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Is it a myth that nicotine degrades when stored in a freezer?
submitted over 6 years ago by AspiringArtist13

So I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to my question. Does nicotine degrade noticably when stored in a bottle in a freezer even though there is air in the bottle too?

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24 points
 
by Pravus_Beluaover 6 years ago

Everything I've been told has been to the contrary, that for long-term storage of nicotine the freezer is the best option.

To that end that's where I keep all the nicotine that I'm not currently using for my mixes. I decant the larger bottle that I buy into smaller ones and use them to mix from as I go. That way I can ultimately expose as little of it as possible to oxygen/light.

Having done this for several years now I can say I haven't noticed any degradation. Everything comes out just as well using nic that's been in there for a year vs. when I first bought it.

11 points
 
by juthincover 6 years ago

It will always degrade in the presence of oxygen, but low temperatures drastically reduce the speed at which this happens. So for practical purposes, over medium terms, there will be no noticable degradation.

2 points
 
by Morgan_Druryover 6 years ago

Makes me wonder why people don't vacuum seal their bottles

7 points
 
by juthincover 6 years ago

It's a effort versus utility function. Some do. Others don't. Some fill the headspace in their bottles with argon or nitrogen or whatever.

6 points
 
by EdibleMalfunctionover 6 years agoI found my thrill on Blueberry Hill

That would require using something to seal them

3 points
 
by Its_0verover 6 years ago

I've had the same bottle of nic for 3 years in the freezer. Gets opened at least once a month. No noticeable off flavors, no vacuum seal

2 points
 
by peanutbudderover 6 years ago

Argon is cheaper.

7 points
 
by PimpinNinjaover 6 years ago

I keep mine in amber glass bottles with the air replaced with argon, stored in my deep freezer double bagged in freezer zip lock bags. The current bottle I'm using is from 2011 and it hasn't degraded at all.

Edit: I was wrong on the date. It's from January 2013. Forgot in finished the previous batch a few months ago.

3 points
 
by Good1sR_Takenover 6 years ago

What process do you use to add the argon and seal the bottle?

3 points
 
by PimpinNinjaover 6 years ago

The company I bought it from, nude nicotine, used to be really good but has since fallen into disrepute. I was buying a liter at a time, broken down into 120ml bottles. I just take out a bottle when I need one. I have enough nic stockpiled to last me and my wife the rest of our natural lives.

4 points
 
by cyantacoover 6 years agoMixologist

Where did you hear this? I've never heard this and I bet most if not anyone reading this have either.

2 points
 
by Ewamorover 6 years ago

I keep mine in a freezer. The worst that can happen to nicotine is oxidation, and my stock of 100mg in propylene glycol stored in my freezer hasn't. It's stored in multiple smaller bottles and it still tastes great even after being in there for almost 2 years. Dunno about Vegetable glycerin. I have a 150ml bottle of 20mg 100% vg bottom of the fridge for as long, and the base is still crystal clear/doesn't look like it has oxidized. I dunno about the taste.

1 points
 
by sheldonopolisover 6 years ago

From personal observation I think that quality base holds for at least a year without noticeable degradation, even after opening while in the fridge. I suspect that closed bottles survive considerably longer in a freezer than that since I already emptied several 250ml bottles of 72 mg/ml. I use PG base though as unlike VG it has antibacterial properties.

1 points
 
by SmokeSignalsNDNover 6 years ago

I’ve had a 500 ml-100 mg jug nic salts from nicotine river in my refrigerators bottom drawer for a little under a year. Doesn’t taste funny hasn’t changed colors nothing I’ve noticed to say otherwise. I think as long as you keep it cold, outta of the light and closed tightly so there is no oxygen flow going in the container you should be fine.

1 points
 
by SantoWestover 6 years ago

I stored my vg pg nicotine mix in my fridge (not freezer) and it didn’t degrade in the slightest. Both color and smell stayed the same for months (until I used them all)

They are not that fragile as long as you don’t put them in a bright place, especially somewhere sunlight can reach.

-1 points
 
by tank_busterover 6 years ago

>Should I store Nicotine Products in the freezer?

No, Absolutely not.  There are two components in 100MG/ML nicotine, either nicotine and vegetable glycerin, or nicotine and propylene glycol.  Although most freezer units keep temperatures around zero degrees Fharenheit some will fluctuate downward by three to five degrees, and upward by two to three degrees.  While propylene glycol is not readily affected by this temperature range, both Nicotine and Vegetable Glycerin are.  Damage occurs to100mg/ml nicotine products when oxides form during near-freeze/thaw cycles.  So while the ice inside stays "ice," outside temperatures, thermostat performance and the number of times the freezer door is opened will affect 100MG/ML nicotine in this sensitive temperature range.  Typical refrigeration temperatures, or even room temperatures are a much safer storage range than 27-33F because they are well away from freeze/thaw potential.

​

From the Carolina Xtract FAQ. But lots of people here keep in the freezer and I'm not sure what "damage" means.

20 points
 
by SvenskGhotiover 6 years ago

Is it just me or does that read like a bunch of nonsense written by an idiot?

> most freezer units keep temperatures around zero degrees Fharenheit some will fluctuate downward by three to five degrees, and upward by two to three degrees.

Yeah, that sounds about right, but what's this got to do with anything? Also, it's Fahrenheit.

> While propylene glycol is not readily affected by this temperature range, both Nicotine and Vegetable Glycerin are.

Yyyeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and drop a big-ass [citation needed] right here, especially considering pure freebase nicotine (100% or 1000mg/ml) freezes at an even lower temperature than PG (-110F/-79C vs -74F/-59C, respectively), mmkay?

> Damage occurs to100mg/ml nicotine products when oxides form during near-freeze/thaw cycles. ... even room temperatures are a much safer storage range than 27-33F

Again, [citation needed], but does anyone else think it's kinda funny how a minute ago they said "around zero degrees Fharenheit", but now we're at near-(water-)freeze/thaw? Maybe the part where they misspelled it they were thinking of Celsius? I don't know, man.

Also, 27-33F? Who the fuck runs their freezer that warm? The first time when they said 0F, that seems about right - the one in my kitchen is usually 0-5F and the chest freezer in my garage stays between -15F to -10F. 27-33F is more of a "I left it outside overnight in Minnesota in April" or "I accidentally set my refrigerator's thermostat too low" range, that sort of range in the freezer means either something's broken or you're an idiot.

2 points
 
by d-babsover 6 years ago

You are right, my guy. What in the fuck.

7 points
 
by Thecerbover 6 years ago

Not sure how something that freezes at like > -40 C is going to be effected by freeze/thaw cycles in a common freezer. But Im no scientist.

-1 points
 
by Lynda73over 6 years ago

The purpose of putting it in the freezer is to slow down degradation, but I know someone who tested 12 after 2 years and it was still at a 10.

Edit: tested it at room temperature only, people! So I'm saying it doesn't even degrade that fast not in the freezer!

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