Does vape juice expire? Is it safe without a doubt?

Have you ever experienced the moment when you open a drawer that you haven't touched in a long time and accidentally find a dusty bottle of vape juice with a faded label and blurred date?

This mysterious liquid bottle makes you wonder: is it still usable?

This scenario is more common than we think because the durability and safety of using e-cigarette juice is often overlooked.

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at e-cigarette juice shelf life, signs of expiration, proper storage methods, and when to stop using e-cigarette juice as you age.

Stay tuned as we unravel the secrets to the shelf life of VG, PG, nicotine and flavors.

What is Vape Juice?

The terms e-liquid and e-liquid are often used interchangeably, but there can be subtle differences between them, the main difference being the presence or absence of nicotine.

E-liquids generally contain nicotine, while e-liquids are nicotine-free.

E-cigarette juice is a liquid in a vaporizer that is heated to produce vapor that is inhaled into the lungs.

What is in e-cigarette juice?

Before we can determine how long e-cigarette juice lasts, it's helpful to understand what's in the bottle.

Your typical e-liquid contains four main ingredients:

Vegetable glycerin (VG)

VG is a non-toxic, colorless liquid that has no smell but a sweet taste.

Due to the viscous properties of VG, e-cigarette juice with a high VG content delivers a richer and longer-lasting taste, and you can better experience the taste of the e-cigarette.

If you're new to vaping, start by trying e-cigarette juice with a high VG ratio for a milder, more pleasant inhalation experience.

Propylene glycol (PG)

PG produces less vapor than VG due to its lower viscosity, allowing vape juice with a high PG content to provide a tighter inhalation.

PG in e-cigarette juice also helps deliver nicotine and flavorings more effectively, which can improve the overall smoking experience.

For users looking for something closer to a traditional smoking experience, or for whom vapor quantity is not particularly important, a high PG e-cigarette juice may be a more appropriate choice.

Flavor concentrates

Flavors make every vape unique. There are thousands of flavored e-cigarettes on the market for you to choose from.

nicotine

Optional. Nicotine affects shelf life.

So these are the basic building blocks of e-liquid.

The ingredients are combined and blended into a range of delicious flavors, sometimes with the addition of distilled water to adjust the thickness.

Also read: How much nicotine is in a vape?

Does vape juice expire?

Yes. Typically, the shelf life of an e-cigarette is two years.

E-cigarette juice manufacturers include a best-before or best-before date to highlight the best of their product.

While it is still possible to use expired e-cigarette juice, its taste may deteriorate.

How long does the sealed vape juice last in comparison? After opening?

The shelf life of e-cigarette juice begins to expire when the bottle is opened.

The shelf life depends on the type of e-cigarette juice, whether it contains nicotine, and whether the e-cigarette juice is sealed.

E-liquid type	Sealed	Open
Nicotine free vape juice	1-2 year	3-6 months
Nicotine salts	6 months to 1 year	3-6 months
Freebase vape juice with nicotine	1-2 years	6-12 months

How can you tell if your vape juice is expired?

It is very important to trust your instincts. If you feel discomfort after vaping an e-cigarette, this could be a sign.

An indication that your e-cigarette juice has gone bad or is no longer usable.

Darkening color

If your vape juice changes from a light color to a muddy brown, that's a warning sign.

Oxidation causes e-liquid to darken over time.

separation

Fresh e-liquid should have a uniform consistency.

In most cases, when the liquid separates, vigorous shaking will cause all the ingredients to mix again.

However, if the ingredients are still not fully mixed after shaking several times, your e-cigarette juice is no longer fit for purpose.

New taste

A harsh, bitter, chemical, or peppery taste indicates that the nicotine has been oxidized. Throw it away.

Less smoke

When you exhale, the smoke becomes noticeably thinner and the aroma becomes lighter.

Can you vape outdated vape juice?

Although there is no conclusive evidence that vaping expired e-cigarette juice can be harmful, as a vaper it is always advisable to be vigilant.

When vape juice exceeds its shelf life, changes in taste, smell, and nicotine levels may occur, which may result in a less pleasant experience.

Remember that the shelf life is a guideline in case a manufacturer cannot guarantee the quality of the product. This is not a legally binding date from which e-cigarette juice is no longer safe.

Although we advise against vaping e-cigarette juice past the expiration date, there is currently no evidence to suggest that doing so is dangerous. However, flavor and vapor production may be lower compared to fresh e-cigarette juice.

Although expired e-cigarette juice may not pose an immediate risk, it is recommended to use it within the e-cigarette juice's shelf life to ensure optimal taste and safety.

Why does e-cigarette juice turn brown?

There are several reasons why e-cigarette juice may be browner or darker than when you originally purchased it.

oxidation

When the nicotine in e-cigarette juice encounters oxygen molecules, a chemical reaction occurs that breaks down the nicotine and causes a visible color change.

Higher levels of nicotine cause more of the substance to interact with oxygen, resulting in faster and more visible oxidation.

Shaking the bottle frequently allows more air to mix into the liquid, exposing the nicotine to more oxygen and thus speeding up the color change.

Ultraviolet rays

UV rays from sunlight not only accelerate the oxidation process of nicotine, but can also convert it into less potent substances, affecting the color and smoking experience.

temperature

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can break down the ingredients in e-cigarette juice, which contains vegetable glycerin VG, which turns into a completely different substance when heated above 554 degrees Fahrenheit.

sweeteners and flavors

Because e-cigarette juices are manufactured differently, they may contain varying amounts of artificial sweeteners and sugars.

When you heat the coil to vaporize the e-cigarette juice, these sweeteners or sugars begin to caramelize and stick to the coil and cotton.

After using the same coil to vape your e-cigarette for a while, the coil becomes darker and stickier and begins to soak into the e-cigarette juice, making the overall color darker.

If a color change or other abnormality is observed, you should consider replacing the e-cigarette juice with a new one and ensure you follow proper storage and usage guidelines to ensure optimal quality and vaping experience.

Also, ensure steam is cleaned and maintained to minimize the effects of caramelization and carbonation.

How do I store e-cigarette juice correctly?

Proper storage of e-cigarette juice is essential to maintaining its quality and safety.

Choosing a storage area

The place where you want to store your e-cigarette juice must be dark and dry and cool.

If you have a basement at home, store your vape juice there as it is the coolest place in your home.

Storage at room temperature

You may have thought about storing your e-cigarette juice in the refrigerator for a long period of time because the refrigerator can keep the e-cigarette juice cold.

However, PG and VG have different freezing temperatures, which can cause the ingredients to separate more quickly.

We recommend storing e-cigarette juice at room temperature.

After use, shake well at room temperature before use; This ensures that VG and PG are mixed.

Location

Store e-cigarette juice in an unused cabinet or drawer on a shelf.

This usually solves the problem.

Be sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets. This can be a big problem when using e-cigarette juice.

Use colored bottles

Using colored e-cigarette oil bottles is beneficial as they protect against light and heat.

Investing in these bottles is a good idea and they are relatively inexpensive.

Plastic or glass bottles

Plastic bottles are great for short-term storage, while glass bottles are great for long-term use.

Glass containers are perfect for long-term storage of e-cigarette liquids.

By following these storage guidelines, you can ensure that your e-cigarette juice maintains its optimal quality, providing a better vaping experience while reducing health risks.

How do you dispose of expired e-cigarette juice?

Please do not dispose of the e-cigarette juice directly as it can be harmful to the environment and wildlife.

E-cigarette bottles should be recycled with household waste. However, be sure to remove any leftover e-cigarette juice before recycling.

If you are looking to dispose of a significant amount of e-cigarette juice, we recommend that you first check with friends or family members who may vape and would like to have it from you.

If not, you can pour old, unwanted vape juice into an absorbent material such as sawdust, wood chips, or cat litter.

Once soaked, dispose of it in your regular trash as unfortunately this part is not recyclable.