We bought a new freezer at Sears scratch and dent outlet this week.
It ranges between +10 to -10 F.
How cold should I set this ?
The quality of foods stored for one year at 0 degrees F is better than that of food stored for 5 months at 5 degrees or 2 months at 10 degrees. Nutritive value, color, flavor, and texture are affected when food is stored above 0 degrees F.
Similarly, your refrigerator should be kept at a temperature between 33° F to 40° F maximum.
FYI, Length of Storage for Quality Food
MEATS Months
Beef
liver, ground meat ..........................................3-4
roasts, steaks........................................................6
Lamb
chops.................................................................6-9
ground meat.....................................................3-4
roasts .................................................................6-9
Veal
cutlets, chops....................................................6-9
ground meat.....................................................3-4
roasts .................................................................6-9
Pork, cured
bacon....................................................less than 1
ham ...................................................................1-2
Pork, fresh
chops.................................................................3-4
roasts .................................................................4-8
sausage, liver ....................................................1-2
Chicken, Turkey.................................................6-12
Duck, Goose, Wild Game......................................3
Giblets of poultry, Turkey, Game .........................3
Shrimp, Crab meat, Oysters ...................................3
Fish........................................................................6-9
VEGETABLES ...........................................................6-12
FRUITS......................................................................6-12
COOKED FOODS
Vegetables...............................................................
UNCOOKED FOODS
Fruit Pies ..................................................................6
Sandwiches..................................................3 weeks
There's nothing wrong with going colder, other than the extra expense for a little more power.
Freezer Trivia:
I like ice cream sandwiches; the type with the two chocolate wafer cookies with the ice cream in bewteen. But I dislike them when the wafer cookie is soggy, as seems to be the case all too often. If you keep them frozen to -40 degrees the wafers stay crispy for sometime. Schwan tries to maintain their trucks you see running around the country at a minus 40 temperature, at least overnight. Their ice cream sandwiches always are fresh and crispy. :)
I just arrived from Florida in the low 80's to home around 10 deg.
Looks like I'm good for about 2-3 months. ::)
sparks