Steeping...Cold or Warm ?

[Hilfiger]

OK...i need some help here.


Some people says that when you have finished the mixing process then place the bottle in a Cold and Dark place....like a refrigerator.

Other people says that it has to be a warm place like a cabinet.

And some people says to keep up the same taste and flavour always keep them i a refrigerator.....after the steeping time.


I really hope your guys can help me ......what the best method ?

 

[AmandaD]

For the flavors to fully develop some people use heat to speed it up (like a crockpot), others just leave in a dark place (like a cupboard). I just use time! (Usually no more than a day or two).

 

[Vape99]

I have just started doing some research on steeping and most say to let them sit in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, give or take. And test them daily to see if there was any change. There are was to speed up this process. Let your juice sit with the cap off, then submerge them for several hours in warm water, then refrigerate right after, and they are ready.

Is there a proven way to remove the perfume the perfume/chemical taste and bring out the creaminess ? I dont know, because ive just started to test my steeping theories out now.

• What does chilling anything do ? It slows down the molecules.
  
• What does keeping the cap off your juice do ? It allows the nicotine to iodize. Does this affect the flavor ? -who knows.
  
• What does heating your juice do ? it releases the molecules and releasing flavor and allowing them to bind.Does this heat affect the nicotine ? hmm

I have vaped for about 2 years and I would just buy them and vape them, until now. And I would like to hear something that is proven and really works. We cant vape perfume, can we ? Let them sit until they taste right.

 

[Neunerball]

Keeping the eJuice in the fridge is mainly to slow down the oxidation of the nicotine. Similarly, you don't want to excessively keep the cap off, in order to prevent the oxidation of the nicotine. Keeping the cap off, is usually done when utilizing flavors that are in ethanol (ethyl alcohol), so the alcohol can evaporate. You can tell that your nicotine has been oxidized too much, when you get a harsher hit, and/or peppery taste.
Depending on the flavors you utilize, steeping is unnecessary, e.g. most fruit flavors. However, custards and tobaccos require steeping anywhere from 5-14 days, some even longer.

 

[Alter]

Keeping juice in the fridge and constantly putting it in and out will cause condensation inside the jug and that will make your juice go rancid in time. I ruined several bottles of juice a long time ago using a coffee maker to heat steep my juice, the maker was set at 160 degrees( I checked with thermometer). All it took was a couple hours and within a month the juice darkened and tasted off....never did that again. The crockpot is 150 so there isn't much of a window(10 degrees)between steeping and burning so IMO crockpot is out.
The only time to leave the cap off is to dissipate alcohol that is used in flavorings, prolong periods of time from what I understand will flatten the taste and make the juice somewhat tasteless.
You cant really oxidize your nic if your using small jugs to vape with but using the larger quart jug to do your DIY mixing with and constantly opening it to pour out a few mls and reintroducing air will in time cause your nic to darken.
I don't do no fancy magic to steep my juices other than just set them on a shelf downstairs where its cooler and let them sit, some of my tobacs are well over a month before I even think about cracking it open to taste.

 

[Heabob]

Is there a proven way to remove the perfume the perfume/chemical taste

Usually with longer steep time, or venting for 24hrs, the perfume/chemicals will disappear.
Many of the CAP flavors need a week.
But much depends on the flavor itself as some are just plain perfume to me.
If you want more creaminess I'd suggest adding 1-2% TFA Dairy Milk.

 

[HondaDavidson]

The steeping/aging needs are different for nearly every juice out there. Even same recipes juices can sometimes need more or less steep than the last time you made/bought it.
Normally I age my juice. Dark shelf, and time. Extra agitation and venting needs vary by juice. But when I am in a hurry I'll steep it with a little heat and aggitation. My my method periodic shaking and a candle wax warmer, heats up and maintains temp in the bottle of around around 130.

 

[Vape99]

Usually with longer steep time, or venting for 24hrs, the perfume/chemicals will disappear.
Many of the CAP flavors need a week.
But much depends on the flavor itself as some are just plain perfume to me.
If you want more creaminess I'd suggest adding 1-2% TFA Dairy Milk.

Ok, so this is the first time I have read on how to get rid of the perfume. I have a Raspberry Custard and Mandarin Cream and the perfume is so strong its unvape-able. But I need to bring the custard and cream out. Do I just let it sit ? I wanted to test it but not sure what to do with this.

 

[HondaDavidson]

The perfume is most often from alcohol. So yes letting it zit open to air will allow the ethanol to evaporate. May take 1 or more days of venting and agitation. . Heat will speed the process.

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[Heabob]

Ok, so this is the first time I have read on how to get rid of the perfume. I have a Raspberry Custard and Mandarin Cream and the perfume is so strong its unvape-able. But I need to bring the custard and cream out. Do I just let it sit ? I wanted to test it but not sure what to do with this.

The next step would be to find out what brands and amounts you're using as both will have some impact on this.
As an example, most of the Raspberries are really strong, especially FA & INW, and I can't go above 1% without them getting too nasty.
Raspberry is a tough flavor to work with IMO.

If your using FA Mandarin, I've found it quite bitter and has some taste of the peelings, but less so than FA Orange.
But I wouldn't go above 2-3% with those 2 anyway.
I really prefer CAP Sweet Tangerine myself, not bitter or perfumey at all @ 5-6%.

Using to much flavoring can also make some things taste more like perfume or chemicals too.
TFA Huckleberry is another good example, at 2% it's quite strong and just borderline with the perfume thing.
Any higher and I probably couldn't vape it, but I added 3 drops of Stevia with the 2% HB and it was better.
Think it needs some Cream/Vanilla to calm it down a bit more next time.

Alcohol based flavorings are not perfume like at all, totally different thing but venting and steeping will help evaporate it some.
My experience with FA Blackberry & FA Bilberry are pure "Granny's Perfume" to me.
Even with tiny amounts, steeping for a month, venting, standing on my head, holding my breath, etc.
I just gave up trying to fight with them as it's not worth all the frustration.

In order to taste other things when using real strong fruits you will probably have to lower the amounts of the fruits down lower anyway.
Otherwise you will need to add 10% Custard + 10% Cream... well, you get my drift anyway.

 

[MCYL]

I use a sous vide cooker @ 150 for up to 8 hrs them throw the mix in a paint gun specifically for DIY. Comes out like froth but by the time it settles it's ready to bottle...THEN I add the nicotine.


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[MB4]

I always just leave my juices to steep in a drawer or a cupboard for a day if I am mixing fruits, If I am mixing creams or bakery flavours I leave them to steep from 3 to 4 weeks.

I try to stay away from using heat steeping as I have found that I adversely affects things I mix.

What does heating your juice do ? it releases the molecules and releasing flavor and allowing them to bind.Does this heat affect the nicotine ? hmm

Nicotine will oxidize when exposed to:

1. Oxygen
2. Heat
3. Light

Heating it and leaving the cap off will speed up the chemical reaction of the oxidation. Oxidized Nicotine will have a peppery taste an will increase harshness/throat hit, some may find this not to be a issue. I however do not like throat hit and try to avoid this as much as possible

Heat will help thin your mixture especially if you are using a high VG ratio, this will make homogenization quicker. However it is also worth noting that this will also evaporate some of your flavour molecules. The lighter the molecules the more volatile they will be and therefore the more of these you will lose if you us heat. This applies to mainly the top note or "bright" flavours such as strawberries and other fruits. You will notice that you will lose some of the depth of flavour.

As the saying goes: "Good things come to those who wait"

If I do want to speed this up as a last resort I will bring my VG to just above room temp with a water bath and then use that.


Sorry for the wall of text

 

[MCYL]

Also heating increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the juice.VG/PG is the opposite of water, it's gas solubility goes up with temp. I still use heat steeps however if I have days for creams especially in small quantities that will get used up quickly


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[MB4]

You are very correct in respect to the oxygen solubility. I had forgotten about that . I just looked it up and even though the increase is marginal, it will still have an effect.

The main issue is with increased energy in the system that will increase the rate of oxidation.

One idea would be to heat steep without nicotine and the add the nicotine when your eliquid is close to room temperature.

 

[MCYL]

I have been doing just that, however as you've said earlier some flavours degrade or evaporate away with the heat. If I heat steep, I use boro glass dripper bottles. I heat and cool with the lid on tight. In the end I found it easier just to make juices well in advance


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[MB4]

same I make 200ml at a time, so I always have something steeped, so much easier. The only time I really have to wait is when I make 10ml tester bottles.

 

[MCYL]

Likewise. Lately I've been buying flavours that have a big following without it being in a particular recipe. I've now got 80+ 5ml bottles with single flavours just for quick tasting when mixing. I found it easier to judge the steeped result and I can keep a new batch sealed and uninterrupted


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[DarthVaper101]

Are you guys serious ?

-Shake vigorously

-Leave in a dark room with cap on

Done and done ...

I'm in Arizona and it's very hot out here, night time it cools down, but during the day my garage is a microwave. At night, shake, shake, shake, shake those bottles VIGOROUSLY, leave the cap on, NOT OFF, that takes the flavor away, and I put a small fan about 2-3 feet away from it and leave them in the garage with the lights off! That's how you should steep, especially creamy flavors. Fruity ones should already be fine unless you can tell they aren't steeped then do the same thing.

 

[Heabob]

Are you guys serious ?

-Shake vigorously

-Leave in a dark room with cap on

Done and done ...

I'm in Arizona and it's very hot out here, night time it cools down, but during the day my garage is a microwave. At night, shake, shake, shake, shake those bottles VIGOROUSLY, leave the cap on, NOT OFF, that takes the flavor away, and I put a small fan about 2-3 feet away from it and leave them in the garage with the lights off! That's how you should steep, especially creamy flavors. Fruity ones should already be fine unless you can tell they aren't steeped then do the same thing.

Luckily I have a room for my vape stuff in the house with AC to avoid excessive heat.
But totally agree with the "shake and store" part, although I don't shake them much after the first time.
Using 70% PG I've had no problems with the flavors blending well, however I think high VG juice needs more shaking, and some warmth probably helps too.
Don't like having to vent alcohol from mixes so I just find another brand of that flavor which doesn't have so much in it.

 

[HondaDavidson]

Are you guys serious ?

-Shake vigorously

-Leave in a dark room with cap on

Done and done ...

I'm in Arizona and it's very hot out here, night time it cools down, but during the day my garage is a microwave. At night, shake, shake, shake, shake those bottles VIGOROUSLY, leave the cap on, NOT OFF, that takes the flavor away, and I put a small fan about 2-3 feet away from it and leave them in the garage with the lights off! That's how you should steep, especially creamy flavors. Fruity ones should already be fine unless you can tell they aren't steeped then do the same thing.

Yeah. Shake vigorously store on dark shelf . Is also my method...

FWIW I'm in Cen Cal valley... tends to be only a few degrees cooler than Arizona. When they have 120f. I have 115f.... my garage is too hot even with a fan. So i use an old document safe in the house.
Top off vs on depends on the flavorings composition. And usually is only done for the first 24 hours or so. To let alcohols evaporate. And the venting time is taken into consideration when using flavors that react badly to added air.

I too have a bunch of premixed and aged flavors. These are complete juices sans nic..... but even when i use these the steeping aging clock goes to zero ad soon as anything gets mixed in. Including nic other flavor or more VG or pg. Even mixing 2 completed juices together. Starts the clock at zero for me. Never had a juice the wasn't better after a period of time on a dark shelf. Have had many that were great mixed and vaped.

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[Carambrda]

My TFA Pralines And Cream with high VG are very slowly starting to come together now after four and a half weeks. I let the alcohol evaporate all gradually by itself... it takes me less than half a minute to force all the smelly fume out of the bottle once per day before I shake and stir the bottle again, but I also tend to avoid shaking it too vigorously too frequently for fear of all the really very small air bubbles adding in so much oxygen each and every single time, which is why I have mostly been doing a combination of both shaking less vigorously and just using my fingerspitzengefühl in order to flip the bottle upside down several hundreds of times per "session".

 

[DarthVaper101]

Yeah, so you guys recommending room temperature vs all this heat people are saying? Because what I've heard that works is that shaking, and just placing in a dark place with cap on, no temp reccomendations. I should take them out the garage. Great flavors here, check ITCVapes juices. Awesome creamy flavors. Nilla Gorilla is crazy good, I just don't like how they want you to steep it when you order it online like cmon you have a warehouse where you have juice on top of juice and you don't steep it ? Lol

 

[snake94115]

Storing E-Liquid and growing mushrooms are quite a bit alike.
Both do best in dark cool places.

Please note I said cool not cold.

 

[Vance1977]

Not one of you guys answered his question lol..... after heat steeping... CAN You Put In The Fridge!!!!!!!

If you don't have a COOL PLACE!!!!!!

 

[HondaDavidson]

YES

 

[516_vaper_li]

Are you guys serious ?

-Shake vigorously

-Leave in a dark room with cap on

Done and done ...

I'm in Arizona and it's very hot out here, night time it cools down, but during the day my garage is a microwave. At night, shake, shake, shake, shake those bottles VIGOROUSLY, leave the cap on, NOT OFF, that takes the flavor away, and I put a small fan about 2-3 feet away from it and leave them in the garage with the lights off! That's how you should steep, especially creamy flavors. Fruity ones should already be fine unless you can tell they aren't steeped then do the same thing.

simple as that! Its not rocket science

 

[zeeter]

I don't have time to figure out the exact amount of maturing time a blend needs, so mine just sit there for a month. Every couple of days I shake them up and occasionally I'll squeeze the air out.

As a general rule of thumb, when shaking them I look at the mix. If I can see layers in there after shaking then I know it's not finished yet. However over a month's time this really isn't a problem. The biggest thing is that the VG is heavier than the PG, so the VG will move to the bottom. Until it has matured they will continue to separate which causes the layers, or ribbons as some like to call them.

Make sure you label everything. It sounds dumb not to, but I once figured I would remember and didn't label them. Of course I forgot which was which. Also wise to put a date on it when you label it.

 

[SteveS45]

If you are in a hurry heat and shake if not, time will do the job. Ignore what the Zeet has to say because it changes with every post when he is proved wrong~! I can heat to 140°F and have a mix ready in 4-5 hours or heat to 100°F and that is 3-4 days. just sitting is about a week depending on the flavor. Good Luck~!

 

[Daneszko]

I'm also just shaking it up like in every 1 hour the first day (I'm using high VG liquids), than place it into a dark cabinet in room temp.
For custard and other creamy flavors it takes some (~1 week) time but works perfectly!

 

[MWorthington]

I just mix, stir with a little hand blender, and stick it in a cabinet for a week or a month. Whatever it takes to taste right.

 

[kross8]

OK...i need some help here.


Some people says that when you have finished the mixing process then place the bottle in a Cold and Dark place....like a refrigerator.

Other people says that it has to be a warm place like a cabinet.

And some people says to keep up the same taste and flavour always keep them i a refrigerator.....after the steeping time.


I really hope your guys can help me ......what the best method ?

i take a dif approach,,

i put my recipe together (500mls at a time) and use a hand blender thing ,, it turns the eliquid into a froth/foam,, which means the molecules are now very small and able to mingle. this recipe/blending session has NO nicotine. i add the nicotine at point of use,, meaning when i fill up my 100ml 'in use bottle' or a traveling 30ml that is when i add the nic.

meantime,, since i am making up so much,, the whole batch is naturally 'steeping for nearly a month,, i just speeded up the process with the hand mixer (which also came with a 500ml mixing cup) my 'mix time' is about 5 minutes for nearly a months supply (i vape 20-30mls/day)

anyway,, I hope you find what works for you and have fun with it

 

[SteveS45]

it turns the eliquid into a froth/foam

This I do not recommend because foam or froth is caused by air mixed in the liquid and promotes degradation of the Nicotine. Many people use Nitrogen and Marbles in Nicotine to keep as little air as possible affecting the liquid. Just my opinion but actually based on Scientific Facts, just look it up.

 

[SteveS45]

I use an electric mixer at times but I make sure to create as little bubbles and foam as possible.

 

[MWorthington]

I stir that shit till it turns white. It usually doesn't last me long enough to worry about the nic oxidizing. 500ml of my main juice would last me between 15-20 days so I don't even think about it.

 

[SteveS45]

500ml of my main juice would last me between 15-20 days

For many that is enough for 6 months to a year and I would bet after 6 months it has Oxidized from exposure. But that is the beauty of DIY..... To each his own~!

 

[kross8]

words exactly taken from the OP,,,,,


"""""""""""""'which means the molecules are now very small and able to mingle. this recipe/blending session has NO nicotine.""""""""""'


i add the nicotine at point of use,, meaning when i fill up my 100ml 'in use bottle' or a traveling 30ml that is when i add the nic.

(not in the op,, but seems to need clarification)
i dont know how else to say i DO NOT use the blender with nic,, i add the nic just before i actually put a bottle into use.......'why?",,,,,,,,,,,because sometimes I want some nic, other times no nic and then there are those moments,, I need A lot of nic. I also am not a fan of 'browned nic',, it tastes harsher to me- that is oxidation either from power blending or age.

 

[kross8]

ps,, some people use magnetic mixing machines,, it does the same frothing job as the blender.

to each his own,, its more important people are aware of their choices

 

[jwill]

ps,, some people use magnetic mixing machines,, it does the same frothing job as the blender.

to each his own,, its more important people are aware of their choices

I use a magnetic stirrer and it has never frothed. The high VG% I mix doesn't allow it to be used at high speeds. I like to stir it all down with a glass stirring rod for a minute and let it rest on the mixer at a low to medium speed for a while until I feel like it is time to move on. Small batches mix for a few minutes after a hand stir and larger (300-500ml) mixes might sit for 20 minutes to 2 hours (depending on if I forget).

I pour more down the drain from experimenting than from spoilage. Realistically the only real spoilage I get is flavor muting. I really only use Nude Nicotine since it really does not have any flavor and I also have moved to their VG since its cheap and equally good for whatever it is they rebottle.

 

[Matty Vapes]

lol I mix that shit up put it in a box and take it out a cpl weeks later.. Its really that simple

 

[jwill]

 

[SteveS45]

I don't like waiting so for me it is an Incandescent Bulb and an occasional shake over 3-4 days. No UV light with an Incandescent bulb and a constant 100 degree temperature. No need to keep in the dark just out of direct sunlight.

 

[eStorm]

I also use a magnetic stirrer, mine doesn't have a heating option but it doesn't bother me and it seems that my juice is also not bothered by it lol.

I mix small/medium/big and everything between, from 20 minutes all the way to 8 hrs if necessary. None contain nicotine during that time. I don't mix just for myself, and sometimes I don't have the time to wait.

Tried all these methods people swear by, from microwave, hot/warm bath, dryer, ultrasonic cleaner all the way to fancy and expensive equipment such as homogenizer. This one I only got to try out, but if I had the money, that's what I would be getting. Till then my magnetic stirrer will do and for me personally out of all these budget friendly methods, I felt that it's giving me the "best" and fastest results.

Pick whatever works for you.

 

[MWorthington]

For many that is enough for 6 months to a year and I would bet after 6 months it has Oxidized from exposure. But that is the beauty of DIY..... To each his own~!

Yeah you're right. It would last my daughter at least a year.

 

[jwill]

I also use a magnetic stirrer, mine doesn't have a heating option but it doesn't bother me and it seems that my juice is also not bothered by it lol.

I mix small/medium/big and everything between, from 20 minutes all the way to 8 hrs if necessary. None contain nicotine during that time. I don't mix just for myself, and sometimes I don't have the time to wait.

Tried all these methods people swear by, from microwave, hot/warm bath, dryer, ultrasonic cleaner all the way to fancy and expensive equipment such as homogenizer. This one I only got to try out, but if I had the money, that's what I would be getting. Till then my magnetic stirrer will do and for me personally out of all these budget friendly methods, I felt that it's giving me the "best" and fastest results.

Pick whatever works for you.

Mine doesn't heat as well. I just use it to stir and let father time do his magic.

 

[CajunCanuck]

After about 30 mintues in a warm water bath (sink faucet running) I mix with a small coffee frother, but sink the "blade" deep into the liquid as not to invert oxygen.....

Then to the Kitchen Cabinet for a dark rest......and I shake em , when I remember to.....

 

[snake94115]

And suddenly this thread just turned into a cooking show.

 

[Alter]

I rebuilt my magnetic mixer several months ago. I added a 12 volt silicone heating pad I got out of ebay along with a probe temp sensor and a voltage stepdown module. The whole setup works quite well. Using a old 12v power supply I stepped down the volts to 8(12v is too hot) and it heats a 100ml mix to 100 degrees in 20 minutes and maintains it for as long as I need. I'm not interested in heating the mix but to warm it too help marry the flavors more efficiently. For around 10 bucks I made my mixer into a heating unit.
Since I was rebuilding the mixer I also bought a new motor speed controller module, some new switches, small connectors, 4000rpm fan and heatshrink. The most expensive piece would have been the box but I already had a display box I then covered with cheap carbon fiber. I am far from a electronic whizz, still dislike soldering but overall it was a fun project.