Whether you’re buying a quarter cow or stocking your freezer with a whole beef, knowing how much space you need is essential.
Because you’ll receive your entire order of beef at one time, it’s important to make sure you have enough freezer space to accommodate your order. This guide breaks down freezer space requirements by beef share size, so you can confidently choose the right fit for your family — and your freezer.
Our naturally raised beef stays delicious for a minimum of one year when frozen, and we recommend using multiple freezers if you’re purchasing a half or whole beef for easier access to all your cuts.
Upright vs. Chest Freezer: Which Is Best for Storing Beef?
Both upright and chest freezers work well—but each has its advantages:
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Chest Freezers
Hold more meat and are more energy-efficient. However, since cuts are stacked, organizing can be tricky without bins or dividers. -
Upright Freezers
Easier to organize and access, thanks to shelving. They typically fit less meat than a chest freezer of the same size.
Average Freezer Capacity:
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Upright Freezers: 5 to 20 cubic feet
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Chest Freezers: 15 to 25+ cubic feet
What Temperature Should Your Freezer Be?
To maintain the quality and safety of your freezer beef, set your freezer to 0°F (-18°C). At this temperature, your beef can stay delicious and safe to eat for a minimum of one year.
→Tip: If you’re purchasing a half or whole cow, consider using more than one freezer so you can organize your cuts for easier access.


FAQs: Storing Your Quarter, Half, or Whole Cow
You can generally store 30–35 pounds of packaged beef per cubic foot of freezer space.
Vacuum-sealed beef from Christensen Ranch will last a minimum of 12–18 months in the freezer without losing quality.
Yes—most standard chest freezers (around 10–15 cubic feet) can hold a half beef, depending on how it’s cut and packaged.
Both are great options—it depends on your priorities. Chest freezers usually hold more meat and are more energy-efficient, but you’ll need to stack cuts from bottom to top, which can make organization tricky. Upright freezers make it easier to see and access your beef, but they typically hold less than chest models of the same size.
Buying beef in bulk—also known as purchasing beef shares—means you’re filling your freezer with high-quality, ranch-raised beef directly from Christensen Ranch. It’s a smart way to stock up and save money: you’ll pay one price per pound, whether you’re bringing home Rib Eye steaks, Ground Beef, or a Prime Rib roast. That price is based on the live weight of the animal, not the individual cut.
We offer two options: Custom Bulk Beef Shares and Standard Beef Shares, both raised naturally on our ranch in Colorado.
Custom Bulk Beef Shares
Want full control over every cut? With a Custom Share, you choose the steak thickness, roast size, and any specialty cuts like Brisket, Ribs, or Organ Meats.
Available Sizes
- Quarter Beef
- Half Beef
- Whole Beef
Standard Beef Shares
No customization needed—our Standard Shares include a carefully selected variety of cuts similar to a traditional side of beef. We pack and ship it directly to your door.
Available Sizes
- Eighth Beef
- Quarter Beef
- Half Beef
Estimate Your Space, Then Check Out our Beef Shares to Get Started
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Shipping Available
Butcher: Stagecoach Meat Company
Harvest: June – July 2025- Average Cost for Your Beef: $1,325-$1,855
- Average Processing Fee: $390-$525
- Average Total Cost: $1,715-$2,380
- 160 - 220lbs of Our Naturally Raised Beef
- 20 Cubic Feet of Freezer Space
- Approximately 586 Individual 6oz Servings
- Approximately 145 Meals for a Family of 4
- 45 - 48 Weeks Supply of Beef
- Payment Plans Available - 3 Installments
Fill your freezer with our dry-aged beef, customized to your preferences! With our Custom Half Beef, you can choose:
- Your preferred steak thickness
- Roast sizes
- Ground beef package weight
- Specialty cuts like Prime Rib, Brisket, Organ Meat & more
Our ranch-raised beef is dry-aged for 14 days before processing for exceptional flavor and tenderness.
Processing & Packaging
Your beef is processed at Stagecoach Meat Company in Wiggins, CO.Each cut is vacuum-sealed to maintain freshness for at least one year.
Pick Up & Shipping Options
- Shipped to your door (flat rate based on shipping address)
- Pick up at the ranch ($20 per half)
- Pick up from the butcher (no additional fee)
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Shipping Available
Butcher: Mike’s Meat Market
Harvest: July 2025- Average Cost for Your Beef: $663-$928
- Average Processing Fee: $200-$260
- Average Total Cost: $863-$1,188
- 80 - 100lbs of Our Naturally Raised Beef
- 10 Cubic Feet of Freezer Space
- Approximately 290 Individual 6oz Servings
- Approximately 70 Meals for a Family of 4
- 18 - 22 Weeks Supply of Beef
- Payment Plans Available - 3 Installments
Fill your freezer with our dry-aged beef, customized to your preferences! With our Custom Quarter Beef, you can choose:
- Your preferred steak thickness
- Roast sizes
- Ground beef package weight
- Specialty cuts like Prime Rib, Brisket, Organ Meat & more
Our ranch-raised beef is dry-aged for 14 days before processing for exceptional flavor and tenderness.
Processing & Packaging
Your beef is processed at Mike’s Meat Market in Sterling, CO.Each cut is vacuum-sealed to maintain freshness for at least one year. To keep processing fees low, Mike’s Meat Market requires each Quarter Beef order to match another order (identical cut selections). While we do our best to pair your order accordingly, slight variations in the cuts you receive may occur.
Pick Up & Shipping Options
- Shipped to your door (flat rate based on shipping address)
- Pick up at the ranch ($10 per quarter)
- Pick up from the butcher (no additional fee)