is 22 degrees F cold enough to store meat?

[MrFryMoto]

here's the situation - my work buys several animals from the mid-state fair every year, has them butchered and divies up the cuts amoung the employees...
i have (had) a full large ice chest full of pork, and today i got the beef.
problem is, the freezer is full of pork (and other such nonsense). i hooked up my small apartment fridge over the weekend and turned it as cold as it would go - it maintained (empty) about 22 F

....would this be cold enough?
(pictures to come)

[Popeye the Sailor]

31 degrees is enough, assuming you want to freeze it.

you would be better off putting the items already frozen in the little freezer, so it doesn't have to work hard to bring the warmer items down to freezing, as freezing meat quicker is better.

[brix821]

that is fine for most states health codes.... but it might be too much for a small fridge too long...cheapie chest freezers pop up on craigslist from ttime to time...

[rgramjet]

Id put the frozen pork in the dorm fridge, let the beef freeze then switch them out.  Zero degrees would be preferable for long term storage.   Dont make the dorm fridge work too hard by putting in unfrozen beef.  I usually take the most desireable cuts of buth animals and put them deep in the more reliable freezer.

Good Luck!

[rgramjet]

lol ditto!

[MrFryMoto]

guess i should have clarified - the beef is already frozen

[MrFryMoto]

[Randimus Maximus]

why don't you just have a big "Official DMF Cookout".

problem solved.

[MrFryMoto]

oh!
so you think you slimey make the beast with two backsers deserve some of my precious meat eh?


c'mon over! 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Seriously dude-set it up!

[aaronb]

make the beast with two backs insurance and profit sharing, i wish my work had the annual meat bonus benefit!

[brix821]

mine does...

[NAKID]

So far, everyone is right on. Also, the fridge will not work as hard keeping a full fridge at the set temp. So, a full fridge should be able to maintain a lower temp than an empty one.

22 is fine, but not optimal for long term storage. Also, most health codes require frozen foods to be stored at zero F or below....

[Randimus Maximus]

22 is fine, but not optimal for long term storage. Also, most health codes require frozen foods to be stored at zero F or below....

what are you, a health inspector now?

[eltristo]

oh!
so you think you slimey make the beast with two backsers deserve some of my precious meat eh?


c'mon over! 

I'll grab the Ted and be right there!