If you’ve been a vaper for a long time, there’s a good chance that you’ve collected a lot of extra items along the way. You’ve probably got a few old tanks and devices along with some unused coils – and there’s a good chance that you’ve got a few half-used bottles of vape juice stowed away somewhere as well. Maybe you’ve come across one of those bottles while cleaning your house, and you’re wondering if it’s still safe to use.
So, is that bottle of Twist vape juice OK to vape? How do you know if e-liquid is expired? In this article, we’re going to explain the signs of an e-liquid that’s past its prime. As you’re about to learn, there’s generally no reason why you can’t use a bottle of vape juice that’s been in storage for a while – but there are a few reasons why you might not want to. Once you’ve finished reading this guide, you’ll understand how to make that decision.
Look for an Expiration Date on the Bottle
The easiest way to know if vape juice is expired is by checking the bottle’s label for an expiration date. In most cases, a modern bottle of e-liquid will have a best-by date on the bottle. The date is usually about a year from when the bottle was originally filled. If the date has passed, the e-liquid is expired.
Note, however, that an expired vape juice isn’t necessarily unsafe to use because the main ingredients of e-liquid are very effective at preventing microbial growth if they’re handled properly. Because of the changes that take place in a bottle of e-liquid over time, though, it’s very unlikely that you’ll enjoy the vape juice as much as you did when it was new. We’ll explain the reasons for that shortly.
Although most of the e-liquids on the market today have expiration dates on their bottles, there are a few that don’t. If you have a bottle of vape juice without an expiration date, try to remember when you bought it. Was it more than a year ago? If so, the e-liquid is probably expired. Determining whether you should use it anyway is going to require a subjective judgement on your part. That’s what we’ll discuss next.
Check the Color of the Vape Juice
If you’re not certain whether a bottle of vape juice is expired, you should start by checking its appearance. Over time, nicotine oxidizes and changes color. This results in the e-liquid eventually taking on a yellowed or browned appearance. Again, the fact that a vape juice has darkened doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s unsafe to use – but you can definitely assume that the active nicotine content won’t be what it was when the e-liquid was new. You’ll learn more about that in a moment.
When you examine the appearance of a bottle of e-liquid that’s been stored for a while, it’s important to note that e-liquid should always be essentially clear even after aging. You should never see any cloudiness or floating solids inside the bottle. These are signs of microbial contamination. If you see them, you should discard the bottle.
Evaluate the Flavor of the Vape Juice
If the e-liquid passes a visual inspection, the only way to find out for sure what you want to use the bottle is by tasting it. Over time, an e-liquid’s flavor evolves as the various flavor compounds change. Some of the individual flavor compounds meld together and create new compounds. Some of the more volatile compounds may have evaporated if the bottle was ever opened. Other volatile compounds may have degraded. The end result is that a bottle of e-liquid that’s been stored for a long time definitely won’t taste the same as it did when it was new.
Some people actually appreciate the taste of an e-liquid that’s had some time to age. As the individual flavor compounds meld together, some people find that the overall flavor profile of an e-liquid begins to taste more mellow and cohesive. Others, however, find that aging has the effect of nullifying individual flavor notes and making an e-liquid taste more muted. How you feel about a given bottle of vape juice will depend on your personal taste and how the flavor compounds in that particular e-liquid react to aging. If the e-liquid tastes good to you, you should use it.
Evaluate How the Vape Juice Makes You Feel
The last thing that you need to keep in mind about using an older bottle of vape juice is that the flavors aren’t the only ingredients that will degrade with time – the nicotine will degrade as well. Nicotine is actually fairly volatile in storage, which is probably something that you’ve noticed if you’ve ever smoked an old cigarette or used an old piece of nicotine gum. Nicotine degrades over time and is no longer available to the body at that point.
If you use a bottle of e-liquid that’s been in storage for a long time, you’ll probably notice that you don’t feel much throat hit. You’ll probably also notice that you need to use more e-liquid than usual in order to feel satisfied. If the bottle is so old that you don’t feel satisfied regardless of how much you use, you probably shouldn’t bother finishing the bottle. If the nicotine degradation is only slight, though, there’s no reason not to continue using it. If you use the e-liquid a little more quickly than you normally would, that’s completely normal.
How Can You Make Vape Juice Last Longer?
If you’re the type of person who loves to buy vape juice in large quantities whenever there’s a sale going on, you need to have a plan for storing your e-liquid if you want it to taste good and provide a satisfying experience several months from now. Here are a few pointers that you can use to help your e-liquid last as long as it can.
- Protect your vape juice from light by storing it in a closed cabinet.
- Protect your vape juice from heat by keeping it in an air-conditioned room.
- Protect your vape juice from air by keeping bottles closed until you’re ready to use them.
For long-term storage, consider putting vape juice in a refrigerator or
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