The question we get most often at checkout is not about the oil at all. It is about the container. Five hundred millilitres or a litre? The five litre can or the steel one? Is the fifteen litre tin the one that saves money?
Here is the whole answer, including the parts that cost us a sale.
The per-litre picture, plainly
Smaller packs cost more per litre. That much is ordinary. Take cold pressed groundnut oil, read off our own store today: the 500 ml works out to about Rs 440 a litre, the 1 L to Rs 360, and the 5 L to Rs 350.
Then it stops. The 15 L tin is priced at Rs 350 a litre as well. Exactly the same rate as the 5 L. And that is not a quirk of groundnut oil. It holds across every oil we sell: sesame and coconut both work out the same per litre at 15 L as at 5 L, and so do niger, sunflower, safflower and castor.
So buy the tin for fewer deliveries and fewer trips to refill a bottle. Do not buy it expecting a bulk discount, because there is not one. If anyone tells you a bigger tin is automatically cheaper per litre, they are not describing our price list.
What the extra you pay for the steel can buys
Every cooking oil in our range comes in a 5 L can and also a 5 L stainless steel can. The steel version costs a flat Rs 700 more, and it is the same Rs 700 on every oil, from groundnut to niger.
The oil inside is identical. Same seed, same press, same batch. You are paying for the container and nothing else.
What the steel actually gives you is worth having. It is opaque, and light is one of the three things that ages an unrefined oil, along with heat and air. It does not hold the smell of the last oil you kept in it. It survives being carried, stacked and knocked about. And it lasts years, so the Rs 700 is a one-time cost spread over every refill after the first.
When to skip it: if you already decant into a dark glass bottle, or if you keep the 5 L in a closed cupboard and finish it in a few months, the standard can is perfectly fine. We would rather say that than sell a steel can to a household that has no use for one.
The rule that overrides both
We press in small batches and ask you to use an opened bottle within three to six months. There are no preservatives in it to argue otherwise, and we have written up why we say that.
Which means the right pack is not the cheapest per litre. It is the one your kitchen genuinely finishes inside that window. A 15 L tin in a two-person household is a false economy twice over: you save nothing per litre, and the last few litres sit open longer than they should.
If you do buy a tin, decant a working bottle from it and keep the tin sealed, cool and dark. Our storage guide covers the rest.
A rough sizing guide
- Trying an oil for the first time. 500 ml. It costs the most per litre and that is the correct trade for not committing to five litres of something you have never tasted.
- One or two people, light cooking. 1 L.
- A family of four cooking daily. 5 L, decanted into a working bottle.
- A joint family, a household that fries often, or festival season. The 15 L tin, decanted. Deepavali week alone can account for a surprising amount of it, as anyone who has made chakli for a whole street will tell you.
- A mess, hostel kitchen or small food business. The tin, and the steel can is worth it here because it gets handled hard.
These are rough. Nobody knows your kadai better than you do.
Deepam oil is the exception
Our deepam oil comes in three sizes only: 500 ml, 1 L and 5 L. There is no steel can and no 15 L tin, because a lamp gets through oil slowly in most homes and a tin would sit open too long to be sensible.
On prices
The figures above were read off the live store on 9 October 2026. Prices move, so check the product page for the current ones rather than taking a blog post's word for it. The structure is the part worth remembering: bigger is cheaper per litre up to 5 L, flat after that, and the steel can is a container charge rather than a better oil.
Buying for a particular district? Our Chitradurga page is an example of what delivery to one looks like in practice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the oil in the stainless steel can different from the oil in the standard can?
No. Same oil, same batch, same press. The only difference is the container.
Is the 15 L tin cheaper per litre than the 5 L?
No. On every oil we sell, the 15 L tin is priced at the same rate per litre as the 5 L. Buy it for convenience, not for a discount.
Which size should I start with?
500 ml if you have never used the oil before, 1 L if you have. Work up from there once you know how fast your kitchen gets through it.
Can I reuse the steel can?
Yes, and that is most of the point of it. Wash it, dry it completely before refilling, and keep water out. Water is what spoils a container, not use.
How quickly do orders ship?
Orders are packed in 2-3 business days. Free delivery takes 7-14 days, standard shipping is Rs 49 and takes 3-7 days, and express is Rs 99 and takes 1-3 days. All orders are prepaid, paid online at checkout.