Is it better to steep my juice/filled carts in the Fridge or a dark corner of the house?
Steeping Question
- Thread starter Whistles
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Whistles sir for me get better results in a dark drawer/closet. Getting juice too cold or hot will affect the flavor negatively.
Dark....light..
.... personally I think it's more important to just let it breathe. I only say that because I cannot think of any reason on how the light would affect the juice. Juices are stored in open boxes and subjected to light for weeks and in some cases months without altering them. Perhaps it's a U.V. issue since nic is photosensitive, but it can't be that sensitive to indoor lighting or there would be no consistency in coloration.
.... personally I think it's more important to just let it breathe. I only say that because I cannot think of any reason on how the light would affect the juice. Juices are stored in open boxes and subjected to light for weeks and in some cases months without altering them. Perhaps it's a U.V. issue since nic is photosensitive, but it can't be that sensitive to indoor lighting or there would be no consistency in coloration.
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Have to agree with your theory on UV light Snow sir. Looks like a juice is going to have to be put to the test this week. Luckily one if the windows here gets plenty of sunlight for as long as it's up. 5ml's of wowboy, smilin, and nuport wow should give a good comparison....
I agree Snow... I also think the Bottle's plastic is thick enough to block the UV... Also due to my ex, and son's UV sensitivity issue my house is a UV free zone
so the point of steeping is for it to breathe, presumably because some volatile compounds come out. Any idea what those volatiles are? Is Nicotine one of them? What's the science behind steeping?
Simple chemistry Plarkinjr sir. Think of it like wine or a craft brew again. In order for the flavors to truly come out is through oxidation....
The use of the word "Steeping" is completely inaccurate and improper, but is recognized in vaping nomenclature. Aging or curing would actually be the most accurate descriptor of the process. To understand the science one need to understand the process and methods involved in making e-liquid.
Concentrated flavorings used in making e-liquid are specifically made for the food and beverage industries. Most of their processes include heating, carbonation, or dilution which aid in the curing or flavoring process. Nicotine for example has a peppery taste to it which can be detected in fresh e-juices which when aged or "steeped" become less detectable.
By shaking the bottle vigorously it creates bubbles and micro-bubbles. Removing the dropper and cap allows the nicotine and flavorings to outgas while exposing the e-juice to oxygen. As for the science behind it....ya...there is about 2,350 years worth. So why are there some juices that do not require steeping? Some juice makers employ different processes such as heating which speed up the aging process. This is why custom juice makers that do not employ such speed-curing processes note that their juices require steeping for the flavors to reach full maturity.
Concentrated flavorings used in making e-liquid are specifically made for the food and beverage industries. Most of their processes include heating, carbonation, or dilution which aid in the curing or flavoring process. Nicotine for example has a peppery taste to it which can be detected in fresh e-juices which when aged or "steeped" become less detectable.
By shaking the bottle vigorously it creates bubbles and micro-bubbles. Removing the dropper and cap allows the nicotine and flavorings to outgas while exposing the e-juice to oxygen. As for the science behind it....ya...there is about 2,350 years worth. So why are there some juices that do not require steeping? Some juice makers employ different processes such as heating which speed up the aging process. This is why custom juice makers that do not employ such speed-curing processes note that their juices require steeping for the flavors to reach full maturity.
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hehehee.....I have a simple example of why steeping (time) helps bring out flavor....wanna hear it?
Well, here it is Think about foods such as chili or spaghetti sauce. Now with these, there is (as Snow noted) the heat that has already sped up the process, but almost everyone can agree that both chili and spaghetti sauce tastes soooo much better the next day. Those flavors have had extra time to infuse with eachother and bring out the best of the best flavors.
Well, here it is
Think about foods such as chili or spaghetti sauce. Now with these, there is (as Snow noted) the heat that has already sped up the process, but almost everyone can agree that both chili and spaghetti sauce tastes soooo much better the next day. Those flavors have had extra time to infuse with eachother and bring out the best of the best flavors.
Thank you all for the explanations.... so it is a bit of off-gassing, oxidation, and "marrying". So much in life is a trade-off, so I was worried I'd be losing some nic or something by "steeping". Sounds like I don't need to up the strength then, if I'm going to steep.
Respectfully disagree with the "top off" method of steeping. PG & VG are both hygroscopic. They will both absorb water from the ambient air. A big problem for people living in areas of high humidity. Water dilutes e-liquid and the air will oxidize it. The purpouse of steeping is to distribute the molecules of flavor/nic evenly and allow it to absorb into the VG/PG base. Think about it....you don't put your favorite meal in the frig without covering it or store booze or age wine in an open container. When it comes to e-juice air or light is not your friend...............
While I agree that indeed PG is hygroscopic, I respectfully disagree with your analogy and statement. Because it does not take into account the relative humidity found inside a household. Generally around 40% this is not a high enough coefficient for either hygroscopic expansion or contraction.
I stand by my earlier statement along with every custom e-juice producer that I have ever heard of. If you can find a single juice manufacturer that states differently I would like to know about it and hope you post it here.
add: Here's a rather interesting link from Shan B, she lives for this steeping stuff. I don't wholeheartedly agree with a few things from my personal experience, but I appreciate her personal experiences and insights.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...one-got-scientific-explaination-steeping.html
It's only 4 pages of replies but it's interesting.
I believe she has some videos as well.
I stand by my earlier statement along with every custom e-juice producer that I have ever heard of. If you can find a single juice manufacturer that states differently I would like to know about it and hope you post it here.
add: Here's a rather interesting link from Shan B, she lives for this steeping stuff. I don't wholeheartedly agree with a few things from my personal experience, but I appreciate her personal experiences and insights.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...one-got-scientific-explaination-steeping.html
It's only 4 pages of replies but it's interesting.
I believe she has some videos as well.
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Interesting thread to say the least, and they do raise the question floating around my head: is it really a good idea to leave it exposed to air for days or weeks?
Not for weeks Plarkinjr sir, if you watched Snow sir's video he leaves it exposed for a grand total of 25-26 hours. In my method leave it exposed for 36. Would never suggest leaving it exposed longer than that...
Thanks for clarifying, and I guess I misunderstood the video (or wasn't paying close enough attention).
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