Gorangutang Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I know the merits of this, but I’m really curious how many of you actually do it? I have never frozen any cigar. Cuban or NC. Those that do it. Do you do it to select cigars? Do you wait until you have a problem? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorangutang Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 I know the merits of this, but I’m really curious how many of you actually do it? I have never frozen any cigar. Cuban or NC. Those that do it. Do you do it to select cigars? Do you wait until you have a problem? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkdash Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Never done this myself but have been wondering how common it is! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCgarman Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I freeze every box of Cubans I buy. No longer buy NC cigars. After you have a beetle outbreak destroy cigars, you tend to change your ways. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djrey Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I freeze as well. Take box and wrap in the bubble wrap you receive it in. Throw in a freezer bag. Put directly in freezer for a few days. Take it out and leave on counter for a few hours. Into humidor. Please don’t waste your time with all the put in fridge in the veggie drawer for 3 days then freezer then fridge yada yada. Cigars are hardier than you think. Many will chime in that Cuba freezes their stock before export, which is technically true. But then you go on to see Cuba forget to put bands on cigars or send out empty boxes. The Cuban govt isn’t know for consistent practices... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odessa Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Each and every box goes through the freezing process: 1 day in a refrigerator, 4 days in a freezer, 1 day in a refrigerator. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post El Presidente Posted November 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 12, 2020 Everything that I fly out of Cuba with goes through the freezer. Everything that is gifted to me (anywhere) goes through the freezer. All NC, go through the freezer. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijan Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 17 minutes ago, El Presidente said: All NC, go through the freezer. Thanks for the tip. I'm getting my first box of NC. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCgarman Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 52 minutes ago, djrey said: I freeze as well. Take box and wrap in the bubble wrap you receive it in. Throw in a freezer bag. Put directly in freezer for a few days. Take it out and leave on counter for a few hours. Into humidor. Please don’t waste your time with all the put in fridge in the veggie drawer for 3 days then freezer then fridge yada yada. Cigars are hardier than you think. Many will chime in that Cuba freezes their stock before export, which is technically true. But then you go on to see Cuba forget to put bands on cigars or send out empty boxes. The Cuban govt isn’t know for consistent practices... Their power grid is obsolete and not dependable. Apparently the cigars are not frozen at a very low temp. My chest freezer runs at -10 F and 48 hours in there is plenty to crack any beetle eggs. I don't use the fridge either. Cigars go straight into freezer for 48 hours, then out of freezer onto counter top for 30 minutes to warm up to room temp, then directly into cabinet humidor. No issues at all and no beetles! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorangutang Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 Here is what I am going to do. I’m going to pick out a few NC’s and freeze them. Then I’m going to give them some time to rest in the humidor and come back to it and compare it to one (same box) that wasn’t frozen.Test for myself if I can notice any difference.I wouldn’t want any beetles ruining my fun that’s for sure.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mprach024 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I freeze everything. I’ve posted before I think it helps shorten sick period/resting period, and hey I’ve got a lot of money in my sticks, might as well be safe, it’s easy and doesn’t cost extra. You won’t notice a difference, and that’s a good thing. You don’t want to notice anything. You just don’t want beetles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicPac Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Just now, mprach024 said: I freeze everything. I’ve posted before I think it helps shorten sick period/resting period, and hey I’ve got a lot of money in my sticks, might as well be safe, it’s easy and doesn’t cost extra. You won’t notice a difference, and that’s a good thing. You don’t want to notice anything. You just don’t want beetles. I’m going to pick up a 5-7 cu. ft. freezer from Home Depot tomorrow and over the next couple weeks I’m going to freeze my entire collection. After I got to thinking about all the money I have invested I’m no longer willing to take the risk of an infestation. My temps got to 70* a couple times this summer and it sketches me out. Especially with having customs in my collection and the fact that Cuba isn’t known for its consistency. Hard to trust that all of my regular stock boxes got frozen before they shipped. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalibratecuba Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I only freeze customs.Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 14 minutes ago, NYgarman said: Their power grid is obsolete and not dependable. Apparently the cigars are not frozen at a very low temp. Perhaps. Tale of the tape is that I haven't seen a live beetle in a box of Cuban cigars since around 2006. 150,000 + boxes looked at and counting 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mprach024 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 1 hour ago, djrey said: Please don’t waste your time with all the put in fridge in the veggie drawer for 3 days then freezer then fridge yada yada. Cigars are hardier than you think. It’s about humidity, often times shipped cigars can come in over humidified. The fridge dries them out. I assume you know what happens to water when it freezes, if you buy a high end box or expensive box of Cohiba, at high humidity straight into a flash freeze at -10 you run a risk of splitting. The fridge dries them, and gradually brings them down and back up to temp. Could be malarkey and unnecessary. It’s also no charge, and zero hassle, so why not be safe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueRidgeFly Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 I freeze everything that arrives now after finding a beetle in a cigar I bought last year at LCDH Amsterdam. Seems like there is no downside to freezing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCgarman Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 26 minutes ago, mprach024 said: It’s about humidity, often times shipped cigars can come in over humidified. The fridge dries them out. I assume you know what happens to water when it freezes, if you buy a high end box or expensive box of Cohiba, at high humidity straight into a flash freeze at -10 you run a risk of splitting. The fridge dries them, and gradually brings them down and back up to temp. Could be malarkey and unnecessary. It’s also no charge, and zero hassle, so why not be safe? Out of all the boxes I have froze in a deep freezer, never seen one cigar with a split wrapper. YMMV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijan Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 1 hour ago, BlueRidgeFly said: I freeze everything that arrives now after finding a beetle in a cigar I bought last year at LCDH Amsterdam. Seems like there is no downside to freezing them. This is a good point. With the recent price difference for CCs between Cuba and the rest of the world, I've heard of stores (maybe even LCDHs) re-selling cigars bought in Cuba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djrey Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 12 minutes ago, NYgarman said: Out of all the boxes I have froze in a deep freezer, never seen one cigar with a split wrapper. YMMV Agreed. Hundreds and hundreds frozen to -30 with no fridge time and never a split wrapper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLC Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 I freeze everything I bring back from Cuba. Gifted cigars I keep isolated or should I say quarantined Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdw1984 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 Any cigar that comes into my house gets frozen. I also use the fridge afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SansSin Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 i just keep all my cigars at 65/65 in wineadors with battery backups so hopefully i don't have to worry about beetles. i get them all from the same places too, which i think helps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pag Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 I quarantine in tupperware containers for a few months. My sick mind swears it tastes a difference from frozen and unfrozen. Some notice no change in taste, some do. Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender1553 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 I don't order NCs very often and usually don't freeze those. I do freeze all my CCs though. I generally prefer at least 1 day in the fridge post as i'm in a slightly higher humidity environment and want to avoid condensation. I've also been told you don't need much time at 0F/-18C as i think 12 hours will do it, though I always give it at least 24 hours (really, 3 days normally in case there is temp inconsistency). i just keep all my cigars at 65/65 in wineadors with battery backups so hopefully i don't have to worry about beetles. i get them all from the same places too, which i think helpsI've also been told if you have eggs, they WILL hatch regardless of temp. They just prefer warmer so will hatch sooner. They'll generally hatch within 9 mo, so the thing to do would be quarantine for 12 mo before mixing with the rest of your stock (if you don't want to freeze).Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas.Alpha Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 Everything I bring back from Cuba does 1 day in the fridge, 4 days in freezer and 2 days back in the fridge. I don’t worry much of anything from FOH. Everything has been checked, with nice padding to protect the feet. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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