BEST Place For Long-Term Storage?

[Drewps5co0tt]

Hey all,

I've been stocking up on e-juice now for about 1 1/2 years (several thousand dollars at least), which I have invested in. I have some liter bottles, I have a lot of 60 & 100/120ML bottles and I have some 500ML bottles (and growing)! However, I still have a nagging question that I'm really not sure I'm satisfied on with regards to the answer because well, the answer(s) seems to be more of a preference than an actual fact, so I don't know what to believe. So I thought I'd start a post here and see if I could get to the bottom of this!

So my guy that I get my liter bottles from, he told me to store my juice (not just his but ANY juice that I buy for long term storage), in the FREEZER! He said he has stored bottles for up to 8 years and they tasted just like they did the first day he bought/made the juice. So when I started buying my liter bottles from him, I stored them in the freezer but then got paranoid about what I was reading online where article after article was saying not to store flavored juice in the freezer.

So along with his liters, I removed all my other juice (btw these are all unopened/sealed bottles) from the freezer into the fridge, which is where they have been ever since. Now I've started buying a lot of 500ML bottles of juice as well. Now also, I'm reading article after article where they are saying DO NOT store your juice in the fridge either!

Both arguments regarding freezer/fridge is that it can break down the flavoring in the juice causing flavor loss, condensation, etc.

Most people are saying if you want to take the safest route, store in a cool dark cabinet or closet. I'm fine with that except I live in DC and it's hot as a *itch here in the summer. The coolest location in my APT (that is closed and not exposed to sunlight, heat or air conditioner) is my kitchen pantry closet. I've taken the temp with a temp gauge and yesterday it was reading upper 70's in the closet (it was 95 outside), it was the coolest closet/cabinet in my entire apartment. Is this too warm? As of now, I haven't done anything yet, my stash is still in the fridge.

So is it ok to leave my juice in the fridge or not? I'm tired of worrying about this and want an answer on this. I know people who buy 50, 500ML bottles when they go on sale at a particular place which I won't mention for obvious reasons. They all tell me "in the fridge they go!" But I felt better about making a post here to see what ECF users have to say about this.

Thanks.

 

[Letitia]

Fridge is fine for long term storage but due to water content I freeze commercial or premixed juice. Key is to let what you remove from the fridge or freezer come to room temperature before opening to prevent condensation inside the container. If you have a cool basement or closet you can keep what you'll use up first to save room in the fridge. I do keep any liquids that will be the fridge for long term in dark containers/bags. If you plan on getting more juices I would recommend buying 0mg nic and buying some nic for the freezer.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

I cracked open a liter bottle of strawberry yogurt that I bought in January of 2021 today, filled a 120ml bottle and let it come to room temperature. I just filled a tank with a new coil and tested it out. Flavor profile is DEFINITELY diminished GREATLY. I can somewhat taste the yogurt base but I can barely detect any strawberry in it. The nicotine buzz/hit seems normal/no change. I know what this flavor tastes like because I bought it all the time from this particular online store (that now sells on the DL in liter sizes only).

Once again, I'm reading a lot of contradictive articles. Some sites say it's preferred to store flavored juice in the fridge/freezer, other sites say DO NOT store them there (instead, choose a cool, dark cabinet or closet instead).

If others can chime in here, I would greatly appreciate it. It's really hard to know what to do when you keep getting contradictive answers online (and I'm not speaking of Letitia response, but websites that do articles on this subject (this included online e-juice companies as well).

Thanks!

 

[ppeeble]

I've always found that flavoured e-liquid with no nicotine stores best at room temperature away from direct light.
Liquid with nicotine gets stored in the freezer - but some flavours (such as fruits) will deteriorate regardless of how they're stored. Tobacco inspired flavours seem to last the longest. in my case i am happily using Hangsen RY2 with 2017 use-by dates.
For best results always buy nicotine-free liquid if it's possible and add the nic when ready to use.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

I've always found that flavoured e-liquid with no nicotine stores best at room temperature away from direct light.
Liquid with nicotine gets stored in the freezer - but some flavours (such as fruits) will deteriorate regardless of how they're stored. Tobacco inspired flavours seem to last the longest. in my case i am happily using Hangsen RY2 with 2017 use-by dates.
For best results always buy nicotine-free liquid if it's possible and add the nic when ready to use.

So you think fridge/freezer is still the way to go for long term storage?

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

I cracked open a liter bottle of strawberry yogurt that I bought in January of 2021 today, filled a 120ml bottle and let it come to room temperature.

Well now you know what not to do with that particular juice. All your other juices will be trial and error. This forum is full of opinions on this, all of which are wrong and all of which are right, as it seems to depend on certain flavors/additives in the juice as to which storage method is best.

This is why DIY is the best option. Nic in the freezer, VG in the fridge (debatable), and PG and flavors at room temps in the dark, no greater than say about 70 deg.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

Well now you know what not to do with that particular juice. All your other juices will be trial and error. This forum is full of opinions on this, all of which are wrong and all of which are right, as it seems to depend on certain flavors/additives in the juice as to which storage method is best.

This is why DIY is the best option. Nic in the freezer, VG in the fridge (debatable), and PG and flavors at room temps in the dark, no greater than say about 70 deg.

So you think I should move my stash into the coolest, dark closet in my apt? I have too many bottles (hundreds) to mess with trial and error at this point. I guess I just want to know what the safest option is. At this point I feel like I'm starting to obsess about this, which is not a good thing.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

So you think I should move my stash into the coolest, dark closet in my apt?

All I can say is that however you stored that one particular eliquid that became less tasty is the wrong way for that eliquid. That's all I can say and that's all I think.

I guess I just want to know what the safest option is. At this point I feel like I'm starting to obsess about this, which is not a good thing.

Sorry, but you're looking for a definitive answer to something there is no definitive answer for. It's a gamble, which is why you should have learned to like some simple DIY mixes instead of relying on premade mixes. With DIY storage there are somewhat more definitive answers than there are with eliquid storage, with folks reporting good results with the most popular methods of storing each ingredient, especially nic base (in the freezer).

I have too many bottles (hundreds) to mess with trial and error at this point.

But think of the alternative: losing all your stash or even just half of it because you listened to the wrong advice because you think there is some expert out there or otherwise just took the easy way out. It's a gamble.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

At this point I feel like I'm starting to obsess about this, which is not a good thing.

There is a simple solution... stop obsessing and follow the advice you have been given here. It is solid advice based on actual experience.

Or, you could continue searching for that one bit of advice you might be 'wanting to hear' only to have it be the wrong advice.

I store the DIY juices I mix in a dark cool room until I am ready to vape those. I do not experience any noticeable degradation with any of the flavors within those mixes. Works for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[smacuser]

I recently saw a guy store all his Boba's Bounty in the fridge
and is still having good luck.

.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

All I can say is that however you stored that one particular eliquid that became less tasty is the wrong way for that eliquid. That's all I can say and that's all I think.



Sorry, but you're looking for a definitive answer to something there is no definitive answer for. It's a gamble, which is why you should have learned to like some simple DIY mixes instead of relying on premade mixes. With DIY storage there are somewhat more definitive answers than there are with eliquid storage, with folks reporting good results with the most popular methods of storing each ingredient, especially nic base (in the freezer).



But think of the alternative: losing all your stash or even just half of it because you listened to the wrong advice because you think there is some expert out there or otherwise just took the easy way out. It's a gamble.

Yea, I could just never get into DIY, I have tried and it was extremely frustrating for me. Nothing I made every tasted good and I would always get confused on portions, ratios, parts, etc...I'm not good with math (even with charts and a calculator) and so I just gave up on that. DIY isn't for everyone.

Like I said, I was first following the advice of a professional mixer who ran his own business for years online. He said the freezer for everything (with 8 years of experience doing this himself), so that's what I went by. Getting back to the trial & error...it's a bit too late for that, don't you think? This stuff has already been in the freezer for MONTHS, followed by going on a year in the fridge. I can't undue whatever damage has already occurred, but I can possibly prevent it from getting worse. That's the answer I need but I'm not getting it.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

There is a simple solution... stop obsessing and follow the advice you have been given here. It is solid advice based on actual experience.

Or, you could continue searching for that one bit of advice you might be 'wanting to hear' only to have it be the wrong advice.

I store the DIY juices I mix in a dark cool room until I am ready to vape those. I do not experience any noticeable degradation with any of the flavors within those mixes. Works for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Since you DIY, I assume you are not storing juices for years? See, that's the difference.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

I recently saw a guy store all his Boba's Bounty in the fridge
and is still having good luck.


View attachment 975794 .

Yea, my liter guy gave an example about storing bottles of Boba's Bounty in the freezer for 7 or 8 years. He said it tasted exactly the same when he pulled a bottle out of the freezer years later.

 

[englishmick]

Reckon you are out of luck looking for a definitive answer.

There is a definitive answer to storing concentrated nic, it belongs in the freezer. Likewise flavoring for mixing belongs in the fridge. You won't find many folks disagreeing about those two.

Problem with premixed juice is that not many people store large amounts of it for long periods, so there isn't a large body of experience out there. Even the vendors and makers don't have a consistent take on it.

Anecdotally, when I used premix the only time I got older juice was when I hit up the discontinued / out of date basket in the local B&M's. It was a cheap way to try different flavors. As far as I know they stored juice at room temp. Some of them were way out of date and tasted fine, some of them I took one hit and dumped them down the drain.

Maybe some are better in the fridge and some are better at room temp. Some will last well, some will go off no matter what you do.

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

Reckon you are out of luck looking for a definitive answer.

There is a definitive answer to storing concentrated nic, it belongs in the freezer. Likewise flavoring for mixing belongs in the fridge. You won't find many folks disagreeing about those two.

Problem with premixed juice is that not many people store large amounts of it for long periods, so there isn't a large body of experience out there. Even the vendors and makers don't have a consistent take on it.

Anecdotally, when I used premix the only time I got older juice was when I hit up the discontinued / out of date basket in the local B&M's. It was a cheap way to try different flavors. As far as I know they stored juice at room temp. Some of them were way out of date and tasted fine, some of them I took one hit and dumped them down the drain.

Maybe some are better in the fridge and some are better at room temp. Some will last well, some will go off no matter what you do.

OK, I can agree with this, you are probably right. I'm going to hit up my liter guy and ask him if I'm able to buy some flavorings from him for my juices he made for me (depending on how many flavors it takes to make one profile) and see if he'll sell me any. I'm thinking that might give re-birth to the flavor of the juice, but I don't know. It's worth a shot.

 

[Ericsgreen]

Major bummer, but long as the nic keeps I think your OK, I gotta think a guy who spent thousands and has now lost some flavor potency deserves the exact recipe, if not ability to buy the flavoring direct, and if nothing else, replacement of the premixed juice at cost but these days all of us are just trying to stay vaping and keep any business we can, I don't think it was anyone's fault or bad advice. The problem is vg can turn rancid, I'm told, and not knowing how old it was when mixed and bottled, I think the freezer might be safest, especially since the nic is quite important and the liquid will certainly turn darker brown and get a taste, so reduced flavor is better alternative, it may have steeped out no matter what you had done, some flavors are best vaped immediately and some require a long steep. I really can't say much for over 8weeks steep, but I've got juices made 6 years ago and still smell the same,lime cookie, crunch berry, cherries, maybe it was just that one flavor, or strawberry

I thought this whole base in freezer, flavorings cool and dark was long settled, but I'd never considered buying liters of pre-made juices but some flavors definitely fall out as they age, very interesting.

I'm gonna lean once more for diy, most folks are using a hundredth gram scale now, since water weighs about one gram per ml, and flavorings and recipes, pg, vg are known, and pretty close to this gram/ml, you can easily zip through some recipes with a $20 1/100 gram scale, not lot of ratios so much as there was, youd put your bottle up there, tare the scale and add 3.30 grams of strawberry 4.11 grams of whatever. And you can still buy base in whatever strength you want so as not to deal with base, pg and vg, although pure pg seems to be the safest for long term storage, delosi labs is still selling, heartland, but mine had some taste, and Carolina xtracts. I will say the old recipes really don't hold out imo, so looking at what was most popular doesn't work so well now, agrees it just isn't how everyone wants to spend their time, but maybe just as backup insurance in case your storage does fail in some way, just couple liters of 100mg pg nic, you always be able to get pg and vg, and 2l of 100mg base will make more pre-made than you'd fit in any 4cu ft freezer, some form of flavorings will be available, but I've got lots thayre old and just stored cool and dark and I still use a little

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

Major bummer, but long as the nic keeps I think your OK, I gotta think a guy who spent thousands and has now lost some flavor potency deserves the exact recipe, if not ability to buy the flavoring direct, and if nothing else, replacement of the premixed juice at cost but these days all of us are just trying to stay vaping and keep any business we can, I don't think it was anyone's fault or bad advice. The problem is vg can turn rancid, I'm told, and not knowing how old it was when mixed and bottled, I think the freezer might be safest, especially since the nic is quite important and the liquid will certainly turn darker brown and get a taste, so reduced flavor is better alternative, it may have steeped out no matter what you had done, some flavors are best vaped immediately and some require a long steep. I really can't say much for over 8weeks steep, but I've got juices made 6 years ago and still smell the same,lime cookie, crunch berry, cherries, maybe it was just that one flavor, or strawberry

I thought this whole base in freezer, flavorings cool and dark was long settled, but I'd never considered buying liters of pre-made juices but some flavors definitely fall out as they age, very interesting.

I'm gonna lean once more for diy, most folks are using a hundredth gram scale now, since water weighs about one gram per ml, and flavorings and recipes, pg, vg are known, and pretty close to this gram/ml, you can easily zip through some recipes with a $20 1/100 gram scale, not lot of ratios so much as there was, youd put your bottle up there, tare the scale and add 3.30 grams of strawberry 4.11 grams of whatever. And you can still buy base in whatever strength you want so as not to deal with base, pg and vg, although pure pg seems to be the safest for long term storage, delosi labs is still selling, heartland, but mine had some taste, and Carolina xtracts. I will say the old recipes really don't hold out imo, so looking at what was most popular doesn't work so well now, agrees it just isn't how everyone wants to spend their time, but maybe just as backup insurance in case your storage does fail in some way, just couple liters of 100mg pg nic, you always be able to get pg and vg, and 2l of 100mg base will make more pre-made than you'd fit in any 4cu ft freezer, some form of flavorings will be available, but I've got lots thayre old and just stored cool and dark and I still use a little

Well this guy (who did business through his website and actually still has it up) bought the supplies for each "run" he did when he announced his promos, so I know it was fresh stuff, although how long ago had the shipper had it for, I dunno about all that lol.

You said that that you think the freezer is the best place, I had it in the freezer for months before moving them to the fridge, there was no darkening of the color...the liquid looks today just like it did when I received it. I assumed that was BECAUSE I was keeping it in the freezer, then fridge? No I don't expect him to replace anything, I'm not blaming anyone as there doesn't seem to be an exact answer for any of this. I did E-Mail him though about this and asked about buying flavors from him, I've done business with him for many years.

I am interested though in reading your response about my liquids not turning dark after being in the freezer for months, then moved to the fridge. That didn't seem to happen in my case at all. I was told leaving it OUT of the fridge or freezer, would definitely darken the juice. I know that's a fact because before I started stocking up, I would buy 4 120's a month, keep them in a dark cabinet and towards the end of the month, they were definitely darker than when I got them. So that's interesting.

When it comes to DIY, I think they only way I would "get it" is to sit down with someone IN PERSON, who knows what they are doing and teach me. I don't think I would ever get it any other way. I have tried many times and just end up totally frustrated with the whole experience. I realize DIY is not for everyone and I think I'm one of those people. But you are right, it's probably a good idea for a back up purpose, if anything.

 

[AvaOrchid]

I think the reason why there may never be an actual answer to that question is because there are so very many different flavorings and so very many different combinations and amounts that in any one e-juice there could potentially be a concentrate that does not stay stable in a cold environment.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

When it comes to DIY, I think they only way I would "get it" is to sit down with someone IN PERSON, who knows what they are doing and teach me. I don't think I would ever get it any other way.

If you can't get it from this video then you won't even get it 'in person". This video is a bit long-winded IMHO, but it's the best I can find since some better ones were taken off youtube. You won't be able to watch it on ECF, you'll have to click the link to watch it on youtube. This method involves using a scale instead of syringes. The scale method is the easiest way IMHO, but I won't get into that debate as it's a pointless debate as some people seem to choose one method over another due to religious belief lol.

If you just want to quickly get to the nuts and bolts, then skip to 14:30

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

If you can't get it from this video then you won't even get it 'in person". This video is a bit long-winded IMHO, but it's the best I can find since some better ones were taken off youtube. You won't be able to watch it on ECF, you'll have to click the link to watch it on youtube. This method involves using a scale instead of syringes. The scale method is the easiest way IMHO, but I won't get into that debate as it's a pointless debate as some people seem to choose one method over another due to religious belief lol.

If you just want to quickly get to the nuts and bolts, then skip to 14:30

I'll check it out. Thanks for the link.