Steeping question

[Soapy]

So I've heard and read a lot of conflicting explainations of steeping.

Would one of you fine folks be willing to explain the differences between steeping, breathing, and aging? What's the benefit of warming your liquids or cooling them?

 

[iDanieljviaiTaste]

I only know a little about this, but since no one else has answered I'll give it a shot. Steeping is when you leave your bottle in a cool dark place for a few days, this helps amp up the flavor a bit with some juices. Some juices don't need to be steeped. Breathing is when you allow your juice to sit without the cap on. This allows the nicotine in your juice to oxygenate. After a couple hours, you'll see the color of your juice to begin to darken. It's the nicotine reacting to oxygen. And aging is pretty self explained, I think. Now I've heard that your juice can last longer if your put them in the freezer, for people who are stocking up for when the FDA gets through. Here's a video that explains pretty much everything you need to know. ---- Ok, so I can't post links here because I'm still a new user so go to youtube and search for "vaping E-Cigs Steeping Your Ejuice" and find the video by Rip Trippers. Sorry I couldn't direct link you, but I hope I helped.

 

[Baditude]

If you are buying pre-mixed e-liquids, they shouldn't require steeping. These are mixed in very large batches, bottled, and sit on a shelf in a warehouse until shipped to the consumer -- this sitting on a shelf is all the steeping that juice is going to need.

Some e-liquid manufacturers do not mix the juice until you place the order. These are considered "custom" mixed. You get to decide on the pg/vg ration, whether to add a flavor bump, add menthol, etc. These often have a "birth date" or mix date on the label. These e-liquids likely will benefit to some form of steeping.

Think of steeping like you would for wine fermenting, or when you make a pot of pot roast. That pot roast tastes pretty good on the day it is made, but will taste even better 2 - 4 days later after all of the ingredients have had time to add their flavor to the mix.

After over two years vaping and using a variety of many manufacturers' e-liquids, I find that I just allow new liquids steep in a cool dark place for 1 - 2 weeks. If the liquid has a perfumey or alcohol smell, I'll leave the top off for 24 hours to allow it to evaporate. Then I replace the cap and shake the bottle well, and let it sit.

 

[Rickajho]

Hi

Steeping and aging are the same thing - allowing the liquid to just sit for a bit of a chemical complexity to happen. There was a quibble started a while back about whether, technically, calling the process "steeping" was appropriate or not. Short version: I personally agree - aging is the more appropriate term.

Warming the liquids can accelerate the aging process, significantly.

Breathing? That's more about evaporation. Some flavorings have an alcohol base that can be "rather unpleasant." Removing the cap and dropper nipple helps to get the alcohol out of the way so it can evaporate. Not all flavorings have this problem. (thank god...)

 

[FallenRawToast]

as the people above said, only two things I would add.

1.) If you do have a juice that is custom made, and not "pre-steeped" you want to shake it enough that you see tiny air bubbles form in it.

2.) When you receive juice in the mail, especially on hotter summer days, it is normally a good idea to give it a good shake and let it sit for a day before using it. Sometimes things get hot in those mail trucks, things might seperate a bit, or thin out a bit in the heat. But that good shake and sitting for a day will fix all of that.

 

[InTheShade]

I find that I just allow new liquids steep in a cool dark place for 1 - 2 weeks. If the liquid has a perfumey or alcohol smell, I'll leave the top off for 24 hours to allow it to evaporate. Then I replace the cap and shake the bottle well, and let it sit.

Exactly this.

The only time I would recommend using a quick steep (like a hot water bath, slow cooker, ultrasonic or other mechanical device to steep) is when mixing DIY and wanting to find out if the flavor is what you wanted it to be. Otherwise, following the above advice from Bad should fit most needs.

 

[Lizh88]

How do you know when you should let a liquid steep? I understand why you do it. I just wondered if there were flavors that needed to be steeped for better quality vape.

 

[Stacy1]

How do you know when you should let a liquid steep? I understand why you do it. I just wondered if there were flavors that needed to be steeped for better quality vape.

Most fruit flavors don't need steeping, and most tobacco and custard flavors will benefit greatly by steeping. IMO its best to steep them all but thats me just wanting to make sure i vape the juice when its at its best. If i get a new juice i will usually try it after only a day or so but then i stash it away and try to forget about it for a week or two

 

[zubydoo]

I have heard that the alcohol used in the blending "evaporates" after time. You get a BETTER flavor. Of course each vendor must have it's own "time line" for evaporation !!

 

[VannyPak]

I have heard that the alcohol used in the blending "evaporates" after time. You get a BETTER flavor. Of course each vendor must have it's own "time line" for evaporation !!

Right. This is when "breathing" would come in to play. I know you can freeze your juice but never stick in the refrigerator.

 

[Marc411]

Think of steeping like you would for wine fermenting, or when you make a pot of pot roast. That pot roast tastes pretty good on the day it is made, but will taste even better 2 - 4 days later after all of the ingredients have had time to add their flavor to the mix.

Ah... Bad why did you do have to go there.....

Now I want pot roast and a glass of wine.

 

[Bunnykiller]

Steeping is the process of extracting a flavor from a solid in a liquid.... such as tea
aging is the process of allowing the complex molecules ( flavor ) to blend and combine
airing is the process in which alcohol is allowed to evaporate from the juice or allow oxygen into the juice to oxidize components in the juice ( which in the case of nicotine is not preferred)

 

[Bunnykiller]

Hi

Steeping and aging are the same thing - allowing the liquid to just sit for a bit of a chemical complexity to happen. There was a quibble started a while back about whether, technically, calling the process "steeping" was appropriate or not. Short version: I personally agree - aging is the more appropriate term.

Warming the liquids can accelerate the aging process, significantly.

Breathing? That's more about evaporation. Some flavorings have an alcohol base that can be "rather unpleasant." Removing the cap and dropper nipple helps to get the alcohol out of the way so it can evaporate. Not all flavorings have this problem. (thank god...)

if steeping and aging are the same thing then one steeps wine and one ages tea????

or.... when cooking meat, boiling it is the same as roasting it.... it still cooks it right?

 

[Zipslack]

So how do you guys feel about steeping/aging your flavor concentrates instead? I've got the nagging suspicion (based on personal observations) that letting the flavor concentrate age is more important than aging the mix.

 

[-ohm_my_mod-]

I Wana know the exact same thing