Freezing cigars

[Stevieboy]

Any advice lads? I want to avoid beetle contamination from my custom rolls as per Nic's advice...preferably from someone who's actually done this (if possible)

[Jacobwaits]

Never tried it myself but from what I understand the colder and faster the better...not sure about your average home freezer?

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Stick them in a bag and put them outside the back door Stevie, I've been to Scotland and it's bloody freezing there!

[nicwing]

Steve
I have always used my home freezer and I can't say I have noticed any negative effect on the cigars.

I believe that the 'professionals' cool the cigars slowly, leave them deep frozen for 3-4 days to ensure that any eggs hidden among the leaves are killed, and then allow the temperature to rise very slowly.

Difficult to do that unless you have specialised equipment.

The threat of having some new cigars contaminate your humidor with beetle is, in my view, worth any risk.

[Ryan]

I've done it. I take the cigars out of boxes if the box is not full, box is fine if full (I don't like too much air in there with them), then into a ziplock bag with as little air in there as possible. I've done 25 per bag. Then into a second ziplock bag, just to be sure. Some people then wrap in tinfoil, I don't think it's necessary. I've somtimes used tupperware too if I think they might get jostled about in the freezer over the few days.
I can set the temp in my freezer, it goes to -25C but I normally turn it down to about -20C.
Put the cigars in for 4 days, then I take put them into the fridge for 1 day, still wrapped. Then, still wrapped, on a shelf in a cool room for 1 day.
Finally, unwrap, check and back in the humidor.
I've never had a problem.
I only freeze when I know that there has been a problem with the cigars, eg. sometimes custom rolls brought from Cuba.
Some people put them for 1 day into fridge before the freezer, I don't think that's necessary. As I said, I've never had a problem doing it the way I do.

[Deano]

Doing the same thing myself. Just sticking them in a zip locked bag for a few nights then will leave in fridge. We'll see what happens!

[Wardjrz]

I've done it. I take the cigars out of boxes if the box is not full, box is fine if full (I don't like too much air in there with them), then into a ziplock bag with as little air in there as possible. I've done 25 per bag. Then into a second ziplock bag, just to be sure. Some people then wrap in tinfoil, I don't think it's necessary. I've somtimes used tupperware too if I think they might get jostled about in the freezer over the few days.
I can set the temp in my freezer, it goes to -25C but I normally turn it down to about -20C.
Put the cigars in for 4 days, then I take put them into the fridge for 1 day, still wrapped. Then, still wrapped, on a shelf in a cool room for 1 day.
Finally, unwrap, check and back in the humidor.
I've never had a problem.
I only freeze when I know that there has been a problem with the cigars, eg. sometimes custom rolls brought from Cuba.
Some people put them for 1 day into fridge before the freezer, I don't think that's necessary. As I said, I've never had a problem doing it the way I do.

This is the way I was planning to freeze my Dog Rockets (my home rolled sticks). Molecularstudent has done this with his own rolled cigars I think so maybe he can advise too.

[Stevieboy]

I've done it. I take the cigars out of boxes if the box is not full, box is fine if full (I don't like too much air in there with them), then into a ziplock bag with as little air in there as possible. I've done 25 per bag. Then into a second ziplock bag, just to be sure. Some people then wrap in tinfoil, I don't think it's necessary. I've somtimes used tupperware too if I think they might get jostled about in the freezer over the few days.
I can set the temp in my freezer, it goes to -25C but I normally turn it down to about -20C.
Put the cigars in for 4 days, then I take put them into the fridge for 1 day, still wrapped. Then, still wrapped, on a shelf in a cool room for 1 day.
Finally, unwrap, check and back in the humidor.
I've never had a problem.
I only freeze when I know that there has been a problem with the cigars, eg. sometimes custom rolls brought from Cuba.
Some people put them for 1 day into fridge before the freezer, I don't think that's necessary. As I said, I've never had a problem doing it the way I do.

Great advice R. I'll follow your example tonight....must remember to remove them on Sat as I'm away next week!!

[monkey66]

Agree with Ryan, I freeze all customs and old sticks (and sticks from unknown sources)

Put them in a high quality ziplock, suck out the excess air and into the freezer for about 5 days. Then I just take them out let them re-aclimitize for a couple of days (I don't bother with the fridge stage but i know plenty do) and then into the humi. Have been doing this for years and never seen any ill effects.

[kevree]

I've never frozen a stick......and never had a problem.

Lucky or VERY lucky ?

[nev coss]

regularly freeze new cigars, never had a problem after , better safe than sorry , most freezers in your fridge do not get down to a temp to kill beetles, so do what Ryan said use a chest freezer

[daverave999]

I've never had a problem though I've only done it a few times.
I reckon the trick is is to remove as much air from around them in the bag as you can. I worry about the dew point changing and the air dropping out moisture see...

[tippexx]

Any advice lads? I want to avoid beetle contamination from my custom rolls as per Nic's advice...preferably from someone who's actually done this (if possible)

One thing I have noticed Steve, if you're not careful the box can become damp in the freezer/fridge process. 1) Either freeze the gars out of the box, or 2) Make sure the box walls are properly dry afterwards by emptying and leaving it to air somewhere.

[Stevieboy]

One thing I have noticed Steve, if you're not careful the box can become damp in the freezer/fridge process. 1) Either freeze the gars out of the box, or 2) Make sure the box walls are properly dry afterwards by emptying and leaving it to air somewhere.

It was just 3 singles Tipp...now out the freezer and in the fridge...

[whisky77]

I've never had a problem though I've only done it a few times.
I reckon the trick is is to remove as much air from around them in the bag as you can. I worry about the dew point changing and the air dropping out moisture see...

I agree with your suggestion Dave. I have done this a couple of times and never had any after effects.

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