The Maillard reaction typically occurs around 140-165C (280-330F). I don't think anyone is probably steeping their liquids at those temperatures.
Should you add nicotine after or before steeping?
- Thread starter Ivan Chan
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not totally sure that is the reaction in question. nicotine can be broken down simply by striking it with light. Nicotine base needs to be kept in the freezer to keep it from browning.
Yeah, we usually just call it "oxidation" (Wiki: Redox). Not sure if that is technically correct either, but I still don't think it's Maillard.
yeah, you are probably right but I was going by recollection from the thread on the other forum and I am pretty sure they were all calling it maillard even though incorrect. Some in the thread were doing tests of the same recipes with and without nic then comparing the color and side by side vape/tongue/smell tests. I never bothered with side by side tests. I am just lazy and always add nic in at the beginning to be sure I don't forget but I also mix 0 nic for a night time vape and sometimes (like when I recently decided to bump up to 4.5mg nic) I will add nic after some weeks/months.
edit: remember that pic I posted earlier, add another 220ml bottle to it.
I'm always/usually way of the need curve when I initiate a DIY session, so steeping is just a time element. I shake daily for the first week and then let it mellow on its own. I sometimes test one or two after the first week if I'm out of that flavor in my older stock. If it's good I vape it.
I always add the nic first in the mix bottle, then add PG, VG, and flavoring. If nic's in the bottom it's already starting to mix a little as I pour in the PG and VG. It's just my way of avoiding hot spots. I still shake the neck out of it the first time. After that I shake once a day for the first week and occasionally after that.
Last week I mixed up 300ml of unflavored in 100ml sizes and 300ml of flavored juices in 50ml sizes. I'm still vaping some juices that I mixed up 3 to 5 months ago, so I can wait. Unflavored is pretty much shake and vape anyway, but I let it sit for a day or two. Most of my flavors are tobacco and they require 3 or 4 weeks to mature.
I always add the nic first in the mix bottle, then add PG, VG, and flavoring. If nic's in the bottom it's already starting to mix a little as I pour in the PG and VG. It's just my way of avoiding hot spots. I still shake the neck out of it the first time. After that I shake once a day for the first week and occasionally after that.
Last week I mixed up 300ml of unflavored in 100ml sizes and 300ml of flavored juices in 50ml sizes. I'm still vaping some juices that I mixed up 3 to 5 months ago, so I can wait. Unflavored is pretty much shake and vape anyway, but I let it sit for a day or two. Most of my flavors are tobacco and they require 3 or 4 weeks to mature.
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Oxygen per say is not bad for nicotine in fact it's part of the maturing process and directly impacts the over all flavor of the mix and should be added during your initial mixing session before maturing. What is bad is adding to much oxygen over a short amount of time. This can be seen when you fast steep using the frothing method. The mix can over oxidized in a very short amount of time and can become harsh. Allowing the nicotine to mature naturally over time usually gives a decent throat hit without becoming to harsh.
Now heat steeping on the other hand speeds up the oxidation process and as long as the oxygen is controlled by steeping a full bottle with little air space and with the cap on it will produce a decent throat hit and meld flavor like natural steeping does but in a shorter amount of time (hours instead of weeks).
Over heating and steeping for to long a period can cause more harshness then desired. If you limit your steeping time to 1 hour per natural week of steeping and keep your temperature range between 135 - 150F you'll be fine.
To further explain 1 hour per natural week of steeping. It can easily be explained as follows:
A 1 hour heat steep = 1 week of natural steeping.
A 2 hour heat steep = 2 weeks of natural steeping.
A 3 hour heat steep = 3 weeks of natural steeping.
etc etc........
There is usually no need to steep longer then 5 hours because after 5 hours the gains are usually nominal.
After completing heat steeping a rest period for the mix is required usually lasting for 1-2 days. During this period is when the minor flavor notes usually develop. When you rest the mix leave the cap on. The only time it's necessary to leave the cap off is if the flavoring used is alcohol based and you want to evaporate off the alcohol.
To know more about steeping read my blog:
Everything you wanted to know about steeping and then some. | E-Cigarette Forum
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So, would you say that shaking daily until some small floating bubbles appear is an acceptable method of encouraging steeping? That's shaking about 20 to 30 seconds a day for me.
Does anyone know how heat steeping affects Nic Salts? I haven't done any heat steeping, but I might have an interest since I'm going to be either making or amending many flavors here soon. I wouldn't mind a bit of heat to speed things along, but I'm not sure if that's really wisest. Unless someone has information on that I will probably age them the way I usually do and just Be Patient....
Anna
Anna
When I make any DIY I mix all components and then I leave it to age and infuse. In my experience nicotine is part of the flavor even though I only use tasteless flavorless NicSelect.
Sorry Anna, I know almost nothing about nic salts. You may want to ask over on the nicotine comparison thread; I believe there are several nic salt users frequenting there.
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