Long Term Base Storage

[appleblomb]

Hi, I have recently started making my own E-juice. I order unflavored nicotine base which is diluted to 6mg/ml and 50/50 pg/vg then add flavorings. I have heard the shelf life of this stuff is around 2 years. I was wondering if there is any way to extend it? I have been looking at putting the base in the freezer, then letting it warm up to room temp and making smaller batches as needed. Ideally I'd like to get 3-4 years out of it. I also have heard it is better to store it in glass bottles, would something like a swing top beer bottle work, even though it has plastic in the lid?

Information for this kind of stuff seems to vary greatly depending on who you ask, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[twgbonehead]

Store it in the freezer. Although there are large differences of opinion on the subject, my experience is that it will last 4 years no problem.

I would be leery of storing it in any beverage container unless you can somehow label it very clearly and permanently. I use mason jars, because we don't use then for anything else, and label them.

The plastic in the lid shouldn't be any problem, particularly if you keep the bottles vertical.

 

[tj99959]

I hear 10 years thrown around a lot as the expected shelf life if kept in the freezer.

(but, there probably isn't anyone that has stored any that long yet)

 

[CardinalWinds]

Amber or cobalt blue glass in the freezer. I have no idea how much you purchased, but if it's an appreciable amount, divide it into smaller portions. By doing this, you are only exposing a small amount of your stash at a time to oxygen and light when you transfer for usage. I keep the bottle I'm currently using in the fridge and move a new one out of the freezer as needed.

 

[appleblomb]

I already intended to label them, having poisonous stuff near food made it seem like a good idea. I already researched a bit about light exposure, and found some sweet looking cobalt blue ones. They are 1L Grolsch style, I'm fairly certain. I would post a link, but it isn't allowed. I haven't ordered the juice yet, I wanted to verify this would work before I dumped a bunch of money in to it. Would 1L be too big, or should I go smaller? I intend to make 100-120ml at a time, the most the bottle would be opened is 10 times. I suppose I could store the majority of it in the 1L bottles, then once I start using one break it down all at once in to 4oz bottles so I'm not opening the same bottle multiple times. Glad to hear this can be done though, I've heard things about condensation and all that but wasn't sure if much of the fear was legitimate.

 

[Rat2chat2]

to ecf appleblomb. Nice to meet you and so glad that you are here. Just a wonderful place to be. If you put "nicotine storage" up in the search box on the right side, you can read for days about freezing nicotine. I freeze in amber glass and have started using glass for all my DIY due to concern of plastics having an effect on my juice. There are lots of good places to get bottles if you are interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Round-Bottles-Oz-Pack/dp/B003FXH2LY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8

Specialty Bottle - Amber Boston Round Glass Bottles

Good luck to you and I look forward to reading more about you. You see this is not just the most reliable forum for vaping information, we are also a family. So make yourself at home.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

I keep mine in a stasis unit. No degradation for 1,000 years. Ohh wait earth does not have those yet. Nevermind.

 

[twgbonehead]

Well, if you're buying the bottles, these would definitely not be my first (or second or third) choice!!! First choice would probably be cobalt-blue bottles or canning jars.

Here's why I don't like the "grolsch" bottles:

1. Too tall and narrow, can tip easily
2. Too narrow a neck, you need to fill them with a funnel.
3. The only way to get stuff out is by pouring.
4. 1 Liter is probably a larger size than you would ideally want.

By contrast, the canning jars I use are:

1. Wide base, very stable
2. Low profile, so they fit on the bottom shelf of my freezer, with the next shelf at its lowest point.
3. Very thick glass, hard to break! (Perhaps the grolsch bottles are, too).
4. Wide mouth; you can just pour stuff into them, and take it out with a syringe (you can pour from them, too).
5. Available in many different sizes.

Of course they're clear (which is not ideal) but since the freezer might get opened for 20 seconds 2-3 times a week, they really don't get much light exposure!
(Note, this is a freezer in the basement, not the refrig/freezer in the kitchen!) Also I put them at the bottom, and no food goes down there, so if something should somehow spill it really can't get into food.

 

[appleblomb]

Thank you for the warm welcome! I look forward to being a part of the community. I've been off analogs for over a year now, and tried a few setups before then until I found something satisfactory. It's amazing how much the technology has changed since I first tried it. I actually was looking at some of those 4oz bottles on the amazon link, just in cobalt blue instead of amber. Looking forward to not have to mix as often for the stuff I have tried and like.

I started looking at mason jars, which actually might work better. Only thing is, I found them in 32oz and not 1L. 32oz is just under 1L so I wouldn't mind seeing if I can squeeze it in. My supplier provides it in 1L bottles so I was hoping to just do a direct transfer from the plastic bottle to the glass. It would be in a secondary freezer as well, which doesn't get opened too much and locks. The jars are much cheaper than the bottles too, should be able to fit standing up without question, and can be bought locally. I can find a funnel that fits my graduated cylinder so that wouldn't be an issue for transferring out, but I did not consider needing one to pour in to the beer bottles. Seems like wide mouth jars are the way to go.

Thank you all for your suggestions, they have helped me immensely. Hopefully I can return the favor on here some day. I might get brave enough to post some recipes once I play with things a bit more.