Buying beef in bulk is a smart move. It saves money, time, and trips to the store. But one question often comes up: Where do I put it all?
Bulk beef needs to be frozen—and guessing how much space you’ll need is a recipe for frustration. So let’s break it down and help you plan ahead.
When you buy a quarter or half beef, you’re getting a variety of cuts—steaks, roasts, ground beef, and more. After processing, here's a general idea of what you’ll receive:
Quarter Beef: ~100–125 lbs of take-home beef
Half Beef: ~200–250 lbs of take-home beef
This is the actual amount you’ll be putting into your freezer (not the hanging weight or live weight). And it adds up quickly!
Whether you have a chest freezer or an upright model, the rule of thumb is the same:
1 cubic foot of freezer space = 35–40 pounds of packaged beef
Here’s what that means in real life:
Quarter Beef: Reserve at least 3.5–4 cubic feet of freezer space
Half Beef: Reserve at least 7–9 cubic feet of freezer space
To put it into perspective:
Most small chest freezers start at 5 cubic feet
Upright freezers usually range from 6 to 15 cubic feet
Bottom line: as long as you have an average-sized standalone freezer (or plenty of room in a deep freezer), you’ll be just fine.
Once your beef is home, a little prep can go a long way to avoid the dreaded “freezer dig.” Here are our favorite ways to keep your beef organized and fresh:
Group by cut: Keep steaks, roasts, ground beef, and stew meat together
Use bins or reusable grocery bags: Keeps things tidy and easy to grab
Rotate often: Put the newest meat at the bottom or back so you use the older meat first
Both options work great—here’s how to make the most of what you’ve got:
Chest Freezers offer more space and energy efficiency, but no shelves. Use bins to create sections and avoid stacking chaos.
Upright Freezers make it easier to see and access your cuts, thanks to built-in shelves. They’re perfect for organizing by cut or meal type.
Pro tip: Consider getting a freezer alarm.
It monitors the internal temperature and alerts you if something goes wrong. Many people learn this the hard way—when a freezer door was accidentally left ajar while on vacation… and they came home to spoiled meat. Trust us, a $20 freezer alarm is worth every penny.
Buying beef in bulk is one of the best ways to fill your freezer with high-quality, locally raised meat. All it takes is a little planning to make sure you’ve got the space.
Ready to stock up?
Check out our Quarter of Beef Package or Whole, Half, or Quarter Beef Shares and make room in your freezer for the best beef you’ve ever had—straight from our farm to your table.
My name is Julie, and I work for Oak Barn Beef—mostly on Saturdays. I got the job last fall when my volleyball coach recommended me to Hannah. I expected the job would involve helping customers buy their beef and keeping the store clean. Nice and simple, right?
Wrong.
Little did I know how much heart goes into keeping this store running.
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