Everett Headley 02.06.24
Filling the freezer is a matter of pride amongst sportsmen. Hunting prowess has been measured in the number of freezers you need after your many hunting excursions. What gets put in them however, often is forgotten about. One package gets moved and it will migrate to the bottom reaches and hibernate until you either clean out your freezer or unsuccessfully seasons begin to accumulate. These tips will help you stay organized and rotate through your steaks and roasts.
Chest vs. Uprights
The difference between these two types will ultimately come down to preference. Uprights are easier to access had have a smaller footprint in your house. They do tend to have the higher cost of the two. The lower cost of the chest models is the main advantage it holds. Both have similar sizes available and energy use. Freezers are long term investments and you will keep food in them for years. There does tend to be a lot of dead space above a chest freezer that can’t be filled due to clearance needed for the lids. That means two uprights can typically be placed in the same area as one chest freezer.
Label Clearly and Consistently
“Guess the meat” is a game none of us want to play. A standard sharpie will indelibly tell you the species, year, and cut at glance. If you have more than one animal, assign it a number to separate it. Sometimes a batch goes bad and you need to remove the whole animal from your inventory. Most states require you to keep the license with the meat until consumption and clear packaging let’s you know when one animal is completely gone.
Use Baskets and Bins
Anything that has four sides can be helpful to organize your freezer. Old milk crates stack nicely in chest freezers and the handles make it easier to shift it around. Baskets in uprights let you fill shelves without risking a ten pound chunk falling on your toes when you open the door. When placing unfrozen meat inside be aware that packages can mold to each other and then freeze which can make them and the basket difficult to extricate.
Managing Multiple Freezers
More freezers can mean more problems, but that isn’t necessarily true. Listing the contents on the outside makes it easy to quickly see what choices you have for wild game. For uprights include what is on the inside door and on each shelf. If you have hides, taxidermy, or birds for dog training, consider setting one freezer aside for just those items, away from the food.
Don’t Neglect Your Freezers
For the love of all that you put in your freezers please get a wireless monitor. For less than $50 these small devices will connect to your home internet and monitor the temperature and humidity of your freezers. It is heartbreaking to find and gut wrenching to clean a freezer that has lost power. Also routinely check door seals for cracks or tears, rear panels for dust build up and clearance, and any frost build up that indicates the need to defrost or maintenance.
Only you will know just what goes into the hunt, but you can share the story and the rewards over dinner. These simple suggestions can help preserve your meat for longer without adding a lot to your chore list. If you aren’t the only one in your household who opens up the freezer, they’ll be thankful they won’t have to search long for the next meal.
