Which Refrigerator?
What kind of refrigerator will we need in Mexico?
This varies depending on where you’ll be living. In most parts of Mexico, it is not only possible, but one of the pleasures of living here, to shop for fresh food on a daily basis either in the local mercado or in handy tienditas. So a big honking refrigerator is not the necessity it is in the states where you have to get it over with once a week what with all the other demands of job, commuting, etc. This is good news, because electricity is very expensive in Mexico and the less your refrigerator needs, the better. (If shopping for a new one, seek out the best energy-efficiency rating.)
If you will be living in a hot area, you’ll probably want ample freezer space for making or storing ice cubes. I’d never noticed this before, but freezers come in different sizes proportionate to the refrigerator part, so think out your priorities in this regard.
If you’re living in a remote area, where you depend on forays to the big city for a large number of items, a bigger unit would be in order, despite the extra cost to run it. You might even find yourself dreaming about a freezer. A few bags of frozen mangos and strawberries from Costco began to seem infinitely alluring to me, a former fresh-food snob, after a few months of blackened bananas and an occasional withered apple being the only selection in town.
TIP: I’ve noticed that people keep a bag or two of ice in their freezers to maintain adequate cooling during power cuts (which are more frequent in the summer months). So don’t buy anything TOO small, or you won’t have any room left for the food.
Should you bring it or buy it in Mexico? Like all electronic appliances, refrigerators tend to be more expensive here, but you can find deals if you shop around. Buying in January can be good. Mexican refrigerators have energy-efficiency ratings on the label just like those in the US. The other thing to weigh is the cost of bringing your own – gasoline, trailer space, etc. Also, refrigerators are delicate and need to be moved standing up. We have bought two refrigerators here (we sold the first one when we moved from Yucatan because it wouldn’t fit in our cargo trailer standing up), and they have both been fine, quality-wise, unlike Mexican-bought stoves which sport great features like six burners and griddles, but seem inferior in manufacture and materials. LG, Samsung, and Mabe are a few brands that refrigerators come in. They’re available in all sizes and various colors, including the chic stainless-steel look, for a price, of course.