One of the most common questions we get is, “How do I get the oil out of the drum?”. This is a great question, because it’s something that a smart business owner needs to prepare for before their drum of olive oil delivers.
The 55 gallon drums have a hole at the top, known as the “bung”. A pump with a long feeding tube is inserted into the hole (similar to the pump on a lotion bottle, in a much larger scale). This hole (typically 2” in diameter) has a thread around the outside, allowing you to screw the drum pump securely on.
The oil pumps from the bottom of the drum up and out of the spigot, usually using a manual pump. There are various types of manual or hand pumps including lever-action, siphon and rotary. There are also automatic drum pumps available as well as spigots that can attach to drums that lay down, but we find these are less common in food production.
For step by step instructions for how to insert the pump, see our Step-By-Step Guide for the stainless steel drum pump.
Here are some suggestions for where you can buy your drum pump:
If you want to set up an entire pump system with a hose that feeds into your production line, we recommend this article with instructions: How To Choose The Best Oil Pump For A 55 Gallon Drum [Complete System].
Also, this article-- The Best Olive Oil Pump For 55 Gallon Drums, includes all of our recommendations, along with how to work with your production team to choose the right pump for you.