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Aceite de las Valdesas

Which is the density of olive oil?

The density of the olive oil is 0.916 kg/liter. This density corresponds to a temperature of 17º C. The olive oil expands with the increase in temperature and therefore decreases its density.

The difference in density of between olive oil and water has been used by olive oil producers to separate the water in the olives from the olive oil. Formerly they were separated in pools through the decantation process. After a certain period of time the olive oils were in the top of the tank and the water, more dense, was on the bottom with the rest of the solid remains.

Currently the modern processes of extraction also used the difference of density of the olive oil and water to get it. The mass of the olive and the rest of the components are separated naturally according to their density by a centrifugation process.

Density table in function of temperature

 

Density of the olive oil
Temperature (ºC) Density (kg/ litro) Temperature (ºC) Density (kg/litro)
6 0,9230 18 0,9150
7 0,9224 19 0,9144
8 0,9217 20 0,9137
9 0,9210 21 0,9130
10 0,9204 22 0,9124
11 0,9197 23 0,9117
12 0,9190 24 0,9110
13 0,9184 25 0,9104
14 0,9177 26 0,9097
15 0,9170 27 0,9090
16 0,9164 28 0,9084
17 0,9157 29 0,9077

 

How much is dilated the olive oil in a frying pan?

I have always heard that olive oil "grows" in the frying pan when it is heated. This is something that can be seen easily when the temperature is increasing. But, How much it really grows?

To make a calculation, we need to know the oil expansion module. This is between 7, 2.10-4 and 7, 9.10-4. (Assuming for calculation 7, 9.10-4).
Supposing that the olive oil is heated from 20 ° C to 180 ° C for frying, it grows a 12,7% in the frying pan.(α x ΔT; 7, 9.10-4 x (180 - 20)).