Storing vape juice properly is crucial in ensuring the longevity and quality of your vape juice. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or just starting out, it's important to know the proper techniques for keeping your vape juice fresh and flavourful.
With so many different types of vape juice available on the market, each with its own unique set of ingredients, it can be challenging to know exactly how to store it to ensure maximum shelf life and taste.
In this article, we will go through the key factors to consider when storing your vape juice, including temperature, light exposure, air exposure, and more. So, if you want to learn how to store vape juice to keep it in tip-top condition, keep reading!
Things to avoid
When storing your vape juice, there are a few things you need to bear in mind that will help you to get the most out of your vape juice which, if followed correctly, will greatly improve your vaping experience.
Avoid direct sunlight
It's essential to keep your vape juice away from direct sunlight, as exposure to UV rays can cause the juice to degrade and lose its potency. Sunlight can also increase the temperature of your vape juice, causing the nicotine and other ingredients to break down and deteriorate. When this happens, not only does the juice lose its flavour and aroma, but it can also become harmful to use.
In addition to UV rays, sunlight can also cause the colour of your vape juice to change. Over time, prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the juice to darken, which not only affects its appearance but also its flavour. The colour change can be a sign that the juice has become oxidised, and it's no longer safe to use.
It's also worth noting that sunlight can cause heat to build up in a room, so it's crucial to store your vape juice in an area that doesn't get too hot, which we’ll explore next.
Heat sources
Storing your vape juice away from heat sources is another important factor to consider when it comes to preserving the quality and taste of your liquid. Heat can cause the ingredients in your vape juice to break down, reducing the flavour and overall effectiveness of the product. To avoid this, it's important to keep your vape juice stored in a cool, dry place that is away from any sources of heat.
Examples of heat sources to avoid include radiators, direct sunlight (even through a window), cooking appliances such as ovens and stovetops, electronics that generate heat, such as computers and televisions, cars and other vehicles, and more.
When storing vape juice, it's also important to consider the temperature of the room where you keep it. If the temperature is too high, it can cause the ingredients in your vape juice to break down, which can negatively impact the flavour and overall quality.
It's a good idea to regularly check the temperature of the room where you store your vape juice, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it stays within the recommended temperature range.
Keep lids tightly closed
There are several different types of lids that can be used to store vape juice, including screw-on lids, snap-on lids, and dropper lids. It's important to choose the right type of lid for your particular needs and to ensure that it is airtight when not in use.
When e-juice is exposed to the air, oxygen will begin to react with the nicotine in the juice and cause it to break down. This is called the oxidation process and whilst it is not entirely avoidable as your vape juice will always be exposed to the air at some point. However, keeping lids tightly closed will help to keep it to a minimum.
When nicotine is exposed to air for a long time and gets broken down, the nicotine strength is reduced and the throat hit (that many vapers enjoy) will not be as strong.
How to store vape juice
There are some general rules of thumb to keep in mind when storing your e-liquid that, if followed, will increase its lifespan.
Keep in cool place
To avoid direct sunlight, store your vape juice in a cool, dark place such as a cupboard or a drawer. Make sure the area is free from any windows or other sources of light that may cause the juice to become exposed to UV rays. If you have to store your juice in a location that does get direct sunlight, make sure to place it in a UV-resistant container or wrap it in UV-resistant material.
Use a dark glass bottle
The type of container you use can also play a role in maintaining the quality and longevity of the liquid. Vapers will, of course, know that vape liquid comes in plastic containers as a standard, and for short-term storage, these work just fine. However, one of the best types of containers to use for long-term storage is a dark glass bottle. This is because dark glass helps to protect the liquid from exposure to light and heat, which as we explored earlier, can be problematic for your vape juice.
Using dark glass containers can also help to prevent the formation of harmful chemical compounds such as oxides and peroxides. These compounds can result from the interaction of light and oxygen with the nicotine and flavourings in the liquid, leading to a noticeable decrease in flavour and nicotine strength.
Room temperature
E-liquid should be stored at room temperature, which is between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. If the juice is stored in a place that is too hot or too cold, it can affect the quality and taste of the juice. High temperatures can cause the ingredients in the juice to break down, altering the flavour. On the other hand, low temperatures can cause the juice to thicken, making it difficult to vape.
At room temperature, the vape juice will not be subjected to drastic temperature changes that can cause the liquid to break down and spoil over time. Extreme temperature changes can cause the ingredients in the vape juice to separate, which can lead to a loss of flavour, decreased vapour production, and other issues. By storing your vape juice at room temperature, you can help ensure that it will be in its best condition when you're ready to use it.
Additionally, it's important to note that storing your vape juice at room temperature will also help prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause the liquid to spoil. Bacteria and other microorganisms thrive in warm, moist environments, so storing your vape juice at room temperature will help keep them at bay and prevent them from contaminating your liquid.
Fridge or freezer?
Storing your vape juice in the fridge is a good alternative if you plan on keeping your juice for a longer period of time. Fridges are an effective storage place for vape juice, as they can protect your juice from overheating and sunlight. However, there are some issues that can arise from storing vape liquid in the fridge that are important to be aware of.
When going to use vape juice that's been stored in the fridge it's extremely important to allow it to come up to room temperature before putting it in your tank or pod. The vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol that make up vape juice become a lot thicker when cold, meaning that your atomisers will have to work a lot harder to vaporise the vape juice. This can cause damage to your vape kits and result in your burning through vape hardware a lot faster than normal.
As well as this, VG and PG cool at different temperatures which can result in separation of the two compounds. Attempting to use it straight away will mean you're getting a complete unbalance of ingredients. Allow the bottle to warm up first and then shake before use.
Storing your vape juice in the freezer is not recommended, as this can have a big impact on the vape juice flavour and overall vaping experience. The ingredients will separate a lot more than in the fridge, however they will not freeze as the freezing temperature for VG is -38C, and -59C for PG. The vape juice flavour can be changed a lot, as well as the consistency. Crystallisation is also likely to occur in the freezer due to the flavourings in the vape juice. Even once these have come back up to room temperature, the flavour is likely to not be the same.
Conclusion
In conclusion, storing your vape juice properly is essential to maintaining its quality and taste and ensuring a positive vaping experience for yourself and those around you. By following our advice above, you will be well on your way to vape juice storage mastery, whether you are only looking to store your vape juice for short or long periods of time.
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