Steeping Idea

[CounterCulture]

Hey guys. Been lurking around this forum for quite some time now...just never took the time to make an account and actually reply to threads until recently.

So I'm thinking about pulling the trigger and getting into the whole DIY e-juice thing. I've been spending way too much money on simple juices. I figured it couldnt be all that difficult to make a juice that i'd like.

I've been doing some reading regarding how people steep, cap on, cap off, warm bath, ultrasonic cleaner, magnetic stirrer, yadda yadda... but i was wondering if anyone has ever tried steeping their juice using a DIY magnetic stirrer and a electric coffee mug warming sleeve like this:

USB coffee warmer - F27 series - e-warmer (China Manufacturer) - Office Gifts & Decoration - Arts Crafts Products - DIYTrade China
+
Ejuice mixing magnetic mixer - YouTube
or
The Down to Earth Woodworker: Make Your Own Magnetic Stirrer - YouTube

According to the spec's on the electric warming sleeve, it can keep a mug at around 100-104 degrees. Seems like a perfect temperature. Another alternative would be to use a regular office desk mug warmer and putting a DIY magnetic stirrer with a waterproof computer fan inside the mug.

Let me know what you think!

 

[happydave]

i have been mixing my own for years. i hot steep when im experimenting with new flavors. it does job well enough for me to get an idea of what the finished product will be like. but its just not the same as letting it sit in cool dark place for a week or 2.

 

[happydave]

some flavors really do not require steeping or airing out. they are totally fine fresh and steeping or airing out does not add any new dimension or smoothness to the flavor

 

[Bjorn218]

The only flavors I have found that do not require any form of steeping are mint/menthol types. I have heard people mention fruit flavors juice needs little steeping if that, but in my experience most all fruit flavors need at least 2-4 days for the flavor to really come alive. Peach and berry flavors tend to be rather perfumy at first. Pineapple, apple and the like tend to taste like dirty socks smell or B.O. when green, and grape taste like air for at least a couple days. YMMV. The best method for "steeping" or "aging" I have found was a blog by Vapor Chef.

 

[soberlife1]

i have been mixing my own for years. i hot steep when im experimenting with new flavors. it does job well enough for me to get an idea of what the finished product will be like. but its just not the same as letting it sit in cool dark place for a week or 2.

by hot steep do you mean microwave for approx 15 seconds?

 

[Wingsfan0310]

I was given a Conair foot massager/bath that has heat, vibration, flow, and bubble/airation controls that is still in the box. Your thread made me think about it and I bet putting my my finished creations (in their bottles) in a ziploc bag and putting them in there would work.

 

[CounterCulture]

take some before and after pictures of the juice!

 

[spawnsharks]

I just got a big order in... I did this:

Filled my crock pot with warm water, and set it to 'warm'
placed the bottles, a few at a time, in plastic bags with caps off
slid the bags into glass jars and carefully filled the jar, outside of the plastic, just below the necks of the bottles with hot tap water
Placed the jars into the warm crock pot of water, and let it sit for 4-5 hrs.

All of the alcohol evaporated right out. Done.

Then, I dropped a couple of clean, sterile BBs in each bottle, and shook like crazy while warm.

Then, I transferred my primary flavors into blue glass bottles to steep for a couple of days. The other samples that came with the order stayed in their plastic containers, and went into my box.

 

[happydave]

by hot steep do you mean microwave for approx 15 seconds?

Lol, no I dunk the bottles in 120 degree water for 1-4 hours