How Much Freezer Space Do I Need for Half a Pig?

One of our most popular products is our Half a Pig Butchers Box.

Customers love them because they are great value, they help stock the freezer in one go, and they give you a proper variety of pork cuts for family meals, roasts, slow cooking, BBQs and midweek teas.

But unless you have ordered one before, it can be hard to picture how much freezer space you actually need for half a pig.

As you can imagine, we get asked this quite a lot. So, let’s do the maths.

How Much Space Does Half a Pig Take Up?

Once we have prepared our Half a Pig Butchers Box, it fits into a space of roughly:

• 44cm long
• 28cm wide
• 21cm high

That works out at around 25,872 cubic centimetres, or just under 26 litres in volume.

Our standard delivery boxes have a 34 litre capacity, so half a pig takes up a little over three quarters of one of those boxes. Having packed a lot of them for delivery, that sounds about right.

Quick Answer: Freezer Space for Half a Pig

As a general guide, half a pig will need around 26 litres of freezer space.

In practical terms, that usually means:

• around 1 drawer in a large upright freezer
• around 1 to 2 drawers in an under-counter freezer
• around a quarter of a small chest freezer

The exact space needed depends on your freezer layout, drawer sizes, and how full your freezer already is.

How Much Space in a Stand-Up Freezer?

A stand-up freezer is usually the easiest household freezer to work out because the space is divided into drawers or shelves.

A smaller upright freezer with around 150 litres of capacity and 6 drawers would have around 25 litres per drawer. In that case, half a pig would take up roughly one full drawer.

A larger upright freezer with around 300 litres of capacity and 8 drawers would have around 37.5 litres per drawer. In that case, half a pig would take up around three quarters of one drawer.

So, if you have a decent stand-up freezer and can clear one drawer, you should usually be fine.

How Much Space in an Under-Counter Freezer?

Under-counter freezers are smaller, so you need to plan a little more carefully.

A small under-counter freezer with around 50 litres of capacity and 3 drawers would have roughly 16 to 17 litres per drawer. In that case, half a pig would take up the best part of 2 drawers.

A larger under-counter freezer with around 100 litres of capacity and 4 drawers would have around 25 litres per drawer. In that case, half a pig would take up roughly one full drawer, with a little extra space needed.

If you only have an under-counter freezer, clear as much space as you can before delivery.

How Much Space in a Chest Freezer?

If you have a chest freezer, you are laughing.

Chest freezers usually have much more flexible space because you are not limited by narrow drawers.

Even in a smaller chest freezer, half a pig should only take up a portion of the available space. If you regularly buy bulk meat boxes, a chest freezer is easily the best option.

Basically, if you have a chest freezer with a sensible amount of space free, half a pig should not be a problem.

Freezer Space Guide for Half a Pig

Do You Need to Put Half a Pig Straight in the Freezer?

If you are not cooking the pork straight away, yes, it should go into the freezer as soon as possible after delivery.

Half a pig is a bulk meat box, so it is worth making sure you have space ready before it arrives.

Do not wait until the delivery turns up before discovering your freezer is full of frozen peas, ice lollies and mystery tubs from 2021.

How to Prepare Your Freezer Before Delivery

Before your Half a Pig Butchers Box arrives, it is worth doing a quick freezer check.

• Clear at least one large drawer or shelf if using an upright freezer.
• Clear two drawers if using a small under-counter freezer.
• Make space in one area if using a chest freezer.
• Remove anything old, forgotten or freezer-burnt.
• Group similar pork cuts together when packing them away.
• Put quick-use items near the front.

A little bit of freezer organisation makes life much easier when you come to cook from the box.

What Cuts Are in Half a Pig?

Half a pig can include a wide range of pork cuts, depending on how it is butchered.

You may receive cuts such as pork roasting joints, chops, belly slices, ribs, shoulder, diced pork, mince, sausages and other useful cuts.

If you want a fuller breakdown, read our guide to half pig cuts.

Why Buy Half a Pig?

Buying half a pig is a great way to stock the freezer properly.

Customers like it because it gives them:

• better value than buying individual cuts
• a wide variety of pork
• less need for repeat shopping trips
• plenty of options for family meals
• cuts for roasting, slow cooking, frying and BBQs
• a proper freezer stock-up in one order

It is one of those boxes that makes dinner planning easier because you always know there is something useful in the freezer.

What Can You Cook from Half a Pig?

Half a pig gives you loads of meal options.

You can make roast pork, pulled pork, pork chops, pork belly, sticky pork belly, ribs, sausages and mash, casseroles, pies, stir fries, slow cooker meals and BBQ dishes.

For recipe ideas, have a look at our guides on what pork butt is, sticky pork belly, and how to season pork.

Final Thoughts

So, how much freezer space do you need for half a pig?

As a guide, allow around 26 litres of freezer space.

That usually means around one drawer in a decent upright freezer, one to two drawers in an under-counter freezer, or a relatively small amount of space in a chest freezer.

If you clear your freezer before delivery, you should be fine. And once it is packed away, you will have a brilliant variety of pork ready for roasts, chops, slow cooking, BBQs, sausages and proper family meals.

FAQs

How much freezer space do I need for half a pig?

You need around 26 litres of freezer space for half a pig, depending on how the meat is packed and the layout of your freezer.

Will half a pig fit in a normal freezer?

Yes, half a pig will usually fit in a normal household freezer if you clear enough space first. In many upright freezers, it takes around one drawer.

Will half a pig fit in an under-counter freezer?

Yes, but you may need to clear one to two drawers depending on the size of the freezer.

Is a chest freezer better for half a pig?

Yes, a chest freezer is ideal for bulk meat boxes because it has more flexible storage space.

How big is a Half a Pig Butchers Box?

Once packed, our Half a Pig Butchers Box fits into a space of roughly 44cm x 28cm x 21cm.

Should I clear my freezer before ordering half a pig?

Yes. It is best to clear freezer space before delivery so the pork can be stored safely as soon as it arrives.

What cuts do you get in half a pig?

Half a pig can include roasting joints, chops, belly, ribs, shoulder, sausages, diced pork, mince and other pork cuts depending on how it is butchered.