How big a refrigerator does your family need?

The most common question at our refrigerator floor on Town Hall Road is simply, how many litres? Too small and the fridge is always full; too large and you pay more for space you never use, every month on the electricity bill.

A rough rule is 60 to 80 litres for each person in the house, with a little more if you cook at home every day. For a couple, a single-door fridge of 180 to 220 litres is usually enough. For a family of four, 250 to 340 litres works well, and our 340 L double-door model is the size most families in Madurai choose. For joint families of six or more, look at 400 litres and above.

Then think about how you cook. South Indian kitchens keep a lot in the fridge that other kitchens do not: a large vessel of idli or dosa batter, curd set daily, tamarind paste, coconut and vegetables bought at the market twice a week. Batter vessels need tall shelf space, so check the shelf heights with your own vessel before buying. Bring it to the shop; many customers do.

Single-door fridges are cheaper and use less power, but need manual defrosting every week or two. Frost-free double-door fridges cost more but keep vegetables fresher and never need defrosting. If you often store festival sweets, milk for guests or a week of vegetables, the larger freezer and separate crisper of a double door is worth it.