Author Topic: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?  (Read 6052 times)

Villanelle

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Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« on: May 30, 2013, 06:39:20 AM »
I've fairly recently moved to Germany, where I'll live for another 2 years, give or take. 

The fridge/freezer that came with my German rental is extremely small.  I'm doing okay with the fridge, with only minor frustrations, but the freezer is a source of aggravation.

In the States, we had a smallish (larger than a bar fridge, much smaller than a full size unit) freezer in the garage, and it was great.  It really helped with meal planning and expense as I could prepare large batches of things, and make sure I always had quick meals available for rushed or lazy nights, when otherwise a delivery pizza might call to me. 

I can buy a small (counter height, like a small bar fridge) freezer here, used, for about $100.  But it would be 220v, so I could only use it here, though I could likely resell it (probably about $75) when we move, meaning I'd be paying about.  Then there is electricity which is expensive here, making total cost probably about $100-$125 (wildly rough guess of of about $40-50 per year for the electricity), for the use of the freezer for 2 years.

So, what say you?  Justifiable or not? 

cerberusss

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2013, 06:55:27 AM »
Very justifyable; you'll easily earn that back. Ordering food is $$$.

Do check the energy label. Your wild guess of 40-50 per year for electricity is actually very accurate, for an A-label. If you go lower than A, then this will be much higher. It would be nice if you can get an A+ or A++.

Which city are you located, actually? North/middle/South? If Munchen, you'll be able to attend the legendary Octoberfest :-)

Villanelle

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2013, 07:02:28 AM »
I don't know if German appliances have the same energy ratings, and buying used, I can't be all that picky, unfortunately. Also, if those electricity rates are correct for this size freezer in the States, they are probably pretty low for here. Electricity was already expensive, and our rates just increase 50% (yes!) because Germany is moving away from all nuclear energy.

I'm in Stuttgart, which has the second largest "Octoberfest" in Germany.  I'm told that tourists go to Munchen, and Germans go to Stuttgart.  We attended Frulingsfest (Springfest), which is the counterpart to the Volksfest in the fall, and it was pretty impressive!

nktokyo

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2013, 07:12:20 AM »
Given the savings on food (buy in bulk and keep leftovers) and leftovers I'm pretty sure I could justify using a freezer heavily for 2 years for $500 or even more.

$100?

Get it yesterday.

Storypage

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2013, 10:06:01 AM »

Well, as I mentioned in another thread, we grow much of our own food, especially meat. So, a freezer is a must for us.


PantsOnFire

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2013, 01:56:10 PM »
Do it.   

My chest freezer means I NEVER buy pork products from the supermarket.  (I literally haven't purchased commercial pork aside from the occasional restaurant excursion in over 3 years.)  I butcher a hog every January and that hog feeds my family all year.  Net cost of the pork is approximately 1/3 the cost of store-bought, and mine is from better hogs, which are butchered better, and exactly to my liking.  ;-) 

The savings from hog #1 paid for the freezer and it's electric usage.  Hog #2 paid for a better sausage stuffer and a slicer for bacon and ham.  Hog #3 paid for a more robust grinder and other supplies.  Hog #4 will just be straight-up savings.  And this is in addition to all that tasty pork. 

I fill up any dead space in the freezer with bottles/jugs full of water.  If we ever lose power I can throw some of them in the fridge and keep the food from spoiling.  I also use them in picnic coolers in lieu of buying bags of ice. 

So yeah, do it. 

Spork

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2013, 02:01:56 PM »
Hog #2 paid for a better sausage stuffer and a slicer for bacon and ham. 

Woah there,  back up a little!  What sort of slicer are you using?  My SIL raises a hog a year for us and I cure my own bacon (and sometimes ham).  But I painfully slice mine with an electric knife, which makes for very thick and uneven bacon.

PantsOnFire

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2013, 03:27:24 PM »
Chef's Choice model 610.  I just checked Amazon and the price has increased since 2010.  They used to be right around $100, which might sound anti-Mustachian, but I use it a lot.  (Well, not frequently, but when I do use it, it's for slicing 30+ pounds of ham and 8 or so lbs of bacon, so it gets a workout!)  I've also smoked whole turkey breasts and sliced them up for lunch meat, which again saves a LOT of cash vs. buying it over the deli counter. 

Another part of the arsenal is the FoodSaver...  So I guess I'm pretty heavily invested but the payoff point has already been passed so now it's just a matter of how long these tools last before they need to be replaced! 

Spork

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2013, 03:52:32 PM »
Chef's Choice model 610.  I just checked Amazon and the price has increased since 2010.  They used to be right around $100, which might sound anti-Mustachian, but I use it a lot.  (Well, not frequently, but when I do use it, it's for slicing 30+ pounds of ham and 8 or so lbs of bacon, so it gets a workout!)  I've also smoked whole turkey breasts and sliced them up for lunch meat, which again saves a LOT of cash vs. buying it over the deli counter. 

Another part of the arsenal is the FoodSaver...  So I guess I'm pretty heavily invested but the payoff point has already been passed so now it's just a matter of how long these tools last before they need to be replaced!

Is the slice long enough to slice bacon?  All the models I've seen appear to be too short for a pork belly.  Well... all the models I've seen for a price I would pay.

PantsOnFire

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2013, 09:07:55 PM »
Bacon is no problem... the carriage moves far enough for a 10" or so wide slab of belly.  The smallish size of the blade limits the way you can slice up hams, though.  You can't really cut parallel to the side of the pig, if that makes any sense. 


Anje

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2013, 02:12:06 AM »
I don't know if German appliances have the same energy ratings, and buying used, I can't be all that picky, unfortunately. Also, if those electricity rates are correct for this size freezer in the States, they are probably pretty low for here. Electricity was already expensive, and our rates just increase 50% (yes!) because Germany is moving away from all nuclear energy.

I'm in Stuttgart, which has the second largest "Octoberfest" in Germany.  I'm told that tourists go to Munchen, and Germans go to Stuttgart.  We attended Frulingsfest (Springfest), which is the counterpart to the Volksfest in the fall, and it was pretty impressive!

If the freezer is fairly new, most likely it's at least A, and probably A+, A++ og A+++. The last there is what they sell in most stores for a ok price. New appliances here in Europe are very energy effective due to the mentioned expencive prices. Also: a more expencive but more energy effective freezer might be the least costly ting over time.

Spork

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2013, 07:29:25 AM »
Bacon is no problem... the carriage moves far enough for a 10" or so wide slab of belly.  The smallish size of the blade limits the way you can slice up hams, though.  You can't really cut parallel to the side of the pig, if that makes any sense.

Nice.  The photo is beautiful.  Tear..  in .... my... eye.   <sniff>

Villanelle

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2013, 07:43:22 AM »
UPDATE:  I found a small used freezer listed today for $75 and I jumped on it.  It is in the basement, waiting for everything to settle (had to lay it sideways to fit in the vehicle), but I'll plug it in tomorrow and be up and running.  Thanks all for the enabling advice.

chucklesmcgee

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2013, 07:58:55 AM »
A small chest freezer is generally very efficient. And if it saves you gas and lets you buy more during sales, it's probably worth it.

As a matter of efficiency, the fuller you keep it, the better.

Rural

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Re: Short term freezer purchase? Thumbs up or Facepunch?
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2013, 10:16:11 AM »
True on a full freezer being an efficient freezer. Until you fill it with food, put in bottles of water (squeeze them before you put on the lid so they have room to expand if they're plastic).

Going to take my own advice and refill some water bottles now...