Freezing Cigars Q

[JimmyC]

For those of you who freeze a new shipment to protect from beetles, how long do you freeze for? 1 day 2... longer.

Also how long after freezing are you able to smoke.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[SurpriseMVP]

Just started freezing this year. 5 days in the freezer double bagged in zip locks. 1 day in the fridge. 30 days rest in the wine cooler after that.

 

[mwlabel]

Only shipment I ever froze went:
Double ziploc bags.
24 hours in fridge.
36 hours in freezer.
24 hours in fridge.
Long rest in wineador.

 

[JDog]

I was always under the impression that you had to use a deep freeze to eliminate the potential a beatle issue? I'm probably wrong. Here's a CA video that explains the process (I found it on youtube instead of their website since I could get a good link):
[video=youtube;XWWt9DmVco8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWWt9DmVco8[/video]

Here's an article that references how a habanos distributor handles that process:
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/2390

 

[CWS]

The time needed to kill unhatched eggs varies depending on the temperature of your freezer. Basically, the colder your freezer is, the less time you need to freeze your cigars. Most freezers operate at around zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius), so leaving them in there for 3-4 days should work. Putting them in the fridge for two days before and two days after simply allows the sticks to adjust to the temperature changes less violently.

 

[Farringtonr]

I usually put mine in the oven on450 degrees for 30 minutes and no worries about beetles ever. Lol jk 3 to 4 days should be enough and then a long rest

 

[Starbuck]

For those that freeze, you can skip the fridge step if you would like. Double or triple zip lock, whatever you prefer, you cigars/boxes. Straight into the freezer for three days and then pull them out. Once out of the freezer I usually let them sit at room temperature, which still in the zip lock bag, for 24 hours. Finally I remove cigars/boxes from the zip lock bags and put into storage.

 

[Knickerbocker]

I know some people make it a week long process. 24 hours fridge, 36 hours freezer, 24 hours fridge, 24 hours room temperature, then into the humidor.

 

[Craig Mac]

For those that freeze, you can skip the fridge step if you would like. Double or triple zip lock, whatever you prefer, you cigars/boxes. Straight into the freezer for three days and then pull them out. Once out of the freezer I usually let them sit at room temperature, which still in the zip lock bag, for 24 hours. Finally I remove cigars/boxes from the zip lock bags and put into storage.

I was reading the Tobacconist Handbook and it said the same. Claimed you could freeze for 24 hours and let it sit for 20 mins at room temp and the cigar would smoke fine. I don't freeze mine, but just stated what I had read.

 

[rev.b]

Why not freeze in the box? Especially if you gonna store the whole box in your cabinet?? Thank you......rev.b

 

[pbibby]

Why not freeze in the box? Especially if you gonna store the whole box in your cabinet?? Thank you......rev.b

They do. They're talking about putting the whole box in Ziploc bags. At least that's my knowledge

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2 because, you know, I love Tapatalk 2.

 

[JDog]

The time needed to kill unhatched eggs varies depending on the temperature of your freezer. Basically, the colder your freezer is, the less time you need to freeze your cigars. Most freezers operate at around zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius), so leaving them in there for 3-4 days should work. Putting them in the fridge for two days before and two days after simply allows the sticks to adjust to the temperature changes less violently.

Thank you for the clarification... I didn't freeze my cigars in the past because I was always under the impression that it needed to be a deep freeze.... learned something new.

 

[rev.b]

Why not freeze in the box? Especially if you gonna store the whole box in your cabinet?? Thank you......rev.b

They do. They're talking about putting the whole box in Ziploc bags. At least that's my knowledge

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2 because, you know, I love Tapatalk 2.

TY pbibby. peace.....bryan

 

[donpaolo]

I put the box into a zip-lock and in the freezer for 5 days. Than you can let the Cigars at room temperature.

I recommend trying to smoke a cigar directly out of the freezer! Its wonderful!

 

[DarrelMorris]

I know a very knowledgeable BOTL that freezes everything. He has an interesting system that I thought I'd share. Every Saturday, he puts all of the boxes that arrived that week into the freezer. At the same time he removes the past weeks packages. They don't need to stay in for a week, but this way he doesn't have to keep track of how long each box has been in. He knows that if it's in the freezer on Saturday, it's been there for a week. It really simplifies things for him.

 

[Alwayslit]

Some very good info on the thread.

 

[tylernim]

I do freeze, but I've always been curious what you brothers out there do for boxes that are too large for gallon zip locks? For instance my UF13s I remove them from the box, double bag them, and just throw the box in the freezer empty with them.

 

[Russ622]

I have never froze before. Do you guys have a separate freezer that you use? Have your cigars ever taken on that funky freezer smell?

 

[danerada]

I've never even heard of doing this. Time for research.

 

[bundwallah]

I usually do the following.

Wrap each box in Saran Wrap.
Place a box into a large freezer bag.
24 hours in the fridge to "acclimatize"
4-5 days in the freezer.
Back to the fridge for 24 hours.
Out of the fridge for about 8 hours at room temp. I usually put them on the shelf in my basement office. No sun, cool temps.
Then into the humidor.

A bit of overkill, but it does the trick for me.