Why don't tins provide better moisture retention?

[Shlippy]

I had a Davidoff tin which I opened and smoked some and then put away for a month or so. This was a European style tin -- squat, metal, airtight before opening. It didn't hold in the moisture and my tobacco started drying out a bit. Not much but I could tell it was losing moisture. So I put the tobacco in a Ball jar and it seems to be doing ok.

My question is... the tin and jar seem to have the same rubbery plasticky sealing "gasket" on them. It's sprayed or painted around the edge of the inside of the lid. Why don't the tins seal at least as well as jars? I would think they'd be just as airtight as jars unless dented or something.

 

[CVAC085]

I know exactly what you mean. I have the ball mason jars now too. And no issues. But I too have noticed the tins don't hold a seal, once it's cracked open. I'll assume since it's like the baccy is vacuum packed to keep in the freshness. My baccy that comes in the container already (having a serious brain fart on the proper name) I keep in there and try to release some of the air after I pack a bowl of whatever I was deciding on smoking.

 

[Mr. Guy]

Simply a guess on my part, but I'd say that the vacuum process compresses the rubbery seal beyond being effective for future airtightness. The same would go for the mason jars. If the lid was used in a traditional heating and cooling cycle to seal them, the lid would become ineffective for reuse. Again though, just a guess.

 

[Shlippy]

Dat certainly sounds like a good theory!

 

[Tennessee Dave]

Once opened a tin is only good for moisture control for about 7 to 10 days. Either smoke it up in that time frame or put it in Mason Jars.

 

[Shlippy]

We know. The question is: why?

 

[mikeman84]

I always jar my tins after I open them. I read that's what alot of people did so i figured it was a good idea.

 

[The Munt]

The seal relies on the vacuum. Once popped the idea is to smoke the baccy

So smoking more fixes the problem
But mason jars for the win

 

[Shlippy]

One could argue that canning jars are designed to be sealed with a slight vacuum as well. Why do they retain a seal better even without a vacuum?

 

[StogieNinja]

One could argue that canning jars are designed to be sealed with a slight vacuum as well. Why do they retain a seal better even without a vacuum?

Because they have that gummy seal that gets pressed tight against the glass when you screw the top down. Before they're used in the traditional heating/cooling cycle, that stuff is better.

Simply a guess on my part, but I'd say that the vacuum process compresses the rubbery seal beyond being effective for future airtightness. The same would go for the mason jars. If the lid was used in a traditional heating and cooling cycle to seal them, the lid would become ineffective for reuse. Again though, just a guess.

Bingo. My wife cans a lot of beans and you're not supposed to reuse the lids because the seal can be compromised if reused, and then you die of botulism.

 

[Shlippy]

Makes sense, I wonder if repeatedly opening and closing the jar will eventually compromise the seal as well. Wonder if I should invest in extra lids.