I've read so many different opinions on storing cigars in zip-lock bags. My local shop says that this should be avoided also for temporary storage, and some internet sites says that it can be used for long term storage as long as there is a humidifying device in the bag.
I currently have some cigars in zip-lock bags (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Ziplock.jpg) while I am trying to get the plastic smell out of my tupperdor, as that have been somewhat of a problem (:censored:) the cigars have been in there for the better part of a week. I have a 65% Boveda pack in the bag.
Am I compromising my cigars?
You should be OK short term as you work out your tupperdor issue. I will use them for short term storage, say less than a week, but like you include a bovida pack. Since you said it is a smell issue I assume you wont have your hygrometer in there also. Just place that in the bag. If you have multiple bags move it from bag to bag.
Quotehebron - 3/10/2014 5:05 AM
I've read so many different opinions on storing cigars in zip-lock bags. My local shop says that this should be avoided also for temporary storage, and some internet sites says that it can be used for long term storage as long as there is a humidifying device in the bag.
I currently have some cigars in zip-lock bags (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Ziplock.jpg) while I am trying to get the plastic smell out of my tupperdor, as that have been somewhat of a problem (:censored:) the cigars have been in there for the better part of a week. I have a 65% Boveda pack in the bag.
Am I compromising my cigars?
All internet retailers send 5ers and such in zip locks and sometimes with a Boveda. Hey, a zip lock is better than nothing at all and letting them dry out. Went on vacation a few years back, took a bunch of cigars in a zip lock with a Boveda.
I've left cigars in a ziplock for two weeks at a time with no additional humidification and they've suffered no ill effects as far as I could tell. Probably not suitable for long-term storage unless there is absolutely no other alternative and then the Boveda packs may come in pretty handy. Haven't used the Boveda packs myself but I hear others on the site sing their praises. If you've got a choice at all a good tupperdore is far preferable. Rubbermaid is my choice but use whatever you can find that has a good seal.
Yeah like DonM said, we sell all cigars that are not full boxes in bags that are sometimes in transit for a week or more. We've never had an issue on the other side save damage from being bumped around.
A lot of 5 packs are wrapped and stored in plastic. The celo I believe is plastic. I do not think there is a problem with zip locks. I have even found that after some time ziplocks smell more like cigars than cigars smell like plastic.
Just wondering, why is it that you should only keep cigars in zip locks for a few days or weeks when the makers of cigars shrink wrap their boxes and then stack them on other shrink wrapped boxes, for years and years, before they are sold or distributed to retailers. Then the retailer also leaves the boxes shrink wrapped, if they got them that way from the wholesaler, and delivers them that way to their customers. Anybody that ever bought a box online, it probably came shrink wrapped. Seems to me if the RH and temperature is stable where you want it, then why not store in baggies? I recently bought a bunch of the 5 finger baggies to store my stash and have planned to keep each baggie sealed for long time storage (which probably won't be more than a few years for most of them (as I will be going in and out of my coolidors every week or so to replenish my daily wooden humis). Just my two cents. If I am wrong about this tell me why please.
I agree with fellow Geeks here -- storing cigars in plastic (likeZip-Loc freezer bags) for a month or less, along with a suitable humidifying device should work fine.
I also like to stress, however, that I wouldn't suggest stuffing too many cigars in a large plastic bag and tossing a single HumiCare, Bodeva, or DryMistStat in with them -- keep the number down to 25 sticks or less per bag.
FWIW, Iwan Ries sells some reusable mylar bags that also protect the contents from light -- they sell for $1 each and hold two ounces of pipe tobacco, or a 5 pack or more of most robusto-size or so cigars. These "Perma-Moist" bags, thicker and less permeable than other plastic bags, will keep the contents suitably "fresh" for several months, or longer when used with a humidification device.
http://www.iwanries.com/PermaMoist-Tobacco-Bags-P11008C520.cfm
Quotesauraspop - 3/10/2014 11:18 AM Just wondering, why is it that you should only keep cigars in zip locks for a few days or weeks when the makers of cigars shrink wrap their boxes and then stack them on other shrink wrapped boxes, for years and years, before they are sold or distributed to retailers. Then the retailer also leaves the boxes shrink wrapped, if they got them that way from the wholesaler, and delivers them that way to their customers. Anybody that ever bought a box online, it probably came shrink wrapped. Seems to me if the RH and temperature is stable where you want it, then why not store in baggies? I recently bought a bunch of the 5 finger baggies to store my stash and have planned to keep each baggie sealed for long time storage (which probably won't be more than a few years for most of them (as I will be going in and out of my coolidors every week or so to replenish my daily wooden humis). Just my two cents. If I am wrong about this tell me why please.
Sammy, the shrink wrapped boxes that you speak of are (hopefully) kept in a properly humidified environment. Thomas is asking about Ziploc bags as the sole source of protection against the elements. That's the difference, if I'm understanding this thread and your question properly.
Yes Joe, that was my question :-)
QuoteROTHNH - 3/10/2014 12:35 AM
I agree with fellow Geeks here -- storing cigars in plastic (likeZip-Loc freezer bags) for a month or less, along with a suitable humidifying device should work fine.
I also like to stress, however, that I wouldn't suggest stuffing too many cigars in a large plastic bag and tossing a single HumiCare, Bodeva, or DryMistStat in with them -- keep the number down to 25 sticks or less per bag.
FWIW, Iwan Ries sells some reusable mylar bags that also protect the contents from light -- they sell for $1 each and hold two ounces of pipe tobacco, or a 5 pack or more of most robusto-size or so cigars. These "Perma-Moist" bags, thicker and less permeable than other plastic bags, will keep the contents suitably "fresh" for several months, or longer when used with a humidification device.
http://www.iwanries.com/PermaMoist-Tobacco-Bags-P11008C520.cfm
Heh! That's what they used to tell us all about MRE's! "Sealed in a pouch and stays fresh for years!"
I don't think I would want to keep fine cigars in such a device for long periods. :biggrin:
QuoteKen Kelley - 3/10/2014 2:05 PM
Heh! That's what they used to tell us all about MRE's! "Sealed in a pouch and stays fresh for years!"
I don't think I would want to keep fine cigars in such a device for long periods. :biggrin:
I've a friend who's been using these Iwan Ries bags for years to store bulk pipe tobacco -- he'son a fixed income and he uses these bags to store 2 ounces of bulk blends for his rotation with excellent results.
I see zero issue with using these mylar bags for storing cigars for a few months or so, or longer with a HumiCare pillow,or similar humidification device.
:hitme: My mistake, thought he was talking about storage in a humi. I need to be more careful, I have a habit of not understanding what I read sometimes, probably cause I'm an old f... and drink too much.
QuoteROTHNH - 3/10/2014 2:15 AM
QuoteKen Kelley - 3/10/2014 2:05 PM
Heh! That's what they used to tell us all about MRE's! "Sealed in a pouch and stays fresh for years!"
I don't think I would want to keep fine cigars in such a device for long periods. :biggrin:
I've a friend who's been using these Iwan Ries bags for years to store bulk pipe tobacco -- he'son a fixed income and he uses these bags to store 2 ounces of bulk blends for his rotation with excellent results.
I see zero issue with using these mylar bags for storing cigars for a few months or so, or longer with a HumiCare pillow,or similar humidification device.
I can see using them for pipe tobacco with no problem at all since people I know keep it sealed up in mason jars for months or years at a time. However, I wouldn't be comfortable keeping cigars in them for similar periods because the two forms of tobacco are not the same beast. Just instinct speaking, not empirical evidence. I'd be interested to see how this works out in an experiment of some kind. We need a scientist here.
:biggrin:
Thank you all for your insight :-) That calmed my nerves a bit... hehe :crazy:
I've stored cigars in the heavier freezer zip-locs (with the addition of a humidifier) in a dark drawer for several months with no ill effects.
Quotegitfiddl - 3/10/2014 6:58 AM
I've stored cigars in the heavier freezer zip-locs (with the addition of a humidifier) in a dark drawer for several months with no ill effects.
Heh! Yeah, but those Thompson blends you favor are embalmed rather than cured so a dark place out of the sun is pretty much the natural environment for them! :biggrin:
QuoteKen Kelley - 3/10/2014 7:17 PM Quotegitfiddl - 3/10/2014 6:58 AM I've stored cigars in the heavier freezer zip-locs (with the addition of a humidifier) in a dark drawer for several months with no ill effects.
Heh! Yeah, but those Thompson blends you favor are embalmed rather than cured so a dark place out of the sun is pretty much the natural environment for them! :biggrin:
:lmao:
QuoteMojo66 - 3/10/2014 7:37 PM
QuoteKen Kelley - 3/10/2014 7:17 PM Quotegitfiddl - 3/10/2014 6:58 AM I've stored cigars in the heavier freezer zip-locs (with the addition of a humidifier) in a dark drawer for several months with no ill effects.
Heh! Yeah, but those Thompson blends you favor are embalmed rather than cured so a dark place out of the sun is pretty much the natural environment for them! :biggrin:
:lmao:
And the horses y'all rode in on! :angry: :angry: :angry:
:puncher:
But if you can find the 2-gallon bags, you can store her in it, too!
I can't see it being a problem other then the seal probably isn't very good and there might be some leakage. To me it would be the same as a tupperdor only it's flexible
Quotetvolball - 3/10/2014 8:24 PM
I can't see it being a problem other then the seal probably isn't very good and there might be some leakage. To me it would be the same as a tupperdor only it's flexible
Leakage only occurs once a month and you're right about her flexibility... :biggrin:
:shy:
:lmao:
There goes this thread...
QuoteconditionZero - 3/10/2014 8:41 PM
:lmao:
There goes this thread...
What? It's all about storage. I hear tell that Ken's looking for a zip-loc to fit this guy...
:-0
Wait, that doesn't do it justice...
:-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0
Crap. Still didn't do it justice.
Quotegitfiddl - 3/10/2014 9:04 AM
QuoteconditionZero - 3/10/2014 8:41 PM
:lmao:
There goes this thread...
What? It's all about storage. I hear tell that Ken's looking for a zip-loc to fit this guy...
Heh! It's not that easy to catch up onct you're so far behind! :biggrin:
QuoteconditionZero - 3/10/2014 9:56 AM
Quotesauraspop - 3/10/2014 11:18 AM Just wondering, why is it that you should only keep cigars in zip locks for a few days or weeks when the makers of cigars shrink wrap their boxes and then stack them on other shrink wrapped boxes, for years and years, before they are sold or distributed to retailers. Then the retailer also leaves the boxes shrink wrapped, if they got them that way from the wholesaler, and delivers them that way to their customers. Anybody that ever bought a box online, it probably came shrink wrapped. Seems to me if the RH and temperature is stable where you want it, then why not store in baggies? I recently bought a bunch of the 5 finger baggies to store my stash and have planned to keep each baggie sealed for long time storage (which probably won't be more than a few years for most of them (as I will be going in and out of my coolidors every week or so to replenish my daily wooden humis). Just my two cents. If I am wrong about this tell me why please.
Sammy, the shrink wrapped boxes that you speak of are (hopefully) kept in a properly humidified environment. Thomas is asking about Ziploc bags as the sole source of protection against the elements. That's the difference, if I'm understanding this thread and your question properly.
Based on what I've read around here, I don't know if you want to store your collection in those finger bags long-term since they don't breathe very well.
This thread really veered off at some point :lmao:
Quotehebron - 3/10/2014 2:32 PM
This thread really veered off at some point :lmao:
Heh! That is nothing at all unusual on this site...more the rule than the exception. This one is fairly benign though. :biggrin:
QuoteKen Kelley - 3/11/2014 6:20 AM
Quotehebron - 3/10/2014 2:32 PM
This thread really veered off at some point :lmao:
Heh! That is nothing at all unusual on this site...more the rule than the exception. This one is fairly benign though. :biggrin:
:word: Wait until these guys hear Bob talk about feet!
Dude that's just sick!
I really don't see the difference between putting cigars in a ziploc bag with a boveda pack and putting them into a tupperdor with a boveda pack. I had to ship my sticks and they were in ziplocs with a boveda in each, then put lots of the bags into coolers and Tupperware. they spent 2 months on a ship crossing the pacific, and another month getting moved around in country before they were opened. not a single boveda pack was at all crispy, the cigars look, smell, and smoke like anything else i have had. I think that the key is trying to control the swings in temperature and humidity. that's just my opinion, i have had no problems, however ymmv.