What does it mean to “steep” an e-liquid?
“Steeping” is a phrase you’ve undoubtedly heard before, most likely about brewing a cup of tea. On the other hand, Stepping has a somewhat different connotation in vaping.
Steeping e-juice is simply another term for allowing it to age over time. As a result, it develops a more pleasing flavor. There are various steeping methods, each with advantages and disadvantages, but the mechanisms underlying them are all the same. Steeping permits the liquid’s multiple components to combine more thoroughly.
Other, less significant chemical reactions occur as well, and we’ll go over them in more detail later.
Steeping, breathing, and a mixture of the two known as “stretching” are three comparable but distinct forms of movement typically classified under the “steeping” umbrella.
People steep e-liquid for a variety of reasons.
E-liquid comprises a base, flavorings, and nicotine, among other things (and sometimes other substances, such as CBD).
Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine combinations are used in all e-liquid bases. From e-juice to e-juice, the proportion of propylene glycol (PG) to vegetable glycerine (VG) varies. Higher VG ratios result in thicker e-liquids, whereas higher PG ratios result in thinner e-liquids with a greater throat punch.
Many natural and synthetic flavors have made their way into vape juice formulations. Unflavored e-liquid isn’t especially enjoyable to vape, and therefore it’s unusual to encounter it in the wild.
When flavorings are added to the PG/VG base, it might take some time for the compounds to bond effectively. Different tastes alter at the chemical level due to heat, light, and air, similar to how wines and spirits mature. Some e-juice companies have gone even farther, allowing you to purchase e-liquid that has been aged in barrels for the ultimate luxury experience.
When you vape e-juice that hasn’t been steeped, you get a far less pleasurable and sometimes visibly harsh vaping experience. Unsteeped vape juice is typically described as “soapy” or “perfume-like” by consumers, and this overall flavor sometimes overshadows more subtle flavors.
How to steep e-juice Most juice purchased in stores will have already steeped long enough for you to vape it right away. Vape juice that is manufactured to order or DIY e-liquid that you mix yourself, on the other hand, will need to steep for a different period.
The most basic steeping method is to store your vape juice containers somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight. A chest of drawers or a shelf-mounted box will suffice.
The length of time you should steep juice varies from 1-4 weeks, but in general, the longer, the better. Remove and agitate the e-liquid containers now and again to help things along.
If you’re impatient like us when it comes to vape, you’ll be relieved to learn that there are some additional measures you can do to expedite the process.
Taking a Deep Breath of Your Ejuice
As the name implies, breathing entails exposing your e-liquid to oxygen in the air, and it’s as easy as leaving the cover off your juice container for a few hours. Many E-juice formulations contain ethanol (alcohol), which evaporates during inhalation. Other chemicals may also alter due to oxidation, resulting in a smoother vape with more distinct and mellow tastes.
“Stretching” – Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?
That isn’t a mistake. “Stretching” is a combination of the words “steeping” and “breathing.” As you might expect, stretching incorporates aspects of both techniques.
There are a variety of methods to breathe. However, we found that the following process is the most effective:
- Bottles should be shaken.
- Turn on the hot water faucet and place the bottles in the stream to warm.
- Caps must be removed.
- Keep your bottles in a cold, dark location.
- Allow two hours.
- Replace the tops and thoroughly shake the bottles.
- They are stretching works by causing the e-liquid to thin as it warms up. The flavor particles interact and integrate more easily in this thinner fluid, and the characteristics become more prominent.
What exactly is steeping? People steep for a variety of reasons. And how can you improve the flavor of your e-liquid?
How long does it take for vape juice to steep?
This question, unfortunately, does not have a simple answer. The amount of time you should steep your juice is determined by various factors, including the flavorings used, the age of the liquid, the PG/VG ratio, and your personal preference.
In general, the fruitier your vape juice is, the less time it needs to steep – usually only 1 to 2 days. Sweeter, creamier, “desertier” tastes, and those with strong tobacco undertones may need to soak for much longer. Fordeserterronger tastes, a period of 2 weeks to 2 months is advised.
E-juice will darken somewhat as it steeps and mellows, which is helpful information to know. This may be used as a visual signal to ensure that the chemical reactions you want occur.
How can I make the steeping of vape juice go faster?
The goal of steeping e-liquid is to get it to a point where it tastes pleasant to you. Testing vape juice to see whether it’s done steeping is the best method to determine. It’s done when it tastes wonderful! If it’s still bothering you, leave it in for a few more hours or days (or try the stretching technique outlined earlier).
If you’re anxious to test new flavors like we are, certain tricks may (or may not, depending on who you ask) speed up the process a little.
The Sink Approach
Fill a tub or basin with hot water that is warm enough to feel comfortable on the skin. Place your vape juice bottle (cap on!) in a plastic bag, then into the basin, and there you have it!
Make use of a crockpot.
A crockpot or slow cooker might come in handy when trying to speed up the steeping process. Set it to the lowest setting and pour a little amount of water inside to maintain continuous heat. Place your bag of juice bottles inside, close the top, and wait a few hours.
Make use of sound’s power.
Sound waves are used to clean some vape cleaning systems. Ultrasonic cleaners are what they’re called, and they’re intended to assist speed up the steeping process.
To use an ultrasonic cleaner in this manner, fill it halfway with warm water, then insert the juice bottles inside and turn it on. The high-frequency sound waves will flow through the juice, stirring the different components and speeding up the mixing process.
Use a magnetic stirrer to mix the ingredients.
If you often mix your liquids, you may consider purchasing a magnetic stirrer. Magnetic stirrers allow you to fast steep your e-juice mixes without having to touch them. Move your mixture, along with the stirrer, to a big container, place it on top of the stirring plate, and let magnetism do the rest.
Other methods for steeping e-juice
There are many DIY techniques for speeding up the steeping process, and you might want to try making your own. Aerating or heating the juice to some degree is required in most DIY speed-steeping methods. Considering that plastic is the most popular material used to make e-liquid containers, it’s easy to understand how heat may be an issue. Hairdryers and microwaves, for example, that can produce a lot of heat, should be avoided. If you heat your e-liquid with products like these, it can be not easy to manage the temperature, and the flavor and quality will almost certainly suffer as a result.
What exactly is steeping? People steep for a variety of reasons. And how can you improve the flavor of your e-liquid?
What happens if you soak e-liquid for an excessive amount of time?
The advantages of steeping reach a point of decreasing returns after a given length of time. The flavor of your e-liquid will begin to degrade if kept for too long. This can result in an e-liquid that tastes overly strong, has a hard throat hit, or completely loses flavor.
Juice that has been over-steeped might taste a lot different than it should. It’s best to avoid having your juice around for too long if you can! Over-oxidation of the flavorings, as well as the nicotine itself, may impart quite unpleasant flavors, so it’s best to avoid keeping it around for too long if you can!
Check your juice frequently during the procedure to avoid any taste mistakes caused by over-steeping. This is especially true if you employ the speed mentioned above steeping techniques.
Last Thoughts
If you’ve ever found particular brands or tastes of e-liquid to be unappealing, steeping might have been the missing link. Hopefully, by now, you’ve figured out how to steep your e-liquids, whether store-bought or home-mixed, to obtain the finest taste and overall vape experience possible.
Regularly checking on the flavor and look of your e-juice helps prevent it from steeping for too long, whether you are in a hurry and use our rapid steeping techniques or are delighted to sit back and take things a bit leisurely.
Steeping can improve the flavor of almost any e-liquid, but it won’t completely solve the problem. Some e-liquid flavors are not to everyone’s liking, and no amount of steeping will change that.