How to deal with Cigar Beetles

[Knvb]

Just back from Varadero unpacking my bounty into the humidor and noticed two of my Monte double edmundo's had prominent bore marks in them. Luckily its only a ten ct box but should i freeze them? I cut the one with the largest hole open (through my tears) and didnt notice anything at all. I've double freezer bagged them and have them in the fridge currently

Thanks again for everyones help before i left. Varadero was beyond brutal for selection and i didnt have time to make it to Havana so I ended up smoking a ton and going with what i liked best from previous experience and from this trip

Box Connie A's

Box Sir Winnies

Box Party E2's

10ct Monte Double Edmundos

10ct Bolivar Libertadors

10ct HU RR's

8 Alphonso Customs

Despite the sketchy weather had another great trip to the promised land

[Fuzz]

I wouldn't place any new cigars into my humidor stash without quaranteeing them first or popping them in the freezer (especially custom cigars that don't get the freezer treatment like HSA stock). Your fridge isn't cold enough to kill the little blighters. They may instead take a nap and wake up later.

Beetles can hop on board at any time during your travels, so better safe than sorry is my opinion.

[El Presidente]

Saw lot's of beetles this trip in LCDH stores and customs. No idea why but they need to get on top of it.

[Lotusguy]

Anything you import directly from Cuba yourself MUST be frozen!!

[Knvb]

Can someone walk me through it... The last thing i want to do is ruin these.

Cheers

[Dmatzkin]

This is the way I do it. Put the cigars in a ziploc bag and with a straw take all the air from it and close it fast. Put them into another ziploc bag and again take all tha air from it. Now into the fridge for a couple days, then freezer for 5, fridge for a couple more days, 1 day room temperature and to the humi....

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[Mckucci]

If you can, vacuum seal the bag and freeze them for a minimum of 5 days...

if you don't have a vacuum sealer, wrap them in plastic wrap as tight as you can, and put them in a ziplock bag.

I went out and purchased vacuum sealer for $150.00, it was the best thing I ever did for my cigars. I freeze every single cigar the enters my Humidor.. Cheap insurance.

I've heard people say, put them in the fridge, then the freezer, then the fridge bla bla bla, you can do this if you want, there is no harm in it. However I think it's a waste of time... I've frozen hundreds of boxes and I've never once had a wrapper split or crack as a result of freezing... They go straight in the freezer for 5 days, then come out and sit on my counter for 1 hour. after this, they are fine..

[garbandz]

This is the way I do it. Put the cigars in a ziploc bag and with a straw take all the air from it and close it fast. Put them into another ziploc bag and again take all tha air from it. Now into the fridge for a couple days, then freezer for 5, fridge for a couple more days, 1 day room temperature and to the humi....

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this has worked for me for many years,no reason to rush things.

definitely keep these separate until you freeze them...........

if possible put an old band over the hole in the other cigar and smoke it,remove the band as you get to it,

[TheLiquidGator]

May I ask what is the purpose of pulling the air out of the ziplock and wrap?

[rodrigodeanda]

May I ask what is the purpose of pulling the air out of the ziplock and wrap?

I'm no expert but I think is to void cigar dehumidification (if that's even a word), most freezers tend to dry air a lot and the ziplock bags are to keep the humidity of the cigars and also I think is to avoid the cigars being impregnated with freezer smell (food and stuff)

[CanuckSARTech]

Saw lot's of beetles this trip in LCDH stores and customs. No idea why but they need to get on top of it.

Same here. Posted about it on the blog here. Talked to a few people down there, and no definitive answers.

[Knvb]

i double ziplocked and partially vacuum sealed them and put them in the freezer.... i really dont want to do this to the other 4 boxes but it may be a good idea i suppose... uuuughh... just nerve racking having never frozen cigars before...

[soutso]

i double ziplocked and partially vacuum sealed them and put them in the freezer.... i really dont want to do this to the other 4 boxes but it may be a good idea i suppose... uuuughh... just nerve racking having never frozen cigars before...

Don't worry, it will be fine. I have done it four times in the last few months and I've had no problem.

Be sure to put them straight into the freezer section so they don't acclimitise in the fridge section. After five or so days, put them in the freezer for a day and then out to rest unitil theyre back to normal etc

On a final note, I wish Holland won the 1974 World Cup.

[JohnnyO]

Some say that you put the ziplocks (with cigars) inside a Tupperware container to even further shield the cigars. I would suggest you take the cigars out the ziplock as quickly as possible once removed from the fridge. This is because on the inside of the bag you will see humidity develop quickly. John