Chest Freezer left open but everything is still frozen solid....did the thermostat save me?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

worktogthr

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
SMF Premier Member
Nov 3, 2013
2,928
1,032
Massapequa, NY (Long Island)
Hi guys,

This is a tricky one. Just now I went downstairs to the chest freezer in my basement and found this:


I am not sure if it was yesterday or Saturday night that I went in there to grab an eye round to defrost. The leg of lamb that was sitting on the ledge was defrosted and warm to the touch... Tossed it in the garbage. Strange part is that eveything in the freezer from thick roasts and butts, to thinner steaks and even some Vacuum packed bacon were frozen solid. They didn't have that layer of frost that meat gets sometimes when you accidentily leave the freezer door open. There was a frost build up on the walls of the freezer and it was running like a SOB. Is it possible that the thermostat saved me because it just worked that much harder with the door opened and kept everything frozen. We are talking a few hundred dollars worth of meat here so I don't want to toss it if there is a chance it's fine but obviously I don't want to get myself or anyone sick.

Thanks so much guys!

-Chris
 
I'm sure your freezer has been running nonstop soon after the door remained open.

If everything in there was still frozen solid when you found it, then there's nothing to worry about in my opinion.
 
I'm sure your freezer has been running nonstop soon after the door remained open.
If everything in there was still frozen solid when you found it, then there's nothing to worry about in my opinion.

Thanks so much. No chance that it fully defrosted and then refroze. Overthinking things again haha
 
Just one of the benefits of a chest freezer that is not over filled so that the top is exposed to warmer air.

Cold air tends to collect at the bottom and might just protect us from ourselves.

Unless we leave the lid open (hint) they use less energy than other types.

Not to say that chest freezers are the most joyful to fish things out of?

Good luck and good smoking.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Hot Threads

Clicky