Pints vs pounds - any help here converting?

one_feral_kat

Today I went to our local Kroger to buy 1.5 pints of fresh raw oysters. The very helpful deli lady said they don't sell them by the pint anymore so I said ok. The price was supposed to be $13.99 per pound so I asked for 1.5 pounds. When it rang up it was only $8.99 per pound so that even further confuses me! 

I'm just wondering if I bought enough oysters since in all these years I aways bought/used 1.5 pints in the recipe.

Guess I might answer my own question on Thursday when I make our favorite casserole to take, but I'd hate to be short ruining the reciepe, but being over is just fine! 

lkapigian

A pint is 16 oz by volume vs 16 oz by weight......never seen oysters sold by the pint ....sounds like you are short a bit

pgprescott

I think there is a saying “a pints a pound the world around” , no?

alaskanassasin

Stick them in a pint jar

one_feral_kat

Thanks for the replies, I guess math and old sayings dont always make ANY sense to recipes.

I just wouldn't want to put say 1.5 pounds of potato chips in HUGE container vs 1.5 pounds of oysters in a small casserole dish! 

HeavyG

lkapigian said:

A pint is 16 oz by volume vs 16 oz by weight......never seen oysters sold by the pint ....sounds like you are short a bit

It's common on the east coast to buy shucked oysters at the grocery store by the half pint or pint.

Number of oysters will, of course, vary by size. I have no idea what a pint of average sized oysters might weigh tho but I would guess maybe a pound and a half or a bit less.

one_feral_kat

Thank you for your reply!

nolaegghead

They use volume as well as weight to sell most foods in cans and jars.  Ounces/cups/pints/quarts and gallons are volume, they equate to weight on the basis of a density of water.  One pound = 1 pint. 

Oysters are sold by the volume unit when chucked.  Same with anything in oil or water....olives, beans, corn, etc.  There is a "net weight" of whatever it is you are buying drained of liquid.  For oysters, the net weight it about half of the sold-as weight. It varies.  You should get all oyster "liquor" with the oysters.  Obv, not all vendors are as honest as the next, but the bottom line is the recipes call for the gross weight and just don't worry about it after that.

Kayak

Any reason you couldn't drop that pint and a half on a kitchen scale?

fishlessman

i only see them sold in measured containers, pint, quart etc. im sure they sell them by the weight in the container though. local fishmonger is shyers but everyone calls them shysters sounds like yo didnt get enough, what type of container did they put it in and was the weight on the container, it does not add up