In Lieu of Bulk Oil and Vinegar
If you follow Bea Johnson at Zero Waste Home, you'll know that she has found a bulk source for pretty much everything. Perhaps there are just more bulk stores in California than there are in Alberta, or maybe I just haven't found everything that's available here yet (I suspect it's a bit of both). Whatever the reason, I have yet to find a place to buy bulk oil or vinegar.
When I can't find an item in bulk, I try to buy it in the largest package possible. This optimizes the product to packaging ratio and helps ensure that the package is successfully recycled. Vinegar is available in 4-litre bottles from most grocery stores, as is canola oil. We don't buy olive oil in as large of quantity, but you can generally find glass bottles in the 2-litre size wherever you shop.
There are two major issues with buying oil and vinegar in such a large quantity. First, the bottles either don't fit in the cupboard at all, or take up too much space. For a long time, ours sat on the kitchen floor for lack of a better location. The second issue is that oil bottles are messy. Oil tends to spill down the side of the bottle, and in a household with three animals, the sticky oil residue collects dust and hair. Combine that with a bottle sitting on the floor, and suddenly your oil bottle is dirty and disgusting.
The solution? Three re-used Soy Sauce bottles. The vinegar bottle uses the original cap. The oil pourers we found at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $6 for 2. The result is that the three are clean, easy to pour, and can all fit on the counter next to the stove.
It was a simple, inexpensive solution that will work for us until the day that we can buy oil and vinegar in bulk.
Have you found oil or vinegar in bulk? Leave a comment!
When I can't find an item in bulk, I try to buy it in the largest package possible. This optimizes the product to packaging ratio and helps ensure that the package is successfully recycled. Vinegar is available in 4-litre bottles from most grocery stores, as is canola oil. We don't buy olive oil in as large of quantity, but you can generally find glass bottles in the 2-litre size wherever you shop.
There are two major issues with buying oil and vinegar in such a large quantity. First, the bottles either don't fit in the cupboard at all, or take up too much space. For a long time, ours sat on the kitchen floor for lack of a better location. The second issue is that oil bottles are messy. Oil tends to spill down the side of the bottle, and in a household with three animals, the sticky oil residue collects dust and hair. Combine that with a bottle sitting on the floor, and suddenly your oil bottle is dirty and disgusting.
The solution? Three re-used Soy Sauce bottles. The vinegar bottle uses the original cap. The oil pourers we found at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $6 for 2. The result is that the three are clean, easy to pour, and can all fit on the counter next to the stove.
It was a simple, inexpensive solution that will work for us until the day that we can buy oil and vinegar in bulk.
Have you found oil or vinegar in bulk? Leave a comment!
I have been very happy to find excellent olive oils & premium vinegars at Blue Door Oil & Vinegar Inc. They will refill their glass bottles that I wash and take back to them!!! They have a store in the SW and dispense at Symons Valley Farmers Market too. I have yet to find good source for plain white vinegar other than buying a 4L plastic container. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteThat is great information, I will check them out! Thanks!
DeleteThere is a store called "Oil & Vinegar" at the Core downtown and at Willow Park. They sell glass bottles and will refill if you bring it back. They'll probably fill your existing glass bottles too as long as it's clear how big it is.
ReplyDeleteI will check it out, thanks!
DeleteI found bulk olive oil and bulk coconut oil at Bulk barn in Cochrane last weekend!
ReplyDeleteCool! I haven't been to Bulk Barn in a while, but I know they have a great selection.
DeleteThanks for sharing such an excellent blog.
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