The Steep factor part II

[vapspaz]

Ok. I understand and now know for a fact that this aging process of e-juice is very real and with SOME juice it is a must in order to fully enjoy the potential of a given juice.

My question is this. Given of course that it's stored in a dark cool place. Does this aging process stop at some point? In other words, is there a point where the flavor of a given juice starts to diminish/weaken?

BTW... I'm still blown away by extent of how fresh e-juice metamorphosis over time. Amazing.

 

[salemgold]

I have some that I have had for 4 months that just keeps getting better. I don't know if or when that process would stop. I know others that have had it 6-8 months and say that it is even better but I have not heard anybody talk about juice aging any longer than that so it is an interesting question that you ask. I am sure some of the veterans will stop by with a better answer for you.

 

[gb_ibmguy]

I think it depends a lot on the quality of the juice to begin with.

I have some 6 month old FSUSA juice that is still getting better. I also have some 5 month old juice from another vendor that has gone bad.

GB

 

[banjo]

Check out this video on steeping - it is an excellent introduction: YouTube - Steeping Tips and Tricks

 

[icemanx3]

Check out this video on steeping - it is an excellent introduction: YouTube - Steeping Tips and Tricks

This vid made me feel like the absolute NOOB that I am just now...

Here I am, taking these juices out of the mailer...vaping, and talking all kinds of good stuff about them...while the entire veteran board is probably sitting back and laughing. OK OK...it's on...I am going to order a huge batch from a few vendors...and document as received...oxygenate them as Shan shows...and let steep...

I will then revisit my juices and redescribe their splendor.

ice

 

[vapspaz]

Check out this video on steeping - it is an excellent introduction: YouTube - Steeping Tips and Tricks

Yep, I had already seen that vid a few weeks back. Shan did a great job on it. Thanks for pointing it out though. The one thing no one talks about is the "shelf life" of e-juice and I was wondering if this stuff could get weaker or go bad in a certain amount of time. Sounds like it isn't an issue as long as it's stored properly.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Here I am, taking these juices out of the mailer...vaping, and talking all kinds of good stuff about them...while the entire veteran board is probably sitting back and laughing. OK OK...it's on...I am going to order a huge batch from a few vendors...and document as received...oxygenate them as Shan shows...and let steep...

I think all this reference to "steeping" is new. There was no mention of it one or two years ago. Having said that vendors that make juice "to order" is the difference, they weren't around so much back then. I'm not sure I agree that deliberately exposing the liquid to air is a good thing. One reason I think that is because PG and VG are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water vapour from the surrounding air. Also I would imagine volatile flavour components will be evaporated away. But really its up to you, there is probably no right or wrong answer.

 

[David Bruno]

Yep, I had already seen that vid a few weeks back. Shan did a great job on it. Thanks for pointing it out though. The one thing no one talks about is the "shelf life" of e-juice and I was wondering if this stuff could get weaker or go bad in a certain amount of time. Sounds like it isn't an issue as long as it's stored properly.

I've said this in a few threads, I bought a large qty of juice during the juice shortage scare over a year and a half ago. I recently opened a OLD bottle of 36 mg Camel. It was stored in a climate controlled basement, air cond/ summer, heated/winter.
The temp never got over probably 70. The juice was as good as when I bought it nearly 2 years ago. It wasn't very good by today's standards, but it didn't change from storage. I think if you buy good juice and take some caution storing it, it should stay good. There are some sellers that will say on the bottle, best if used before 6 months. I have a bottle of Ms T's juice that states that. I don't think that it means the juice will be bad after that, but BEST tasting if used before that date.
I also think as with most juice, it will reach a point of diminished return. Simply, it will stay the same after reaching maturity.

 

[JonnyVapΣ]

Here I am, taking these juices out of the mailer...vaping, and talking all kinds of good stuff about them...
ice

Oh hell...absolutely nothing wrong with that!

 

[vapspaz]

OK OK...it's on...I am going to order a huge batch from a few vendors...and document as received...oxygenate them as Shan shows...and let steep...

I will then revisit my juices and redescribe their splendor.

That would be cool! I'd like to hear your results on that. Could you do me a flavor and post an update on this thread with a link to your before and after review? That way I won't miss it. I still get lost in this massive place. lol Just to much going on at once to keep track of.

Ditto what Jonny said. MOST custom brews are vapable straight out of the mailman's hands but even those will get better with some shelf time. I have had some that were horrible at first and after a week or 2 they became my favorites. And some folks have told me they vape this same horrid stuff on day 1! Just another example of how everyones taste is VERY different.

 

[moseng]

...I'm not sure I agree that deliberately exposing the liquid to air is a good thing. One reason I think that is because PG and VG are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water vapour from the surrounding air. Also I would imagine volatile flavour components will be evaporated away. But really its up to you, there is probably no right or wrong answer.

I was thinking this too when I watched the video. Do you think it changed color that way? If not, what chemical reaction is taking place there? All I know is so far I let my juices steep in the mail! I mean I'm sure they get shaken "vigorously" at least

 

[icemanx3]

I was thinking this too when I watched the video. Do you think it changed color that way? If not, what chemical reaction is taking place there? All I know is so far I let my juices steep in the mail! I mean I'm sure they get shaken "vigorously" at least

I think its simply being oxidized (the color change you see)... And similarly to opening a bottle of wine...you should always let it "breathe" for a while to allow oxygen in...and when it's in your wine glass, you swirl it to look at the legs it forms on your glass, as well as incorporate oxygen, to allow the flavors and aroma to really pop. So as with letting wine breathe, you can't just take off the cork. You need to swirl, and aerate the liquid (or shake your ejuice vigorously). So I suppose this really makes sense. For the time your juice exposed to the air, not sure how much water would be hygroscopically infused...however that is a really good fact to know, papa.

ice

 

[banjo]

Yep, I had already seen that vid a few weeks back. Shan did a great job on it. Thanks for pointing it out though. The one thing no one talks about is the "shelf life" of e-juice and I was wondering if this stuff could get weaker or go bad in a certain amount of time. Sounds like it isn't an issue as long as it's stored properly.

I think that you will find that the consensus on shelf life is around 2 years before it starts to degrade. But, it should be stored in a cool dark place.

 

[GoodDog]

Shelf life of many of the flavorings is 6 months. The more it's exposed to air the more the flavor molecules break down which can cause anything from less taste to a PineSol type taste. Shaking vigorously is also not a good idea because it allows air (the bubbles you see) in and will degrade the flavorings more. My experience is that the nicotine, PG and VG are less prone to problems than the flavorings.

 

[icemanx3]

Shelf life of many of the flavorings is 6 months. The more it's exposed to air the more the flavor molecules break down which can cause anything from less taste to a PineSol type taste. Shaking vigorously is also not a good idea because it allows air (the bubbles you see) in and will degrade the flavorings more. My experience is that the nicotine, PG and VG are less prone to problems than the flavorings.

Hello from the Bay Area!!!

ice