[windowguy]

why is it that it seems like size options are unlimited with freezer "chests" but not so much with refrigerator? I'm seeking a mini refrigerator that's large enough to hold a turkey. most "mini" refrigerators are for beverages only, not deep enough to hold a turkey, or large trays of food.. etc..

the few I have found that fit the bill of "refrigerator chest" the price was outrageous relative to the cost of a frezzer chest.

Anybody have suggestions? anybody know a mini refrigerator deep enough to handle a turkey? or a sanely prices refrigerator chest?

and I just need the fridge part, not a fridge with a freezer "tray" or whatever. So dormitory things don't fit the bill.

 

[Two Knots]

We have two like this outside -- installed under a serving station we made.
One is over 15 years old and the other is about 5 years old.
You can fit a large turkey in it, however you have to temporaryly
remove one shelf. They stay out 365 days a year. We keep one running
all winter for extra storage space for things like you just mention
large turkeys, hams and extra food at holiday time.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/15162430?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222001315079&veh=sem

 

[ZZZZZ]

My neighbor bought an old minibar refrig. from a hotel that remodeled all the rooms. )The kind that fancy hotels stock up with the little bottles of liquor and candy bars, etc.) He just uses it for beer on his deck, but it's plenty big to hold a 20 lb turkey (take the racks out of course).

 

[windowguy]

okay Twoknots.. so are you saying the 4.6 cubic foot is deep enough for me to get a good size turkey if I take out that middle rack?

ZZZZ: I'm sorry but every hotel mini fridge I've ever encountered would never be deep enough to fit a good size turkey all the way into it.

I don't even really care about the racks on the door feature.. I just want a refrigerator "box" I could get a turkey into.. and maybe some trays of food for when we have parties and my regular side by side piece of garbage is packed full of food.

 

[Two Knots]

Sure a turkey would fit. We have ours on our deck, (two of them
actually) I couldn't live without them. One is packed with beer, soda, and juice boxes. The other we use for extra storage, especially salads and trays of food
for BBQ time and trays of food at company time...less in and out the house to get these things.

we have a big French door fridge, however, it's never enough room
for company, BBQ's and holiday food.
We also have an under the counter freezer in our kitchen for extra frozen
food, that comes in handy as well...

I know what you mean about the side X side, as we had one...can't fit
a turkey in them.

Joann.

 

[ZZZZZ]

ZZZZ: I'm sorry but every hotel mini fridge I've ever encountered would never be deep enough to fit a good size turkey all the way into it.

My neighbor isn't home right now or I'd go over there and measure it, but the thing is at least 3 feet tall. Holds about 4 cases of beer.

Stand the bird upright and it'll fit.

 

[Two Knots]

I believe zzzzz is talking about the size we have.
it's raining out or I'd take a pic of ours.

 

[windowguy]

so If any curious people were following along on this.. I googled for how big a good size turkey is. there is a Williams Sonoma cooking guide that says a 20lb bird should use a 13X16 cooking pan. my family goes closer to the 25lb turkey.. but just from memory I'd say about 13 to 15 inches is pretty close.

so I'd be looking for a mini refrigerator that with the door closed and shelves out would be about 15 X 15 or so..

to the first reply above, I totally believe you when you say yours holds the bird and I will checking out for similar to the link you posted.. thanks..

 

[Two Knots]

Hey Windowguy...I just went out and measured it.

The 'inside' measurements are

30" high
14 1/2" deep
16" wide.

Keep in mind that you can stand it up (in a plastic bag ) with the
drumsticks up and the back of the turkey against the back wall.

it doesn't have to lay flat in a big roasting pan.

 

[Bret86844]

I have a genius idea. Buy a kegerator. Get one big enough for a half barrel. When you want the bird in there, take the keg out. When you're cooking the turkey, put a full keg in. Now you've got a party.

 

[zolakk]

Why not take a page from the homebrew beer community and use a chest freezer (or I suppose an upright would work too in this case) and just override the thermostat to make it run at refrigerator temps with something like this: Inkbird Pre-Wired Dual Stage Digital Temperature Controller Outlet Thermostat 110V, 1000W Heating and Cooling for Fermentation Kegerator ect (this one is for heat and cold, but you can get just cold too or just don't plug anything into the heater outlet)

 

[Two Knots]

I have a genius idea. Buy a kegerator. Get one big enough for a half barrel. When you want the bird in there, take the keg out. When you're cooking the turkey, put a full keg in. Now you've got a party.

Now here is a thinking man! :smile:

Hey Brett, I took your link to your blog.
Gorgeous house, great bones and I admire all your hard
work and creativity that you're putting into it...
" You'll love living in a house with so much of you in it! "
That's the way we feel about our house. We taught ourselves
to work with all mediums, wood, glass, fabric. It's so fun!
Keep taking those pics of your progress.
Joann

 

[NickTheGreat]

It's very common in the homebrewing/beer drinking world to make a kegerator freezer, or "keezer" out of them.

Slap in a $15 STC-1000 controller, and you've got in made in the shade. :smile:

 

[Two Knots]

We had a mini kegerator on the counter...it was so nice.
It lasted about a year and broke, then we bought another
after about a year that broke.
We replaced it with the Wolfgang pressure oven and I love it.
It Cooks a 14 lb turkey in 40 minutes. it's steam pressure,
cooks everything fast.

We also have a built in (DIY) freezer under the counter, the other
side is pull out drawers...now I'm thinking of putting one of our
mini fridges where the pots and pans are or a homemade kegerator?

Windows, where you putting your mini fridge, kitchen, laundry room,
mud room? We used to have a big freezer downstairs, but it was a
pita going up and down for stuff...so I gave it away and settled for a smaller
freezer. My point being, put your little fridge in a convenient spot.
I'll be back with pics for inspiration.

 

[Two Knots]

Here's some pics...the keg is on the counter, it was great while it lasted,
problem was it only had a year to live X two.
I have been wracking my brains lately to make a cabinet to house
two boxes of box wine, one red, one white, problem is I have
absolutely no wall space in the kitchen to put it.

countertop kegerator

 

[Two Knots]

under counter freezer...

 

[windowguy]

yeah fellas the googling around saw the video/writing about doing the thermostat thing and converting the freezer to a fridge. I already do own a chest freezer that actually hardly ever gets used. so I could go that route.. but I just really wanted to exhaust the notion of a true fridge..

this would go in the basement mechanical room so aesthetics is not an issue where this is going to be stored. thanks for all the great feedback guys