Cigar Freezing Questions

[BamBam]

Well it has been consistently reaching into the mid 80's here in the buckeye state as of late. My A/C is not working so my cabinet humidor temperatures are creeping up to around 80 degrees in the day and down to around 70 at night.

Need less to say the these are not good conditions for my prized collection. I am terrified of the feared tobacco bettle ravaging my collection.

Onto the questions....

1) Most of my cigars have been in my humi for some time. Most of the time you hear of people freezing them immediately upon receiving them. Is it okay to freeze these cigars even though they have been in my humi for a period of time.

2) Should I double bag the cigars or are they fine in a single bag in the freezer?

3) Should I freeze both CC's and NCs, or are the NC's not necessary?

4) How long should I freeze them to make sure they are tobacco free?

Any other advice for me that doesn't involve the word "vino"?

Thanks in advance Gents

Oh yeah...if anyone references anything about the search function I will monkey stomp your head

They'll be ok even if they've been in your humi for a while.
Double it up.
Freeze both CCs and NCs.
24 hours in the Fridge
72 hours in the Freezer
24 hours in the Fridge
And out.

[SmokinCozy]

Originally Posted by shortstory5

They'll be ok even if they've been in your humi for a while.
Double it up.
Freeze both CCs and NCs.
24 hours in the Fridge
72 hours in the Freezer
24 hours in the Fridge
And out.

Although you might have to freeze damn near forever to be tobacco free

Originally Posted by shortstory5

They'll be ok even if they've been in your humi for a while.
Double it up.
Freeze both CCs and NCs.
24 hours in the Fridge
72 hours in the Freezer
24 hours in the Fridge
And out.

I assume double it up means double bag, but just to clarify -- double bag all sticks in zip loc bags.

Originally Posted by BamBam

Well it has been consistently reaching into the mid 80's here in the buckeye state as of late. My A/C is not working so my cabinet humidor temperatures are creeping up to around 80 degrees in the day and down to around 70 at night.

Need less to say the these are not good conditions for my prized collection. I am terrified of the feared tobacco bettle ravaging my collection.

Onto the questions....

1) Most of my cigars have been in my humi for some time. Most of the time you hear of people freezing them immediately upon receiving them. Is it okay to freeze these cigars even though they have been in my humi for a period of time.

2) Should I double bag the cigars or are they fine in a single bag in the freezer?

3) Should I freeze both CC's and NCs, or are the NC's not necessary?

4) How long should I freeze them to make sure they are tobacco free?

Any other advice for me that doesn't involve the word "vino"?

Thanks in advance Gents

Oh yeah...if anyone references anything about the search function I will monkey stomp your head

No search needed I did it for you

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7919

I freeze em all, from vintage to current production if they are in my house they have been frozen.

I found a beetle hole in a stick that was in a ziploc in my singles box and didn't take any chances refroze all 200 singles, some of which I have had for over a year and have been frozen once before.

If you follow the rules in the link you don't need a vino all your beetle, eggs, larvae, pupai, or adults will be dead little critters.

[TripleF]

Ok, 2+ years into smoking and I've never froze or cooled down a cigar.

Doing this does not harm the cigars as far as smoking them after they've been froze is concerned? Just have a hard time believing that but I'll do it if you say it's ok.

Originally Posted by TripleF

Ok, 2+ years into smoking and I've never froze or cooled down a cigar.

Doing this does not harm the cigars as far as smoking them after they've been froze is concerned? Just have a hard time believing that but I'll do it if you say it's ok.

2500+ Habanos and many a brother has smoked my sticks never heard one complaint. Also no bugs.

Moe, Dan, Joey, Al, Vin, Dave, Nick, Mark, Sat, Greg, Andrew have all smoked frozen cigars from me ask them if they noticed.

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

No search needed I did it for you

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7919

I freeze em all, from vintage to current production if they are in my house they have been frozen.

I found a beetle hole in a stick that was in a ziploc in my singles box and didn't take any chances refroze all 200 singles, some of which I have had for over a year and have been frozen once before.

If you follow the rules in the link you don't need a vino all your beetle, eggs, larvae, pupai, or adults will be dead little critters.

Thanks Shawn.

I knew you had done a thread on this topic

[GreekGodX]

I have used SilverFox's guide for freezing and it works great.. I will vouch for him, and tell you that there is no difference in taste, quality, draw of a previously frozen cigar

[md4958]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

2500+ Habanos and many a brother has smoked my sticks never heard one complaint. Also no bugs.

Moe, Dan, Joey, Al, Vin, Dave, Nick, Mark, Sat, Greg, Andrew have all smoked frozen cigars from me ask them if they noticed.

As a matter of fact 4 of the best cigars I've ever smoked came out of Shawn's humidor.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by md4958

As a matter of fact 4 of the best cigars I've ever smoked came out of Shawn's humidor.

Just finishing up a Boli Simone courtesy of Shawn, so make that 5!!

Originally Posted by shortstory5

They'll be ok even if they've been in your humi for a while.
Double it up.
Freeze both CCs and NCs.
24 hours in the Fridge
72 hours in the Freezer
24 hours in the Fridge
And out.

Depends upon the temp in your freezer. Below is the Fahrenheit conversion of the white paper on cigarette beetle mortality I posted in another thread on this topic.

--------
Keep in mind that most home freezers at their lowest setting only go down to about 17 degrees F. As long as the larval stage has not been acclimated to 60 degrees for several months before freezing occurs, 4 days in a home freezer should result in 100% mortality.

Cigarette Beetle Mortality White Paper Chart

Stage/Temperature (F)/100% Mortalitiy (hours)
Egg............-4...................1
..................5...................4
..................14.................12
..................23.................48
..................32................240
..................41................336

Larval .........-4.................1
..................5..................3
.................14.................12
.................23.................96
.................32.................288
.................41.................336

Acclimated larval (59 degrees for 1-3 months)
.................-4.................1
..................5..................6
.................14.................24
.................23.................504
.................32.................1176
.................41.................1680

Pupal.........-4..................1
.................5...................2
.................14.................4
.................23.................48
.................32.................288
.................41.................840

Adult..........-4.................1
.................5...................2
.................14.................2
.................23.................72
.................32.................288
.................41.................840
__________________

[Hitagain]

Some newer frig,frez combos will go lower I was able to get mine down to -22.7C which is around -9 F

[BamBam]

Okay can someone please check my math here...
I put my hygro in my freezer (which is only 1.5 years old) and I got a temp. of -0.4 F. Soooo....according to Silverfox's chart I should only need to leave my cigars in there for around 6 hours to kill beetles at all stages....correct?

[DPD6030]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

2500+ Habanos and many a brother has smoked my sticks never heard one complaint. Also no bugs.

Moe, Dan, Joey, Al, Vin, Dave, Nick, Mark, Sat, Greg, Andrew have all smoked frozen cigars from me ask them if they noticed.

See and I didn't even know I smoked a frozen one. I would be the tupperdore Shawn sent were all frozen. No difference IMO and all tasty.

Oh and I recently froze a whole vino of cigars minus the vino for 72 hours just to be sure.

Originally Posted by BamBam

Okay can someone please check my math here...
I put my hygro in my freezer (which is only 1.5 years old) and I got a temp. of -0.4 F. Soooo....according to Silverfox's chart I should only need to leave my cigars in there for around 6 hours to kill beetles at all stages....correct?

Right but what you have to remember is that cigars are an insulator and you need the eggs to reach that temperature. If you read further on you will see that I recommend at least doubling the time shown if not more in order to compensate for the insulating factors of the cigars, Cabs I triple it as I want that cigar in the dead middle to be at mortality temp as well.

Overkill? Maybe but then if your gonna freeze might as well be sure