Freezing Cigars from Cuba

[JNT]

A friend is advising me he got me a box of Monte PE's from Cuba. He says the box is from 2009.

Question. When they get here, should I freeze them for a few days?

If there were beetles, would that be evident already?

 

[beercritic]

Personally, I freeze every gar that comes into the house, unless I'm itching to try one and the "pinch" test suggests it's at an acceptable RH.


joe

 

[Jwrussell]

You will get both answers to this question with valid reasoning behind each. It amounts to this:

Do you keep your cigars at a temp that would allow beetles to hatch?

What level of risk are you willing to accept?

I do not freeze my cigars, but I have never had an outbreak.

To answer your other question, it does not really matter how old they are. If the cigars were kept at a temp at which the eggs would stay dormant then raising that temp could still allow them to hatch. If you know they were kept at a higher temp, you can probably assume they are fine.

 

[SmokeProper]

You will get both answers to this question with valid reasoning behind each. It amounts to this:

Do you keep your cigars at a temp that would allow beetles to hatch?

What level of risk are you willing to accept?

I do not freeze my cigars, but I have never had an outbreak.

To answer your other question, it does not really matter how old they are. If the cigars were kept at a temp at which the eggs would stay dormant then raising that temp could still allow them to hatch. If you know they were kept at a higher temp, you can probably assume they are fine.

What he said.

I personally don't freeze everything. But I don't tbink it's a bad idea. I highly recommend following the proper steps...

 

[icehog3]

I haven't frozen anything for several years. I keep everything under 70*, so I have never had an issue.

 

[JNT]

Im leaning towards not. Mine stay well under 70

 

[bdc30]

Add me to the no-freezing crowd. Vinotemp sits at 66/65 rock steady, never had a beetle issue.

 

[Clint]

I haven't frozen anything for several years. I keep everything under 70*, so I have never had an issue.

Yup^^

 

[Docbp87]

Pretty sure Cuba already freezes everything before it leaves the factory.

 

[Headbanger]

Pretty sure Cuba already freezes everything before it leaves the factory.

Exactly, Cuba started doing this about 4 years ago for all cigars. No need to re-freeze the 2009 box again you should be safe.

 

[JNT]

Thanks for all the info. Hopefully I open them, and everything is cool.

 

[maverickdrinker]

I freeze everything. Better safe than sorry. Wrap it up with saran wrap, 1 day in the fridge, 4 days in the freezer, back in the fridge for 2 days and a day on the counter before going in the humi..

 

[JNT]

I freeze everything. Better safe than sorry. Wrap it up with saran wrap, 1 day in the fridge, 4 days in the freezer, back in the fridge for 2 days and a day on the counter before going in the humi..

I think you just put them in freezer and fridge cause you run out of places to put them. :laugh:

 

[maverickdrinker]

nice one

 

[aea6574]

Freeze everything here.

That better safe than sorry thing.

Best regards, tony

 

[sonarman]

Exactly, Cuba started doing this about 4 years ago for all cigars. No need to re-freeze the 2009 box again you should be safe.

Yes X2

 

[vivalanation734]

My Edgestar only goes up to 63 degrees... No worries here.