How to Freeze and the Science behind it. Long Post

[ApexAZ]

Why the vacuum sealed bag? What is the purpose of that? Would a gallon ziplock suffice? I have a vacuum sealer, but the bags aren't exactly cheap.

[WittyUserName]

Originally Posted by ApexAZ

Why the vacuum sealed bag? What is the purpose of that? Would a gallon ziplock suffice? I have a vacuum sealer, but the bags aren't exactly cheap.

Freezer bags work, boxes work. I have been told to not over think it. I just take my pictures for the NC thread and toss them in the deep freeze however they came to me

[shilala]

Originally Posted by ApexAZ

Why the vacuum sealed bag? What is the purpose of that? Would a gallon ziplock suffice? I have a vacuum sealer, but the bags aren't exactly cheap.

A ziplock would work fine.
The point is to protect the cigars from drying out, which the freezer will do a spectacular job of. The bag will protect the cigars from being dried out at all, which is what you want.
Compared to a $150-$250 box of cigars, or a humi full of beetles, a vaccum sealer bag is dirt cheap.

If you want to save on the vacuum bag material, use a big, long sheet to start with. I'm talking 2-3 feet. Once you use it, you just snip off the end and only lose an inch or two of material each time you use it. You can use that same bag literally dozens of times. When it gets too short for boxes, it can be used for loose cigars, all the way down to where there's only a few inches left.
Mind ya, if you vac-seal loose cigars, don't suck the bags real tight. It mashes them. Take my word for it, been there, done that.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by shilala

A ziplock would work fine.
The point is to protect the cigars from drying out, which the freezer will do a spectacular job of. The bag will protect the cigars from being dried out at all, which is what you want.
Compared to a $150-$250 box of cigars, or a humi full of beetles, a vaccum sealer bag is dirt cheap.

If you want to save on the vacuum bag material, use a big, long sheet to start with. I'm talking 2-3 feet. Once you use it, you just snip off the end and only lose an inch or two of material each time you use it. You can use that same bag literally dozens of times. When it gets too short for boxes, it can be used for loose cigars, all the way down to where there's only a few inches left.
Mind ya, if you vac-seal loose cigars, don't suck the bags real tight. It mashes them. Take my word for it, been there, done that.

Nice tips Scottie.

Wrapping a box in a couple layers of Saran Wrap will work in a jiff too. I just cris-cross the wrap layers so there is no seam.

[ApexAZ]

Thanks. I think I will just use freezer rated zip locks. A long vacuum seal bag wouldn't be bad either. I'm not sure if it would be wide enough. I guess it probably would. Either way, I think I'm sold on the freezing thing. It's hot in AZ and my house is regularly 78 degrees during the summer months. Thanks for the good info!

[MrClean]

My vacuum sealer will smash the loose sticks so I just double bag them and try to get out as much air as possible, it has worked well for me so far.
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[md4958]

Originally Posted by MrClean

My vacuum sealer will smash the loose sticks so I just double bag them and try to get out as much air as possible, it has worked well for me so far.
Posted via Mobile Device

Good advice if youre ever in Singapore also!!

[Sonic04GT]

Yeah I just double bag the gallon size Zip-locks with the double seal. I have those 2 bags set aside specifically for freezing my cigars. Granted I don't buy boxes so I'm only freezing a max of like 15 at a time. Usually 10 or less.

The straw method didn't work well for me so I just put my lips up to the small opening and suck away. (That's what she said)

[Sonic04GT]

Also, since I don't believe I ever posted in this thread, thanks to OP for the write-up. Ever since I read this thread a few weeks ago I have been freezing every single cigar. I live in FL and there's only one room in the house that maintains temps less than 75 degrees.

I like the added peace of mind.

Fridge for 12 hours
Freezer for 72 hours
Fridge for 12 hours
Overnight in the bag at room temperature.
Humidor for a couple weeks
Smoke

I used a very basic mercury thermometer which read about -13C. Figured 72hrs should be a safe bet since it only takes 48hrs at -10C.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Sonic04GT

I used a very basic mercury thermometer which read about -13C. Figured 72hrs should be a safe bet since it only takes 48hrs at -10C.

You'll probably be ok, but something to keep in mind is that home refrigerator/freezers don't hold a constant temp. You might have read -13 at that point, but they can potentially cycle by quite a large range. 10 degrees is not uncommon, and some swing even more. The ideal under those circumstances would be to use a logging thermometer to find out what the highest temperature the freezer gets up to, and then use the recommended length of time for that temperature.

[proguy747]

Following this procedure as I type. Thanks for the great info.

[CRIMPS]

I opened a new box today to find a crawler of some sort. I don't believe it was a beedle, though. Regardless, to the freezer the box went.

Thanks for all the info and helping me preserve my treats!

nice catch Zach! I am still smoking sticks I put in the ice box a year after sitting in my cooler and they taste fantastic!!! Sadly, it was my last 601 Blue until my 3 boxes come!

[Apexkingjusto]

I think I've read enough threads and heard from enough people now with more experience then me, it's time to start freezing. Now to find some room in the fridge/freezer. Perhaps I should time it with the purchase of a new cooler.

[Cookee]

Thank you for putting together as I noob I wanted to know what I should look out for, this is great and very informative.

[jldude12345]

I had a large stash of Maria Mancini pre embargo stogies which got infested with beatles. I wish I would have known about freezing back then.

[Mentallyrechartd]

Thanks for this. You have saved me and many others from loss.

[xxx_busa]

Thanks for the great and helpful info, Its been a long time since I've had any issue, but this surely assists when trouble arrises

[massphatness]

Perfect example of why I freeze.


This is a Festival Mareva, a prized stick for me. Notice the beetle hole. Because I freeze everything upon receipt, I can take comfort in the fact that this happened prior to me receiving the box a few years back. Otherwise, I may be have been looking at more disastrous and expensive situation.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by massphatness

Perfect example of why I freeze.


This is a Festival Mareva, a prized stick for me. Notice the beetle hole. Because I freeze everything upon receipt, I can take comfort in the fact that this happened prior to me receiving the box a few years back. Otherwise, I may be have been looking at more disastrous and expensive situation.

Makes me sad.