steeping is killing me!

[blues72]

So I started running low on juice that I liked and order some from a couple new vendors, Mr Vapes RY4 and 6 different flavors from MBV to see if I like any of them. Being a newbie, I am trying to find juices that I like and are hopefully economical to vape and both of these seemed worthy to try. My problem is, I know how to steep and based on comments here, how long I should steep, but as Tom Petty said, the waiting is hardest part!

Anyway, I now know I should be buying a month out at a time. Rookie mistake. Just thought I'd rant a little.

Mike

 

[Katya]

Ahem... Just go ahead and vape! Trust me.

Steeping is overrated.

A few thoughts:

1) Commercially available, factory made juices need no steeping at all; yes, flavors may change slightly with time tue to oxidation/deterioration of ingredients, but they are ready right out of the box.

2) DIY--the only instance I know of where steeping is absolutely critical--the flavorings need some time to properly distribute/diffuse/marry/meld with/in the medium. Period.

3) made to order juices from gourmet eliquid boutiques need some time too, but, in most cases, the week or so in transit is enough for the flavorings to properly diffuse.

4) NETs--those really need to steep and flavors change and develop, deepen and become more complex with time--sometimes for the beteer, often for the worse. But natural tobacco extracts really do steep and mature.

Anyway, that's been my experience with the eliquids I have used in the past 4 years. And let me add that I have never met an ejuice I couldn't vape out of the box--even the NETs. They may not have been at their best, but they were all vapable--and many quite enjoyable even before they reached their peak (whatever that is).

So, my advice to new vapers is to keep it simple. If it tastes good, vape it. If it doesn't, throw it in a drawer and forget about it for a month--rinse and repeat, if necessary. It may get better--it may also get much worse.

YMMV

Happy vaping.

 

[Bunnykiller]

Steeping is something you do with tea... aging is the proper term, you age juice, wine, etc. and to be honest, "steeping" juice is a waste of time with non NET juices. Try it out when you get it, if you like it vape it. It may get better as it ages, it may get worse. As far as NET juices go, then yes, aging does improve flavor due to the complex chemistry of the juice. I have found that the flavor characteristics in NET's do improve over several weeks... but they never last long enuf to get past 5 or so weeks anyway...

 

[dice57]

Steeping? What dat? lol. Yeah always thought the Steeping of juice is one of those internet legends. Good juice is good juice right from the get go, crap juice is crap no matter how long it sits in a dark cool corner. I personally think that when people "steep" their juices for a month and notice a dramatic change in flavor, that it wasn't their juice that changed it was the taste buds and sense of smell that changed. Once you start to vape and not smoke, your body will slowly start to repair itself, taste and smell will start to improve, so any major change in flavor is because you can actually taste now.

Another factor in a more pronounced flavor in the juice is the atomizer that one uses and the coil build and wick. Different wire, ohms of the coil, wick material, watts vaped at, can all influence how the juice tastes. I've been playing with Magic Mundy's twisty wisty timey whimey, Doctor Who wire in some of my tanks, and the change of flavor is quite noticeable, it just kind of pops alive now. Or wait, maybe my steep time finally jelled, it has been a few weeks since I made this batch of juices. lmao.

 

[docsthaname]

Put the juices in hot'ish water, and let sit till room temp. Maybe reheat the water if ya feel like it. Probably not quite as good as 1-2 weeks of steeping (though I've never steeped one that long, so I don't know). Should be just fine after that, works for me.

 

[blues72]

Thanks for the feedback. I did not know that NETs had a more dramatic impact from steeping (ageing... lol). I did break in m=to my halo tribeca right away, cause my very first order included this and it was good right out of the mail. I had read that MBV's products benefitted from steeping and I do have to say the chimcal smell that accompanied the order is reducing over time and the actual scent of the vapor is becoming more prominent. Also, Mr Vapes has a recommended steeping period for each of it's liquids so I thought I would definitely respect the manufacturers suggestions.

Again, thanks for the feedback.
Mike

 

[blues72]

docs, I had heard that using warm water could accelerate the steeping. don't know if it works, but i did try it!

Mike

 

[tmrr]

I hate it too. I have 2 boxes now, 1 for steeping because I did not like it at first vape and 1 for favorites. In about a month I expect to be able to tell which vendors and flavors I can commit to!

 

[HighEnergyProton]

I only steep if I get a heavy alcohol taste right out of the box, its only happened once that I've had this issue. Previously I get the product and they vape and taste good. I guess the flavours I had bought were just cheaply cut or something.

 

[mcol]

I order juices a month ahead of time now but it sometimes is still hard to wait!
I hope you enjoy your juices!

 

[revco]

Vape it! You might be surprised! At least with MBV, a number of flavors I've tried are good right out of the mailbox. They may get better with age, but how would you know that for yourself if you don't vape it right away? I agree, it's a little overrated. Now some flavors definitely are going to require some aging to get mature...others, it won't matter what you do, the flavor might not ever improve for you.

I have found steeping improves some flavors, but that doesn't stop me from loading up a tank to enjoy. I'll probably get into a better ordering rhythm at some point, but no sense in torturing yourself until you get there! Oh, and you can also look into some rapid steeping methods like using a ultrasonic cleaner, I've read that does wonders quickly...but I haven't tried it.

Welcome to ECF!

 

[roob47]

This morning i took a couple of pulls on a punch flavor that was awful at first vape i started to think "garbage". 5 days later i start to taste what i was waiting for. The MFG site says ready to go right out of the box? Nope let its sit in a cold dark place (the drawer of my office desk) Happy vaping all!

 

[Nuchuga]

Steeping only increases the already established flavor. Juices can be vaped before steeping and will
Taste fine

 

[Gr8Scott]

Eh.

I DIY and steeping is a must with juices that you make ala DIY, as Katya mentioned.


Now re: steeping in general, there are differing schools of thought but if you want try it, there's the ultrasonic method or my improvisation of such.

The ultrasonic method is just a 30 dollars or less Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Here's basically what's out there:

Amazon.com : Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry and Eyeglass Cleaner Cleaning Machine : Electronics Cleaning Products : Electronics

Put the juice bottle in, turn on the little button. Several cycles.
3-5 hrs and it's steeped as much as it's ever going to steep.

This is what I have heard.





What I do is a redneck modification.


Needed:

1 very large fan. Originally I had an attic fan, but now it's just a big 2 1/2 diameter fixed fan. And both vibrate like a jack hammer.

That's the key. The vibration.

Small cardboard box, with a top. This will hold/fit your juice container.

Bubble wrap. This will keep your juice upright



So essentially, you put your juice in the center of the box. Stuff the bubble wrap around the bottle, with the exception of the bottom and top of the bottle which you want flush against the bottom/top of the box. ie: uncushioned.

Put top on box (juice standing straight up.

Duct tape it, tight. (Told ya it was redneck)

Now wedge that box between the floor (like cement or wood, anything hard for vibration purposes) and the bottom of the cage of the fan.

Turn on the fan. Feel your box, it should be vibrating. If you want to add heat, you could theoretically put a heater behind the fan/steeping box. When it was hot in the summer it took less time to get steeped and I can only think it was temperature

In a few hours that juice will be steeped to the equivalent of weeks.

I have actually seen the Nicotine change color from white to pink. This usually only occurs after time.

So this is totally redneck, but it works. And when I procure or make juice , I don't want to wait, so this is my solution.


Good luck with it




P.S.


I made a ridiculously childish looking bitmap of the original Attic fan steeper. This fan had been set in a wooden box/frame which allowed easy wedging.

 

[HighEnergyProton]

Eh.

I DIY and steeping is a must with juices that you make ala DIY, as Katya mentioned.


Now re: steeping in general, there are differing schools of thought but if you want try it, there's the ultrasonic method or my improvisation of such.

The ultrasonic method is just a 30 dollars or less Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Here's basically what's out there:

Amazon.com : Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry and Eyeglass Cleaner Cleaning Machine : Electronics Cleaning Products : Electronics

Put the juice bottle in, turn on the little button. Several cycles.
3-5 hrs and it's steeped as much as it's ever going to steep.

This is what I have heard.





What I do is a redneck modification.


Needed:

1 very large fan. Originally I had an attic fan, but now it's just a big 2 1/2 diameter fixed fan. And both vibrate like a jack hammer.

That's the key. The vibration.

Small cardboard box, with a top. This will hold/fit your juice container.

Bubble wrap. This will keep your juice upright



So essentially, you put your juice in the center of the box. Stuff the bubble wrap around the bottle, with the exception of the bottom and top of the bottle which you want flush against the bottom/top of the box. ie: uncushioned.

Put top on box (juice standing straight up.

Duct tape it, tight. (Told ya it was redneck)

Now wedge that box between the floor (like cement or wood, anything hard for vibration purposes) and the bottom of the cage of the fan.

Turn on the fan. Feel your box, it should be vibrating. If you want to add heat, you could theoretically put a heater behind the fan/steeping box. When it was hot in the summer it took less time to get steeped and I can only think it was temperature

In a few hours that juice will be steeped to the equivalent of weeks.

I have actually seen the Nicotine change color from white to pink. This usually only occurs after time.

So this is totally redneck, but it works. And when I procure or make juice , I don't want to wait, so this is my solution.


Good luck with it




P.S.


I made a ridiculously childish looking bitmap of the original Attic fan steeper. This fan had been set in a wooden box/frame which allowed easy wedging.

This would be incomplete without the duct tape hahahahahaha

 

[twgbonehead]

Since you're just getting started, buying large quantities is not the best idea. There really is a lot of juice out there that you will hate, even though others like it!!!

Many of the MBV flavors need to steep, but really what they need is to air out. You can get them ready much more quickly if you squeeze the air out (and back in) and then shake them, a couple times a day. MBV flavors are essentially DIY, since they custom mix them to your order.

And I'd echo what someone else said - Don't be afraid to try them right out of the mailbox. Just be warned that (in particular) some of the MBV flavors can be really bad out-of-the-box but get very tasty when they're ready.

 

[The Ministry]

I'm 'ageing' my DIY, it's literally just been mixed so giving them a week or two to sort themselves out. Shaking, airing, the works.

I had to steep a batch of 100ml choc mint I recently bought, didn't taste right when I first vaped it, a week in a cupboard sorted that (it's the poodles noodles now)

30ml and below, I've got away with vaping on arrival. Sure, ageing may have enhanced some taste, but as already stated, it's usually gone in a week anyway



Try it, if it meets with your satisfaction, then vape and be happy

 

[Buggainok]

Steeping? What dat? lol. Yeah always thought the Steeping of juice is one of those internet legends. Good juice is good juice right from the get go, crap juice is crap no matter how long it sits in a dark cool corner. I personally think that when people "steep" their juices for a month and notice a dramatic change in flavor, that it wasn't their juice that changed it was the taste buds and sense of smell that changed. Once you start to vape and not smoke, your body will slowly start to repair itself, taste and smell will start to improve, so any major change in flavor is because you can actually taste now.

Another factor in a more pronounced flavor in the juice is the atomizer that one uses and the coil build and wick. Different wire, ohms of the coil, wick material, watts vaped at, can all influence how the juice tastes. I've been playing with Magic Mundy's twisty wisty timey whimey, Doctor Who wire in some of my tanks, and the change of flavor is quite noticeable, it just kind of pops alive now. Or wait, maybe my steep time finally jelled, it has been a few weeks since I made this batch of juices. lmao.

Internet legends - I like that! I'm pretty new, but was beginning to think the same thing. I'm old, and time is awastin'. I don't have time to let stuff sit around. I'm late to the party, and I want to get on with it.

 

[dice57]

Put the juices in hot'ish water, and let sit till room temp. Maybe reheat the water if ya feel like it. Probably not quite as good as 1-2 weeks of steeping (though I've never steeped one that long, so I don't know). Should be just fine after that, works for me.

I actually use a similar method while mixing my DIY juice. After I've measured out all the ingredients into my flasks, I first stir them up as best as possible, then I run hot water over the outside of the flasks while stirring and swirling the juice. Find that that heating up the juice thins out the VG, which is really thick, and helps emulsify all the ingredients much more thoroughly. I then do the lazy mans "steeping", I place the flasks in the steeping cabinet, medicine cabinet, that is in my juice lab, bathroom, where I fluctuate the humidity and temperature daily, I take really long hot showers, and stir and swirl the juice every time I go into the lab, go potty, brush my teeth, take shower. Then once I feel they have steeped enough, out of juice in my bottles and finally got around to it, I pour the juice into bottles. Has been working quite well for me.

Internet legends - I like that! I'm pretty new, but was beginning to think the same thing. I'm old, and time is awastin'. I don't have time to let stuff sit around. I'm late to the party, and I want to get on with it.

When I bought juice, found that some vendors juice were great right out of the bottle, others not quite so much. Suspect it has more to do with how well they mix their juices and the ingredients used. Got fed up with the inconsistencies from them same vender, and dived into DIY juice and haven't looked back. While there is some flavor development when juice ages, a freshly mixed batch that is thoroughly mixed should taste basically the same no matter how long it sits. I notice more flavor development from a new build or a re-wicked dry burned coil then I do with aged juice that has been well mixed.

 

[ZeroOhms]

If you have a dog, hang the juice bottle on the collar and have him/her run around. j/k
Like many have posted, steeping need is heavily depended on the juice content. How do you when it is right time to vape? By trying it out. If you don't drip, just get some empty cartomizer and use them for tasting new batch. You will surprise how many juices are great fresh out of the bottle.