How to Build a Cooler to Hang Beef

Hanging meat after it's been butchered is an essential step to aging the meat and making it tender. Whether you're hanging a side of beef or deer meat, the trick is to keep it at a temperature ranging between 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder temperatures will freeze the meat and temperatures higher than 40 degrees provide a breeding ground for bacteria. If you're unable to hang the meat in a commercial cooler, you can build a cooler in a basic backyard shed with a few basic supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • Backyard shed, size based on your cooling space requirements
  • Electrical power supply
  • 12,000-BTU air conditioner unit
  • Power saw
  • Cooler temperature control unit
  • Electrical tape
  • Styrofoam insulation sheets
  • Utility knife
  • Plywood sheets
  • Spray foam insulation
  • White exterior latex paint
  • Paintbrush -- about 3 inches wide
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Meat hooks
  • Heavy-duty power cord rated for outdoor use
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Erect the shed in your yard near a power supply, or use an existing one. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for putting it together, if it is prefab. Paint the shed white on the outside to reflect sunlight and heat. An 8-by-8-by-8-foot shed will allow you to use precut Styrofoam and plywood sheets without additional cutting.

    • 2

      Cut a hole in the side of the shed to fit the air conditioner's outer dimensions, using a power saw.

    • 3

      Line the entire inside of the shed -- including the roof, floor and door -- with Styrofoam sheets. Trim them to fit as needed, using a utility knife. Put the sheeting up with nails, spaced every few inches around the edges of each sheet. If you use glue, it may melt the Styrofoam. Cover any windows with the Styrofoam as well.

    • 4

      Install sheets of plywood on the floor, over the Styrofoam, so you have a place to walk and won't damage the Styrofoam sheets. Paint the wood if you prefer -- using white, semi-gloss paint. It's easier to keep clean and wipe down than flat latex paint.

    • 5

      Fill the nail holes and all seams and cracks with the spray foam. Allow the spray foam to dry and trim it smooth on the floor, using a utility knife, to avoid tripping on the ridges.

    • 6

      Install however many meat hooks you think you'll need to hang your meat to cure. They should be installed in the roof beams for strength. You may have to reinforce the beams to make them strong enough and use anchor screws to attach them, depending on the type of wood used initially in the shed, as well as the type of meat hooks you're using.

    • 7

      Place the air conditioner in the hole, and seal around the edges with the spray foam to insulate.

    • 8

      Dig a trench outside the shed and bury the power cord running from the air conditioner to the power supply. The length will depend on the distance from your power supply to the unit. Alternatively, you can install an auxilliary power panel in the shed.

    • 9

      Hook up the cooler temperature control unit according to the manufacturer's directions. Such unit convert the air conditioner into something similar to a compressor and allow it to run at much lower-than-normal temperatures. Most air conditioning units will only cool to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and you need your cooler room much colder.