Dried out cigar question

Jon11 · 09-18-2011, 09:54 PM

How can you tell if a cigar is dried out? A guy once told me to squeeze it and it should feel a little spongy. But a bunch of the cigars that I have in my humidor are hard and not spongy at all. My humidor has been at 65% since I loaded it up, the cigars arrived hard. I don't know if they are dried out or are they supposed to feel like that?

CigarNut · 09-18-2011, 10:03 PM

Squeezing cigars does not reliably tell you very much and you risk damaging the wrapper. Try cutting the cigar and checking the draw. If it draws OK try smoking it. If it smokes well then don't worry.

If the draw is not OK or it does not smoke well, try adjusting the RH. BTW, it is OK to put a cut cigar back in your humidor.

If you are worried make sure to test/calibrate/adjust your hygrometer. Hygrometers change over time as the batteries drain.

In all likelyhood your cigars are probably fine.

Remo · 09-18-2011, 10:04 PM

Mine are always a little spongy, but I keep my RH a little higher, they will burn better a little drier though IMO.

bobarian · 09-18-2011, 10:34 PM

Too wet or too dry is really difficult if not impossible to judge by feel or touch.
If you are using a good hygrometer and humifification(most here prefer Rh beads as they absorb as well as release moisture) and your cigars are smoking the way you like them then you are fine.

If after a month of storage your cigars are going out when smoking then chances are your Rh is too high. If your wrappers are cracking while smoking or you are getting a big cone then you may be too low. But be aware that coning also can occur from smoking too fast causing the wrapper to burn faster than the filler/binder.

Ogre · 09-19-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobarian

Too wet or too dry is really difficult if not impossible to judge by feel or touch.
If you are using a good hygrometer and humifification(most here prefer Rh beads as they absorb as well as release moisture) and your cigars are smoking the way you like them then you are fine.

If after a month of storage your cigars are going out when smoking then chances are your Rh is too high. If your wrappers are cracking while smoking or you are getting a big cone then you may be too low. But be aware that coning also can occur from smoking too fast causing the wrapper to burn faster than the filler/binder.

Could not be put any better way.

Skywalker · 09-19-2011, 11:59 AM

Listen to Bob! He knows his stuff!!!

RightAJ · 09-20-2011, 05:00 PM

Smoke something that has been there for a bit. If it smokes well (flavor/construction) you should be fine! 65% is pretty standard and shouldn't give you problems.. that is as long as you hygrometer is accurate

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09-18-2011, 09:54 PM	#1
Jon11 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jul 2011 First Name: Jon Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 141 Trading: (0)	Dried out cigar question How can you tell if a cigar is dried out? A guy once told me to squeeze it and it should feel a little spongy. But a bunch of the cigars that I have in my humidor are hard and not spongy at all. My humidor has been at 65% since I loaded it up, the cigars arrived hard. I don't know if they are dried out or are they supposed to feel like that?

09-18-2011, 10:03 PM	#2
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,038 Trading: (111*)	Re: Dried out cigar question Squeezing cigars does not reliably tell you very much and you risk damaging the wrapper. Try cutting the cigar and checking the draw. If it draws OK try smoking it. If it smokes well then don't worry. If the draw is not OK or it does not smoke well, try adjusting the RH. BTW, it is OK to put a cut cigar back in your humidor. If you are worried make sure to test/calibrate/adjust your hygrometer. Hygrometers change over time as the batteries drain. In all likelyhood your cigars are probably fine. __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

09-18-2011, 10:04 PM	#3
Remo C.I.A Join Date: Feb 2011 First Name: Mike Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 12,597 Trading: (122)	Re: Dried out cigar question Mine are always a little spongy, but I keep my RH a little higher, they will burn better a little drier though IMO. __________________

09-18-2011, 10:34 PM	#4
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Dried out cigar question Too wet or too dry is really difficult if not impossible to judge by feel or touch. If you are using a good hygrometer and humifification(most here prefer Rh beads as they absorb as well as release moisture) and your cigars are smoking the way you like them then you are fine. If after a month of storage your cigars are going out when smoking then chances are your Rh is too high. If your wrappers are cracking while smoking or you are getting a big cone then you may be too low. But be aware that coning also can occur from smoking too fast causing the wrapper to burn faster than the filler/binder.

09-19-2011, 11:59 AM	#6
Skywalker BABOTL Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dice Location: Galaxy Far Far Away Posts: 10,168 Trading: (18)	Re: Dried out cigar question Listen to Bob! He knows his stuff!!! __________________ Smoke what you like!!!

09-20-2011, 05:00 PM	#7
RightAJ Here Franky Franky Join Date: Oct 2009 First Name: aj Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 915 Trading: (3)	Re: Dried out cigar question Smoke something that has been there for a bit. If it smokes well (flavor/construction) you should be fine! 65% is pretty standard and shouldn't give you problems.. that is as long as you hygrometer is accurate a __________________ My Blog-> ajstogies.blogspot.com Beer Blog->thehopscribe.blogspot.com