So, I recently bought a few cigars from a retailer, and I am worried they could have beetles. The maker of this cigar has at times had issues of beetles in their cigars according to friends of mine, and the owner of my B&M. I wanted to make sure they don't have beetles, so if I put them in my humidor they don't f#ck up my other cigars. Someone suggested putting them in my freezer. How long should I put them in? Do I put them in a ziplock bag? Do I move them over to the fridge afterwards?
Worried about cigar beetles
- Thread starter ar2381
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King Kill 33
BoM Dec '13
Read this link and all the links within. Some good info in there.
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=58338
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=58338
Or you could send them to me and I will put them in a snowbank until spring. Lol
What kind of cigars? Are they in cellophane? Are there any tell tale signs like loose tobacco dust coming from the foot or pin holes in the wrapper?
I've read all the "freeze or no freeze" threads and it was my understanding that unless you have a deep freezer you are possibly conditioning the beetles to deal with the cold as the temp change won't happen rapidly enough to kill them. The snowbank might be a viable option though... Ha ha.
If it were me I'd set up a tuppador and quarantine them until I was satisfied they weren't infested or I smoked them.
I've read all the "freeze or no freeze" threads and it was my understanding that unless you have a deep freezer you are possibly conditioning the beetles to deal with the cold as the temp change won't happen rapidly enough to kill them. The snowbank might be a viable option though... Ha ha.
If it were me I'd set up a tuppador and quarantine them until I was satisfied they weren't infested or I smoked them.
If the owner of the B&M really thought that a particular cigar had a higher chance of having beetle issues, why would he bring them into his shop?
edit... Nevermind, just noticed you said you got them from a retailer, not your bm.
edit... Nevermind, just noticed you said you got them from a retailer, not your bm.
I got them from my B&M. It's a very popular brand. However, we've seen issues of beetle infestation on this particular brand before in the store.
Freeze if you want. If not, keep a watchful eye on them. If you check them every few days, you could probably spot any changes.
Throw them out! lol Not a very popular answer but if he has had problems and another voiced in confirmation I would buy them. Any risk is too great for a BOTL's collection
Cause they're a very popular brand. Most of the brothers on this site seem really into them. From what I've heard the reason for the beetles is that this maker doesn't freeze the cigars themselves after they roll them. Typically cigar makers from what I've been told freeze their cigars after rolling them to avoid beetles. Cubans often have beetles because they aren't frozen after they're rolled.
Hmmm...
Regardless of what the maker does or doesn't do, put them in a ziplock and stick them in the freezer at the bottom (it's coldest there) for a few days. Then move to a 'fridge for a day or two, then let them rest for a while. Unless you see dust or holes I wouldn't worry too much but I would freeze them if they were mine. Don't throw them away unless there are holes or you actually see one of the little bastards.
SurpriseMVP
Mike
I dont want to come off as rude, but I cannot believe how far this thread has gone. The there is a wealth of information about freezing and beetles in threads here. Do a search so you dont have to make false comments on a topic you know nothing about.
Mike
Nacho Daddy
Irrepressibly Irreverent Inveterate Ignominy
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Quote"I got them from my B&M. It's a very popular brand. However, we've seen issues of beetle infestation on this particular brand before >>IN THE STORE>>>>"
There's the answer.....your B&M keeps its cigars too warm and too moist.
Arguably there are beetle eggs in cigars.ALL CIGARS..........Freezing will kill them.
There's the answer.....your B&M keeps its cigars too warm and too moist.
Arguably there are beetle eggs in cigars.ALL CIGARS..........Freezing will kill them.
ATL
BoM 10/12, 9/13, & 8/14
He's not being rude nor is he assuming you're ignorant. He's just pointing out there's several threads wherein this topic is more than covered.
I have never frozen and luckily have only had 2 cigars with beetles (both bought from same guy but luckily they were secluded)
But here's a primer.
1. Put cigars in fridge for 24-72 hours depending on how careful/uptight you are.
2. Put cigars in freezer for 72-144
3. Put cigars in fridge for 24-72 hours
4. Put cigars in humi for a week or more and smoke when you think they're ready.
But here's a primer.
1. Put cigars in fridge for 24-72 hours depending on how careful/uptight you are.
2. Put cigars in freezer for 72-144
3. Put cigars in fridge for 24-72 hours
4. Put cigars in humi for a week or more and smoke when you think they're ready.
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
Beetles scare the crap outta every cigar enthusiast but an ounce of prevention is with that pound of cure. I don't freeze but I do quarantine every single cigar that comes into my home and I have 2 or 3 2.5 tupperware containers for this reason. I put the cigars in there for at least a month and watch them for any issues and if I were to see something....then I would freeze them as that is the only way to kill the larvae. The temps for freezing have been debated more than Roe V Wade....the magic temperature should be around this according to professionals:
CIGAR BEETLE DATA
Cigar Beetle eggs can be killed by exposure to temperatures easily obtainable by home refrigerators/freezers. An industrial deep freeze is not required, as rumor has indicated.
There is a direct correlation between the time it takes to kill and temperature. The colder the temp, the shorter it takes to kill eggs.
The figures below are time to kill 95% (abbreviated LT95) of eggs exposed to the environment. Keep this in mind when applying these figures to cigars because 1) we want to kill 100% of eggs and 2) any eggs inside our cigars have a thick layer of insulating tobacco that must be cooled before the eggs will reach that temperature.
5c (41f) requires ~12 days (275 hours)
0c (32f) requires ~9 days (220 hours)
-5c (23f) requires ~4 days (100 hours)
-10c (14f) requires less than 24 hours
-15c (5f) requires less than 24 hours
-20c (-4f) requires less than 24 hours
CIGAR BEETLE DATA
Cigar Beetle eggs can be killed by exposure to temperatures easily obtainable by home refrigerators/freezers. An industrial deep freeze is not required, as rumor has indicated.
There is a direct correlation between the time it takes to kill and temperature. The colder the temp, the shorter it takes to kill eggs.
The figures below are time to kill 95% (abbreviated LT95) of eggs exposed to the environment. Keep this in mind when applying these figures to cigars because 1) we want to kill 100% of eggs and 2) any eggs inside our cigars have a thick layer of insulating tobacco that must be cooled before the eggs will reach that temperature.
5c (41f) requires ~12 days (275 hours)
0c (32f) requires ~9 days (220 hours)
-5c (23f) requires ~4 days (100 hours)
-10c (14f) requires less than 24 hours
-15c (5f) requires less than 24 hours
-20c (-4f) requires less than 24 hours
javajunkie
BoM July '12
at ar2381's request, i'm locking this down. it's served it's purpose.
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