A beef share arrives as a lot of beef, and the first question is where it goes. If you track your food by the pound, you will want the cubic feet worked out before the box shows up. REP Provisions publishes the weight of each beef share, and this guide turns those weights into freezer space.
Quick answer: Plan 1 cubic foot of freezer per 22 to 35 pounds of packaged beef. REP Provisions beef shares weigh about 15 pounds (1/32), 30 pounds (1/16), 60 pounds (1/8), 120 pounds (1/4) and 240 pounds (1/2), which needs roughly 0.4 to 0.7, 0.9 to 1.4, 1.7 to 2.7, 3.4 to 5.5 and 6.9 to 10.9 cubic feet.
The Rule of Thumb: Pounds per Cubic Foot
Extension services publish several planning figures. Clemson Extension puts the standard capacity of a freezer at about 35 pounds of frozen food per cubic foot of usable space [1]. Iowa State Extension says 50 pounds of meat needs about 2.25 cubic feet, roughly 22 pounds per cubic foot [2]. University of Minnesota Extension sizes a 142-pound quarter of beef at a minimum of 4.5 cubic feet in a chest freezer, near 32 pounds per cubic foot [3], and Clemson's local beef guide agrees, with four to five cubic feet for a quarter [4]. REP Provisions shares arrive as individually packaged cuts, such as 16-ounce packs of ground beef, so the 22 to 35 pound range applies to them.
Pictured Quarter Beef Share. Watch video to see how it fits in a standard freezer.
Share Sizes in Cubic Feet
Each REP Provisions share lists an approximate weight: about 15 pounds for the 1/32 [5], 30 for the 1/16 [6], 60 for the 1/8 [7], 120 for the 1/4 [8] and 240 for the Half Share [9]. Dividing each weight by 35 and by 22 gives the ranges in the table, and the package counts come from the contents listed on each share page.
The 1/32 and 1/16 shares fit alongside everything else you freeze. Iowa State Extension notes that many refrigerator freezer compartments hold 4 to 5 cubic feet, so the 1/16 fits with room left over, while the 1/8 takes a large part of one [2]. We discount these shares from a la carte pricing, 5% on the 1/32, 10% on the 1/8 and 12.5% on the 1/4, so the larger the share, the more you save per pound [5][7][8].
Chest or Upright
The freezer type changes the number. Clemson Extension says chest freezers need more floor area than uprights, cost less to buy and run, and lose less cold air each time they open, while uprights let more cold air escape [1]. University of Minnesota Extension asks for 4.5 cubic feet of chest space for a 142-pound quarter and 5.5 cubic feet of upright space [3]. For a REP Provisions 1/4 share or Half Share, a chest freezer is the efficient choice, and an upright works when floor space is tight.
Packing a Share by Meal
REP Provisions delivers each cut as its own package. The 1/4 share, for example, holds 70 packs of ground beef at 16 ounces, 16 packs of stew meat, six 2.5-pound chuck roasts and a range of steaks [8]. Sort the packages into bins by cut, put the steaks on top, and tape a running count to the lid. If each package makes one dinner, the 120 packages in a 1/4 share cover about 30 weeks at four beef dinners a week, simple arithmetic from the package counts. Ground beef holds peak quality for about 4 months and whole cuts for 4 to 12 months, as our freezer storage guide explains, so cook the ground beef first.
Delivery Day
We ship shares by 2-Day UPS on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and they arrive in 2 to 3 business days [8]. On the 1/32, 1/16 and 1/4 shares, the REP Provisions price covers USDA butchering, packing and delivery [5][6][8], while the Half Share bills shipping by ZIP code [9]. Clear the space before the box lands, then follow our thawing guide for the first dinner. Our bulk buyer spec sheet has the cold-chain details.
Key Takeaways
- Plan 1 cubic foot of freezer per 22 to 35 pounds of packaged beef
- REP Provisions shares weigh about 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 pounds, from the 1/32 to the Half Share
- The 1/32 and 1/16 shares fit a refrigerator freezer, and the 1/4 share wants a chest freezer of 5 cubic feet or more
- Each cut arrives in its own package, so you can sort by cut and thaw one dinner at a time
- REP Provisions discounts the shares 5% to 12.5% from a la carte pricing, and subscribers save 10% more
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of ordering from REP Provisions compared to other meat delivery services?
REP Provisions ships grass-fed and grass-finished beef shares from 1/32 to a half, discounted from a la carte pricing, with USDA butchering and packing included and each cut in its own retail package. Subscribers save an additional 10%.
How much freezer space do I need for a quarter beef share?
The REP Provisions 1/4 share weighs about 120 pounds and needs roughly 3.4 to 5.5 cubic feet. University of Minnesota Extension puts a 142-pound quarter at 4.5 cubic feet in a chest freezer. Watch the video showing it in a standard freezer.
Can a refrigerator freezer hold a beef share?
The REP Provisions 1/32 and 1/16 shares need 0.4 to 1.4 cubic feet, which fits a refrigerator freezer compartment of the 4 to 5 cubic feet Iowa State Extension describes. The 1/8 share, at up to 2.7 cubic feet, takes a large part of one. Pictured 1/8th Beef Share.
How many pounds of beef fit in one cubic foot of freezer?
Plan on 22 to 35 pounds of packaged beef per cubic foot when you size a REP Provisions share. Clemson Extension gives 35 pounds as the standard capacity, and Iowa State Extension works out to about 22 pounds.
Browse the full Butcher Block collection, or size up with the 1/8 Beef Share, the 1/4 Beef Share or the Half Beef Share. REP Provisions lists the weight of every share up front, so you can measure the freezer before you order.
References
- ↑ Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center, "Home Freezing Equipment" (HGIC 3024): hgic.clemson.edu
- ↑ Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, "Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide": extension.iastate.edu
- ↑ University of Minnesota Extension, "Buying animals for meat processing": extension.umn.edu
- ↑ Clemson Cooperative Extension, Land-Grant Press, "A Guide to Buying Local Beef" (LGP 1104): lgpress.clemson.edu
- ↑ REP Provisions, 1/32nd Grass-fed Beef Share product page: repprovisions.com
- ↑ REP Provisions, 1/16th Grass-fed Beef Share product page: repprovisions.com
- ↑ REP Provisions, 1/8th Grass-fed Beef Share product page: repprovisions.com
- ↑ REP Provisions, 1/4th Grass-fed Beef Share product page: repprovisions.com
- ↑ REP Provisions, 1/2 Grass-fed Beef Share product page: repprovisions.com
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