How To Steep Vape Juice To Improve E-Liquid Flavour

If you’ve been vaping for a little while now, chances are that you’ve heard the term “steeping” in relation to vape juice. Whether you’ve heard your friends talking about it or read it in passing online, it is a commonly used technique in the vaping community that is used to enhance the flavour of e-liquid.

What is E-Liquid Steeping?

Steeping is all about the age and flavour quality of your e-liquid.

Steeping e-liquid involves allowing it to age to achieve a better flavour, and there are many ways to do this. Essentially, steeping means letting e-liquid sit for a while so that the ingredients in it can blend together to amplify the flavour and eliminate alcohol-based ingredients that can alter it somewhat.

In short, the act of steeping mixes the VG/PG e-liquid base, flavourings, and nicotine, and then oxidizes the juice. This oxidation process darkens the colour of the e-liquid and improves the flavour.

Why Steep E-Liquid?

Your e-liquid, if it’s one that you have bought, began to steep the moment it was bottled and has been sitting there doing so ever since. It is not necessary to do anything or carry out any additional steps to steep your e-liquid, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t let it happen. However, as we will explore later, there are things you can do to improve the steeping process.

So, why should you do it? Because the steeping process brings out your e-liquid’s flavour, making for a more enjoyable vaping experience. If you learn how to steep your e-liquid properly, you will enjoy a much better flavour, something you want if you use “top-shelf” e-liquids like Vaper Empire’s Artisan range.

Steeping is also helpful if you have an e-liquid flavour that is a little bit too harsh, strong, or sweet for your taste buds. Over time, these flavours will be mellowed out and made more enjoyable.

How Long Does Steeping Take?

That depends entirely on the vape juice and your perception of flavour. Fruity flavours, for example, tend to require the least amount of steeping time because they are generally lighter on the palate. In fact, steeping them for too long can mean that their flavour disappears entirely, so do be sure to keep checking on them. Heavier flavours, such as tobacco e-liquid or those based on desserts, typically require more steeping because there is a greater, richer depth of flavour.

For lighter flavours, we recommend steeping for a couple of days to a week. After this time, check on them to see how the flavour has evolved and steep for longer if necessary. For heavier flavours, we recommend a steeping time of at least two weeks but sometimes as many as four.

The whole point of steeping is to get the optimal flavour that you are satisfied with. So, if it tastes good to you after one week, so be it. Some people like to steep their e-liquid for a couple of weeks whereas some people leave them to sit for months on end. Taste is a highly subjective matter---what’s good to you is not necessarily good to someone else.

Side note: Before you start steeping your e-liquid, check the bottle’s manufacturing date because you may not even need to steep it at all. If you buy a fruit-based e-liquid that is already a few months old, it’s more than likely good to go. In contrast, if you buy a richer flavoured e-liquid that is only a couple weeks old, it will need to sit for a while.

How to Steep E-Liquid: The Basic Method

All you need to do to steep your e-liquid is seal the bottle up with its lid and place it in a cool, dark place for an extended period of time. That’s it. You do have to give the bottle an occasional shake, but there’s really not all that much to it.

Once you have done this, it is simply a matter of waiting for the magic to happen. Do note that it is important that you leave the e-liquid in the dark for as long as possible because the light can tarnish your e-liquid.

How to Steep E-Liquid: Other Methods

If the slow and simple steeping method isn’t good enough for you, there are plenty of others you can try. Here are five steeping methods that we like the best that anybody can do at home:

Use a Slow Cooker

1. Fill up the slow cooker’s crockpot with water.
2. Place the e-liquid bottles in a zip-lock bag and remove as much air as possible.
3. Place the cooker on low and place the bottles in the crockpot.
4. Leave the bottles to sit for 30 minutes to 4+ hours.
5. Remove and uncap the bottles, let them breathe for a few minutes, then re-cap and shake vigorously.

Use a Bathtub

1. Fill a deep bowl with warm water. The water should be hot but not unpleasant.
2. Seal your bottles in a zip-lock bag before placing them in the bath.
3. When the water has cooled to room temperature, remove the bottles.
4. Uncap the bottles and let them breathe. Re-cap the bottles and shake vigorously.

Use Your Car (during warm/hot weather)

1. Pack up your e-liquid in a zip-lock bag.
2. Place the bottles in your car’s glovebox.
3. Uncap the bottles and let them breathe. Re-cap the bottles and shake vigorously.

Use a Microwave

1. Place the bottles in the microwave and run on high power for around 10 seconds.
2. Remove the bottles and let them breathe. Re-cap the bottles and shake vigorously.
3. Let the bottle cool down and test the e-liquid. Repeat the process if necessary.

Use Hot Rice (No, Really!)

1. Fill a bowl up with dry, uncooked rice. Heat it in the microwave until it’s hot.
2. Place your e-liquid bottles in the rice and completely cover them.
3. Remove the bottles and let them breathe. Re-cap the bottles and shake vigorously.
4. When the e-liquid has cooled down, test the juice. Repeat the process if necessary.

Want to Try Your Hand at Steeping?

Steeping is honestly so simple; anybody can do it. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or knowledge. You’re simply sitting back and letting time do its thing (or speeding it up by using one of the above methods!)

Most people who have never steeped their e-liquids before usually end up being blown away by just how much better and more refined their favourite e-liquids become with time. So, why not try this out for yourself? At Vaper Empire, we have a range of high-end ‘Artisan’ e-liquids that include many deep, bold flavours that are perfect for steeping.

Visit the Vaper Empire online store to find out more about them!