Curtis Reed Report post Posted November 21, 2021 I do all my own butchering and processing… in the past i’ve gone straight from the field to butcher table to freezer. I want to hang and age the deer/elk from now on and was looking at different options…. cool bot, used commercial fridge… the cheapest and most space saving option is a used large (20 cu ft+) upright freezer from craigslist or offerup. Does anyone out there do this, and will a quartered elk fit in one? I might need 2. I would use a temp controller like a Inkbird to keep meat from freezing and set temps around 36°. My thoughts are to drill some holes through the top of the unit and but some threaded eye bolts through to hang hooks then seal the holes with spray foam. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
knothead Report post Posted November 21, 2021 Interested to see what people have to say and what you end up doing. Good Luck 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted November 21, 2021 I have a friend that uses an old fridge for aging deer and javelina routinely. Not sure if he’s done that with elk or how it fits… 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roosevelt Mark Report post Posted November 21, 2021 We have tried it in a chest freezer and even on the lowest setting it still froze the meat. Buy a refrigerator with the freezer on top, not a side by side, they work good. I have taken the racks out and stand the 1/4s up on end. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curtis Reed Report post Posted November 21, 2021 15 minutes ago, Roosevelt Mark said: We have tried it in a chest freezer and even on the lowest setting it still froze the meat. Buy a refrigerator with the freezer on top, not a side by side, they work good. I have taken the racks out and stand the 1/4s up on end. They won’t freeze if you use a temp controller like an Inkbird. Home brewers do it all the time for their kegs in chest freezers. Elk quarters will fit in a fridge/freezer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roosevelt Mark Report post Posted November 21, 2021 Ok, I'm not familiar with what that is. Yes I have done it . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creed_az_88 Report post Posted November 21, 2021 I do that with all my game minus elk. Elk won't fit in my setup. I just have a standing refrigerator that I have taken all the shelves out of. It will hang a whole coues deer with no head or feet. I don't get too caught up in aging meat, but I've left meat hanging in it for up to about 8 days and it's been great. Most of the time it's just devoted or quartered animals hanging in game bags until I have time to process it. Gets messy as the blood drips and runs out of the door though. I haven't come up with a good solution to catch the blood properly. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted November 21, 2021 2 hours ago, creed_az_88 said: I do that with all my game minus elk. Elk won't fit in my setup. I just have a standing refrigerator that I have taken all the shelves out of. It will hang a whole coues deer with no head or feet. I don't get too caught up in aging meat, but I've left meat hanging in it for up to about 8 days and it's been great. Most of the time it's just devoted or quartered animals hanging in game bags until I have time to process it. Gets messy as the blood drips and runs out of the door though. I haven't come up with a good solution to catch the blood properly. Use a try with cheese cloth. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatfishKev Report post Posted November 21, 2021 Tou could pay someone to hang it that has a walk in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creekhiker Report post Posted November 21, 2021 I have a Midea upright freezer that goes both ways. Fridge or freezer. You could have it in fridge mode while aging and switch it to freezer after you process. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roosevelt Mark Report post Posted November 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, creekhiker said: I have a Midea upright freezer that goes both ways. Fridge or freezer. You could have it in fridge mode while aging and switch it to freezer after you process. Really,? I never heard of such a thing. Interesting. That would be the way to go in the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewlyMinted Report post Posted November 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, creekhiker said: I have a Midea upright freezer that goes both ways. Fridge or freezer. You could have it in fridge mode while aging and switch it to freezer after you process. I bought a garage midea before this reason, I bet you get a deal from lowes on Black Friday… 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost85 Report post Posted November 21, 2021 I have a buddy that got an old ice freezer like the ones out in front of gas stations. He put some kind of controller on it so it doesn’t freeze and fashioned a rod that will hold quarters on meat hooks. Probably the slickest set up I’ve seen other than an actual walk in. It‘ll hold 2 elk i believe 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creekhiker Report post Posted November 21, 2021 Got it at Lowes last year. Should be easier to find one this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antlers1972 Report post Posted November 21, 2021 Here is mine I been using for 10 years. Just an upright fridge, some 2x4s going across top with eye bolts going through. Can hold a whole elk w room to spare 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
