in my kitchen freezer.

I think that sometimes that info on the individual freezers will have that amount of pounds of food that it will hold. That may help in determining what size will work for you. Do you have an idea how much food pounds-wise you use in a month? That might help figure it out also.

I would, personally, get the biggest one that I could afford to buy & could fit into my designated area in order to take better advantage of sales & bulk purchasing.

I want an additional freezer, but can't aford it right now. I have to drive an hour to my supplier & would love to save on the gas & be able to get a larger supply at one trip.

We purchased the largest chest freezer Sear's sells and love it. I went in for an upright, but quickly realized how much more energy efficient the chest one's are and was pleased to see they now have dividers/baskets which make storage and getting food out much easier. Bigger is always better so get the largest you can afford and have space for. I filled up the extra space with bags of ice until I purchased the additional food.

"13 Cu. Ft. Kenmore 16342 which stores 448 lbs of food. In this sense, this model, which is one of the 3 Energy Star qualified Kenmore chest freezers and comes with an interior light, presents a win-win situation." - I cannot even imagine 500lbs of frozen meat. Calculated based on 2-3% of animal's weight per day, 120 lbs per month should be enough for everybody but I would like to take advantage of seasonal sales and wholesale deals.

If I get those 40lb packages from a wholesaler, what do I cut them with so that there is no need to defrost the whole thing?

We can afford whatever is sold in Sears and there is enough room - kitchen or the garage, so it's hard to make decision based on these factors. OTOH we do have blackouts and power outages in summer when everybody is running their AC during the 100s weather and this would be something to consider. I wouldn't want to deal with 500lbs of rotten meat What could be done to prevent that?

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

OTOH we do have blackouts and power outages in summer when everybody is running their AC during the 100s weather and this would be something to consider. I wouldn't want to deal with 500lbs of rotten meat What could be done to prevent that?

Have a generator backup, either stand alone or attached "whole house" type. We started with the stand alone type (probably not the right terminology) but quickly went to the whole house. We lose power fairly frequently so it has been worth every penny.

 Quote: barbara schuler

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

OTOH we do have blackouts and power outages in summer when everybody is running their AC during the 100s weather and this would be something to consider. I wouldn't want to deal with 500lbs of rotten meat What could be done to prevent that?

Have a generator backup, either stand alone or attached "whole house" type. We started with the stand alone type (probably not the right terminology) but quickly went to the whole house. We lose power fairly frequently so it has been worth every penny.

Ditto on the generator. A chest freezer would most likely store the frozen food longer than an upright in a summer power outage. (closer to the ground & cooler & more surface on the garage or cellar floor etc-...at least mine is in the garage) Also frozen meat & lots of it (think full freezer)stays frozen quite while for several days or so if the door is not opened. Also the NON self defrost (of you can still get them) will stay colder longer due to the frost. Defrost it every couple of years or so. No big deal. I haven't defrosted mine in 6 years & it works fine!

I usually buy most of my stuff fresh in 40lb cases..at least necks & backs. But when I have gotton frozen ...I let it thaw in the garage for a little bit & drop the box on the floor a few times to break up the food & than store in freezer bags enough for several days at a time. 10 lb logs of ground meat...my guy at the wholesaler will take it out a day (or 2 in winter)a head of my pickup so that it will thaw a bit so that I can get the knife that will cut through frozen food through it & cut it in pieces for a couple of more meals & then store in freezer bags. I have been doing it this way for almost 3 years to no ill effects to the dogs.

 Quote: Anne Jones

Also the NON self defrost (of you can still get them) will stay colder longer due to the frost. Defrost it every couple of years or so. No big deal. I haven't defrosted mine in 6 years & it works fine!

Yep, bought mine last year and it is a NON self-defrost. Anne, I really, really envy you being able to buy stuff from a restaurant wholesaler!!! ARGH!

If you keep the door shut freezers tend to stay frozen for a number of days depending on the outside temperatures. Personally if I were to do a new freezer and money were no object I'd go for a propane one. They tend to be amazingly energy efficient and it's nice to not rely on the power grid.

Otherwise I picked up my last one about 4 years ago at a used appliance depot for $150. It's been fantastic and when it finally dies it will become my new smoker or plant seed/bulb storage system.

Just got off the phone with our trainer, he recommended a 14.8 cu. ft. as the most practical choice for us and referred me to a local wholesaler who sells those big 40lb packages. He also suggested using a Sawzall to cut the packages into more manageable chunks. Basically then, it comes down to 2 options: Kenmore 1654 and Frigidaire FFN15M5H, both 14.8, Energy*, manual defrost models.

I have been considering solar panels, since we've got a lot of sun most of the year and summer is when the power outages happen. I guess I shall look into it when we do the roof... until then, if the meat stays frozen solid for several hours, it'll be ok.

Yes,Barbars it makes a big difference to by food from a wholesaler. I have had 3 GSDs here to feed (only 2 now) & I honestly have to say that it would have been a real struggle financially to have fed a raw diet to 3 large dogs without being able to buy that way. But I will feed no other way, so I just would have had to sacrifice someting else to do so if needed. Just keep asking around & hopefully you will find a place that will sell to you. Even if you have to travel 2-3 or more hours to find a place or if they will sell to you if you get a few buyers together & buy in larger sizes. If you have enough freezer space, you would only have to make the trip ever couple of months or more.

Another thought, will they sell to someone that has a registered business? (tax ID #) (I have one as I have a reg. business & would have tried that if need be) Maybe that might be a way to get a foot in the door. If that is the case,see if you can find someone with a trax ID that will purchase in their name. Also go around to the different restraunts & see if they will order extra for you. Most restraunts use chicken backs & necks for stock & usually purchase 40lb boxes of fresh ones. That is why I can get these fresh from my guy (or frozen if I wanted0. Or maybe you know someone that works in a restraunt that might be able to talk to the owner for you. Be as creative as you can think of.

I do also shop the supermarket big sales on some items when they have great sales or for in between trips to the wholesaler if I need items. But even their sales, for the most part are not as good price wise. But there are some things that I feed in lesser amounts & don't want 40 lbs of these items. those are the ones that I pick up there (ie fish items, canned mackeral, certain organ meats, etc.) I REALLY need another freezer

Keep looking.