Suppose that your local vape shop had a great sale a while ago, and you bought a bunch of your favorite vape juice in bulk. You’ve kept it in storage for so long, though, that you’re beginning to wonder if it’s expired.
Here’s an alternative scenario. Maybe you opened a bottle of vape juice a year or so ago, but the flavor wasn’t quite to your liking. You stuck the bottle in a drawer and forgot about it. You’ve run out of your usual flavor, though, and you want to know if that old bottle is still safe to use.
So, how can you tell when vape juice is expired? There are actually several easy ways to know, and the easiest might be right there on the back of the bottle. Let’s dig in.
Look for an Expiration Date
If you want to know whether a bottle of e-liquid is expired, the first thing that you should do is look for an expiration date on the label. Is that bottle of Juice Head vape juice going to give you the same experience that it did when it was new? You’ll probably find a date on the bottle. If the date has passed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t use the e-liquid but could potentially mean that it won’t taste the same and won’t be as satisfying as when you originally bought it.
Can’t find a date on the bottle? Sometimes, the expiration date for vape juice is printed on the outer shipping box, so you won’t be able to see it if you’ve already thrown the box away. There are also a few e-liquid brands that don’t provide expiration dates. The standard rule, though, is that vape juice maintains its peak condition for about a year after it’s produced. If you bought the e-liquid more than a year ago, it probably won’t be the same as it used to be. You could potentially still use it, though, and we’ll discuss that in greater detail next.
Check the Color of the E-Liquid
When vape juice is stored for a long time, the nicotine begins to oxidize from exposure to air and light. The process happens even more rapidly if you’ve opened to bottle and exposed it to the elements. You can tell that this is happening by looking at the color of the vape juice. If it’s a bit yellow, that’s completely normal and will always happen over time. If it’s dark brown or black, though, the nicotine is probably so thoroughly oxidized that the e-liquid will have almost no potency left. It probably won’t taste very good either. When vape juice is that old, there’s really no reason to use it – even if it’s your only option. You should definitely run out, grab a new bottle and use that instead.
Check for Signs of Microbial Contamination
In addition to checking the color of your old e-liquid, you should also hold the bottle up to a light and look through it to check for potential signs of microbial contamination. Can you see any flakes, blobs or cloudiness? All of those things could indicate that a fungal or bacterial colony has managed to establish itself in the e-liquid. You obviously don’t want to inhale fungi or bacteria, and anything that can grow in propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin – two substances that are inherently antimicrobial – can definitely be dangerous for you.
Don’t forget that a foul smell is also a likely sign of microbial contamination – so even if your vape juice looks normal, you should still open the bottle and give it a sniff before you start vaping. If it smells the way it should, you can probably use it. If it smells bad, on the other hand, that’s an almost definite sign that the e-liquid isn’t safe to vape.
Determine How the E-Liquid Tastes and Makes You Feel
Does your e-liquid look and smell normal? If it does – and you’re certain that it’s not significantly older than about a year – there’s no reason why you can’t give it a try. Fill your tank or pod and take a few puffs. Does the e-liquid seem to taste right? Wait a few minutes. Do you feel the same way you normally would when using that particular vape juice? If everything seems right, the e-liquid should be okay to use.
How to Store Vape Juice for Maximum Shelf Life
Now that you know how to tell when vape juice is expired, let’s discuss the things that you can do to keep it from expiring for as long as possible. Storing an e-liquid properly and maximizing its shelf life basically comes down to these four things.
- When you buy a bottle of e-liquid, check for an expiration date on the box or bottle. If you don’t find one, make a note of when you bought it. Although it’s possible to store an e-liquid for a long time if you do everything correctly, you should try to use it within a year for the best possible experience.
- Don’t open a bottle of vape juice until you’re ready to start using it. When you open the bottle, the e-liquid is exposed to air. That hastens the oxidation process. The e-liquid will remain fairly stable as long as the bottle’s original seal is intact.
- Store vape juice in a cool, dry place. You can put it in a closed cabinet for up to a year. You should do the best you can to keep the e-liquid away from heat, light and air because all of those things can cause the e-liquid’s flavor quality and nicotine potency to degrade.
- If you need to store vape juice for a very long time, consider putting it in your refrigerator or freezer as long as there aren’t any curious hands in your home who might get into it. The cold temperature will slow the degradation processes that rob the e-liquid of its potency and flavor, potentially allowing you to store it for much longer than a year.
