Weight of Olive Oil Tin

You may or may not know this but in the Seattle area Big Johns PFI has quite a few options and you dont have to stress it breaking open on your way. If you are looking for empties for decor, they also have that from time to time. I have checked DeLaurenti's but would assume they do something similar.

6.75 lbs.

I can't say for sure but I can come up with a reasonable estimate. Firstly - You posted this To the Boot so I think perhaps you are considering buying packaged olive oil in Italy? The Italians (and all Europeans including the British) function in Litres (Liters). There are approximately 3.72 Litres in a US gallon. Olive Oil is slightly less dense than water but not by much, and will probably depend for preciseness on the actual pressing. It will weigh just slightly less than water, but when you add the container it will be equal or near. One litre of water weighs one kilogram. 3.72 litres will weigh 3.72 kilograms. 3.72 kilograms in US weight is about 8.2 pounds. Don't forget shelf life. And oxidation when open.

What Nigel said. I started thinking about my calculation from density and it doesn't match what I know other liquids weigh.

But if you poured a gallon of olive oil onto water, it would float, would it not? And what also floats? Yes! A duck! So, logically, a gallon of olive oil must weigh the same as a duck!

Why not visit your local store and look at or weigh one in the veg depart? If they don't have gallon sizes the math will be easy using smaller volume containers.

Indeed, ducks float. But so do witches as well as very small rocks. (apologies to MPython)

How did an English person come up with 8.2?? I like your math Nigel, but try calculating this way so there's not a slight error when rounding off the conversions... In metric, a liter of water weighs a kilo. Simple. With imperial measures, a pint of water equals a pound. There are exactly 8 pints per gallon. Olive oil is probably enough lighter than water so that Jeffery can eliminate the weight of the tin in his calculations.

I believe the oxidation comment refers to shelf life, not to weight. but why ask about weight per gallon? If packed in Italy, won't it be in multi-liter containers? Maybe 3-liter?

I recently purchased two different oils for a nutrition experiment (I am a researcher at a major land-grant university) and, according to the container labels, both weighed 3.5 kg per gallon. This equates to 7.7 lbs. I would not think that it mattered if it were olive oil or flaxseed oil, and don't think that oxidation would greatly affect the weight (only the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the sample).

Burn her! At least olive oil can't turn you into a newt... Doug and Otariidae, who are you who are so wise in the ways of science? ;-) A gallon of milk weighs 8lb - close enough to a gallon of olive oil for me. (A US$ bill is about 6" - close enough for me, too)

Jeffrey, I just put into a Google search, "weight of one gallon olive oil." First option that came up was a one-gallon tin of olive oil on Amazon that shows the weight of the product is 8 pounds, with a shipping weight (no doubt packing material, etc.) of 10 pounds. I think if you go with 9 pounds (just in case tins weight significantly more, etc. you should be fine. There are lots of wonderful Italian olive oils available in the US, but you probably have something specific in mind. Gotta love Google......one can find the answer to just about anything in a click or two :)

Just a comment about taking the large container of liquid in your suitcase. Even though it's in the luggage hold, have you asked the airline if you could check in that much liquid? It's a bit suspicious. Also, the olive oil tins are rather thin and flimsy, are you sure they'll hold up if the baggage hold is unpressurized? I'd be rather upset if someone's 5 containers of olive oil broke apart in the luggage hold and my bag was underneath it. Just a thought.

perhaps it would be easier to ship it?

Kathy makes an excellent point and one that had crossed my mind. I recall a few weeks ago, a woman posted that her can of hairspray seemed to always leak all over her luggage. I had visions of 50 lbs. of olive oil doing the same thing. Seriously, though, do expect the security personnel to open each of the tins and check them out (as we would all seriously hope would be done, as a terrorist could fill olive oil cans will all sorts of, well.....................). A few weeks ago, we gave some Italian friends a medium-sized jar of honey. They reported that when they got home they found a note with the honey in their checked bag that the US security personnel had examined/tested it, and they guessed also opened it as part of the testing. One would hope that the lids on huge tins of olive oil would be returned in a nice and tight mode,but once a seal is broken, I would not trust it in luggage. I also vote for having it shipped home.......easier, less hassle, etc. But, also suggest checking to see if the same brands can be purchased in your local specialty stores.

many businesses in Italy have web pages that provide for purchasing and shipping. Perhaps your olive oil vendor or producer is among them.

"I just put into a Google search, 'weight of one gallon olive oil.'" I am fully familiar with how Google works but still made my inquiry in an attempt to stimulate dialogue. It seems the best travel advice is often found in questions that are answered indirectly. "There are lots of wonderful Italian olive oils available in the US, but you probably have something specific in mind." In my opinion (unless you have a truly superb importer), Italian olive oil sold in the US and Italian olive oil sold in Italy are two different products. Analogous to Guinness from Ireland.

I have brought back olive oil from Tuscany and I have bought it here in the US and it is different. I don't know what it is but something happens in the travel!! Maybe it is me. I did not have any problems packing the oil in my suitcase and I always bring bubble wrap with me. It is very light and has always protected what I have bought in Italy and Ireland
Pat

"In my opinion (unless you have a truly superb importer), Italian olive oil sold in the US and Italian olive oil sold in Italy are two different products. Analogous to Guinness from Ireland." I've heard Genco Olive Oil on Mott Street in New York is good. (Are you with me, Eileen?)

Doug, you're quite clever! How's that working out for you?

Genco was never the same after the business changed hands.