Speed Steeping

[LitchOfDoom]

I am about to start my first round of making my own juice and I wanted to get all the information on steeping that I can.

My current understanding is that you mix your juices and leave it in a dark place for about a week. But then someone told me about "speed steeping" and can be done by placing your bottle in near boiling water for about an hour and it will be fine. I did a quick look on the forum and didn't really find anything that was of any help so let me break it down to what I can. I am planning on doing a 65/35 pg/vg mix with 0 nic. I have several glass and plastic bottles for me to use, though I do not know which would be better to use. I got my flavors from wizard labs and they are all TFA. I have no clue how much flavoring I will be adding in just yet, want all the information first.

Let me be clear, I do not have the means for the "vibration" or "hyersonic" thing so please don't waste time with it and I have no intentions of using a microwave On that note, what are my option? How is it really done? What kind time intervals are there (meaning X time speed steeping = Y time normal steeping)?

 

[DadEh]

I am unable to offer suggestions but heard this speed steeping thing and am very interested in making my own juices.
Will be watching this thread.

 

[LitchOfDoom]

I am unable to offer suggestions but heard this speed steeping thing and am very interested in making my own juices.
Will be watching this thread.

If you want to get the basic understanding of how to do it check this thread out, http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/637750-getting-my-breaking-bad.html

Keep in mind that is for 0 nic. Nic needs a little extra care to it

 

[Anemephistus]

I simply put it over the exhaust fan of my gaming PC in the bottle I buy it in. Its about 80 deg f and it has a mild vibration. I leave it there until it developes a nice color and I give it a shake before I use it. I've also taken the lid off the juice, put the whole open bottle in a coffee cup. And put boiling water in the cup around the bottle until it was about to where the bottle curves. Once the water cools I wash the cup put the lid on the juice and let it set overnight.

These are brute force methods but they enrich the flavor rapidly, I would probably do it different if I was going to store the juice but I vape it within a couple of weeks anyway and this works for me.

 

[Cullin Kin]

I've tried the 'speed steeping' method with a tried and true recipe I've made many times. I normally steep the regular way (4-6 weeks shaking it every couple days) and this juice comes out truly remarkable. The other day I mixed up a batch and thought I would try the speed steeping. I let it sit in near boiling water for 30-45 minutes as the water cooled with the occasional vigorous shake every 10 minutes or so. For me, this changed the juices flavor profile completely, in a negative way. I did not like the effects it produced (I'm letting it sit just incase, it hasn't gotten any better) and I now believe there is no substitute for good ol' time. That might just be me though. I know Kent Brooks over at NT will agree with me.

Really though, unless you're doing a custard/vanilla/tobacco kind of juice I've found that no steep is required. I make a Strawberries and Cream juice that is fantastic immediately upon mixing.

It's all about forming your own process. You'll find what works for you and what doesn't. Just thought I'd share my experience. Good luck with your DIY! This is where the real money saving begins.

 

[Rat2chat2]

I prefer just placing it in a cool dark place and giving it a shake about twice a day. Sometimes sit it in a bowl of hot water and let the water just go to room temp will do the trick also. Fruit juices and lighter colored are usually not necessary to steep at all. Some of the tobacco's and darker juices seem to benefit from steeping. A great way is with a ultra sonic cleaner from what I have read. I have not tried this yet, but I read where someone put their juice in a ziplock bag and tossed it in a dryer full of clothes and said it was a great way. I might have to try that one. I have also read many things that I would not try at all.

Good luck to you and happy steeping. (I hate that term, always makes me want a cup of hot tea)

 

[Anemephistus]

I agree with the sentiment that rich juice benefits from this but lighter stuff is way less noticible or important. I would also wager time is the best way. The water method I use is room temp in less than 30 minutes though and I give it a day after wards. I'm thinking keeping juice in continuous hot water for half an hour is likely to ruin it. Cullin Kin seems right on the dot to me. I would say though that speed steeping works for me, I just think that some warming and vibration don't seem to hurt the stuff and improve it markedly.

 

[Mrdaputer]

Some juices just don't need to be steeped. They are shake and vape. Time is your best steep if you want to speed steep give your mix a warm bath. I have used a thermos with hot water. I use 150 degree water put my bottle in there and about every hour I take it out shake it real good then put it back. Some ppl use a crock pot. If you put steep in the search bar you will find many threads on steeping.

 

[Art Mustel]

4 hours in the crockpot, low setting (it should be around 140 degrees). Or just fill a thermos with running hot water, as hot as it gets, and drop the bottles in it, put the cap on thermos and let steep for 4 hours. Almost the same, and easier. I use LDPE bottles (the plastic ones that are like frosted and easy to squeeze). The PET ones (clear like glass) don't take the heat very good. But if you have glass bottles you may try them. LDPE works great for me.

I usually wait 24 hours after this hot bath, and liquids are perfectly vapeable, and they will improve after one week, but you really don't need to wait that long. Crock Pot or thermos and 1 day "steeping".

 

[DaveP]

The only reason I've ever steeped was to get rid of a bitter taste or a taste that I refer to as "green grass", like the aroma you get after mowing the lawn. That taste is usually an alcohol component in the flavorings or some other ingredient that will or won't evaporate. I've never tried to force steep any juice, although I can see why people do that. When I order, it's in 50ml bottles and I have time to just take the caps off and leave them for a week in a place where they won't be knocked over. I squeeze them daily to expel any vapors in the bottle and replace that with plain old air.

Some juices won't benefit simply because of the recipe used. If you can find vendors who create flavors you like right out of the mailbox, then that's a plus. I've steeped juices that just won't recover. Those go on my list not to try again. If it's not good right out of the mailbox it may not be good after a week of steeping.

 

[jimstratus]

Speaking strictly on method I have used with success and nothing to do with needing to or if being the best way. Fill coffee cup or pot with enough hot tap water to bring level near the top of glass bottles placed inside then place it on the coffee pot heating plate for 4 to 6 hours shaking and checking water level once an hour. Checked water temp and it was at about 140 degrees

 

[LayZVap3r]

I keep mine in my headboard. Complete darkness and shake a few times a day. I have never tried to speed up the process. Great things take time.

 

[dannyv45]

All you wanted to know about steeping and then some.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html

 

[tFOrRESTee]

My experience in steeping.

Time is the best method for steeping.
Warm water is better than hot boiling water. So let the boiling water cool off a bit before putting the bottle in.
Don't do breathing (cap open) too long or you will lose flavor. Breathing is mainly to remove the harshness caused by the alcohol in some flavorings.
I put my bottles on a tray, and place the tray on the washer and dryer when doing laundry. Or put your bottles on top of something that vibrates and/or produces heat, like one poster mentioned on his computer fan.
Prefer amber bottles over clear colorless ones to minimize light contact.