We don’t have to tell you that life’s not fair! Seems like every time you discover something that piles on the pleasure and enjoyment, something comes along to ruin the party.
Now, you are fretting over a subject that is extremely important: finding ways to store e-juices so your vaping experience does not start and end with a single sensory fix.
It helps to have a frame of reference, just in case you are not up to speed on what goes into those pleasurable juices that are so tasty, you want them to last. Paired with nicotine and natural flavorings, Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin provide that sweet rush of taste that’s at the heart of vaping.
Why mention these ingredients when you already know them? Because it is important to think of them just as you do the food you eat. Things spoil. Go bad. It is your job to do what it takes to prevent that, which is why storage is essential.
Juice Gone Bad
No, this isn’t a recounting of O.J. Simpson’s fall from grace. It is a reality check that can help your preservation efforts. Why does juice go bad? The most common reasons are:
- Separation of ingredients from standing so long, the agents can’t be reconstituted.
- The ingredients have gotten stale because they were not properly stored.
- You bought your stash from a lousy resource. You should know better.
- You stuck your juice in a plastic container because you didn’t know any better.
- You ordered too much product and it deteriorated through no fault of your own.
- Your product was exposed to too much heat, moisture, air or light. Maybe all 4 of these factors.
To Bulk or Not to Bulk, That Is The Question
It is almost un-American to buy retail these days when there are so many discounters floating around cyberspace eager to supply you with anything you need at discounted prices, but is it wise to bulk up if you are fortunate to have all of the storage capacity on the planet?
The answer is yes and no. Long-term storage comes with its own set of rules and protocols, but of one thing you can be sure, if you deal with a manufacturer that saves money and weight by shipping products in plastic bottles, you need to get your liquids out of them sooner rather than later.
The good news is that the glass bottles in your inventory are obviously better for the long haul. But when you transfer juices from their original containers, you expose them to air, so it is as important to undertake that transfer in a dry, cool and dark place to err on the side of caution.
There are obvious advantages, not the least of which is cost savings. But suppose you just don’t have a need for large quantities because you have a life and that life does not give you all the time in the world to vape?
Buy smaller quantities and cut your storage worries down because you will always enjoy the pleasure of fresh products that haven’t hung around, even if you pay a little more.
The 12 Rules for Storing Your E-Liquids
- Opt for glass bottles over other materials.
- Always store products separately; base in one bottle; favoring(s) in another.
- Cool, dark places are not only great for bats and mildew but for juice, too.
- Choose dark glass bottles over clear glass bottles.
- Avoid plastic containers like the plague. Plastic destroys e-liquid properties; ditto plastic droppers.
- Nicotine liquid is always best stowed in a deep freezer.
- Look upon air and moisture as enemies. The intrusion of either equals deterioration.
- Avoid refrigeration if possible as that can have adverse effects on the e-liquid’s flavor.
- Don’t mix flavors indiscriminately or you could compromise the PG/VG balance.
- Remember that fruit flavors are most prone to decay.
- If it smells, stinks or tastes sour, better lower your taste expectations big time.
- You know to bring frozen products to room temperature before you use them, right?5 Off-The-Wall Storage Methods
Are you a maverick? Like to go rogue? Perhaps an unorthodox storage method suits your fancy because you like to do things differently than most. We have dug up some creative suggestions. After all, variety is the spice of life.
- Store juice in your garage during winter months if you live up north.
- In a pinch, jettison your butter dish and stash your juice in your climate-controlled butter compartment.
- Use your degree in chemistry to experiment with cryogenic freezing. Cool, huh?
- Sterilized Mason jars make awesome storage options if you’re not making jam!
- Don’t discount huge Tupperware containers as storage vehicles: put your small glass bottles inside and seal.
Taking your favorite oral gratification mechanism to the next level puts you in a class of your own, so keep tabs on new methods, storage options, and environments via trusted websites that keep you in the loop. And don’t keep updates to yourself, friend. Good advice is always best shared!
