How to Freeze and the Science behind it. Long Post

[md4958]

Originally Posted by Langod

Here you go, so you don't have to go convert on another site:
-20C = -4F
-15C = 5F
-10C = 14F
-5C = 23F
0C = 32F
+5F = 41F
+10C = 50F


Great writeup SilverFox. Thanks. I think I might start freezing my sticks.

you guys are really making it difficult and less fun for me to bust Shawn's balls... but thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by md4958

you guys are really making it difficult and less fun for me to bust Shawn's balls... but thanks for the info!

I was initially going to post in degrees Kelvin but I was worried some crazy inmate would put his cigars in the oven.

-20C = 253K

[Langod]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

I was initially going to post in degrees Kelvin but I was worried some crazy inmate would put his cigars in the oven.

-20C = 253K

LOL -- so what's the life expectancy of the beetle (or Inmate) at Absolute Zero?

[Cigarcop]

Originally Posted by md4958

you guys are really making it difficult and less fun for me to bust Shawn's balls... but thanks for the info!

Thats it Moe..............."No Soup For You"

[md4958]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

I was initially going to post in degrees Kelvin but I was worried some crazy inmate would put his cigars in the oven.

-20C = 253K

Originally Posted by Cigarcop

Thats it Moe..............."No Soup For You"

[14holestogie]

Good post, Shawn. I was always somewhat ambivalent to freezing, until I found one of my sticks (a tubo, no less) with a beetle hole. All stock then went through the freeze and all incoming continues to. I love all my BOTL/SOTL, but still, I don't know where your stuff's been. I do after I freeze them.

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

Good post, Shawn. I was always somewhat ambivalent to freezing, until I found one of my sticks (a tubo, no less) with a beetle hole. All stock then went through the freeze and all incoming continues to. I love all my BOTL/SOTL, but still, I don't know where your stuff's been. I do after I freeze them.

Are we going to have to start considering cigar condoms?

[ActionAndy]

That box of Padrons is a nightmare...

[marge796]

Got the first batch in the fridge and in 12 hours they go to the deep freeze for a nice long nap.

[Ferrari5180]

Very informative topic, and I thank you for this. My initial plan when I first got introduced to cigars, was to never freeze my cigars and hope for the best, until one day I opened my humidor and found a little portion of my stash affected. It was that day that I decided that all cigars bought, would go through a 5 day freezing process, and 2 day refrigeration process to ensure those diabolic creatures never show their faces again. Until now, I have had no problems, or change in taste of cigars. I have tried the same one's before freezing and after, and if anything the frozen one's taste better. (It might be Psychological ) Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this thread, and I hope no one has to go through the troubles of dealing with beetles ever.

[MiamiE]

Shawn do you have any opinion on freezing cigars to kill mold and mold spores?

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Shawn do you have any opinion on freezing cigars to kill mold and mold spores?

Yup

From my research a normal household deep freeze will not go low enough to kill mold spores, it makes them dormant while they are frozen but does not kill.

Mold likes two things, warm and moist. The best way to keep away from mold on your sticks is too watch you temps and RH.

Oxygen-rich environments with humidity over 70% and temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for mold growth.

Keeping boxes closed (so no spores get in) and maintaining your RH less than 70% (my preference is 64 to 66% but YMMV) and temps sub 70F is the best way to avoid it.

regular inspection (especially of freshly received over-humidified sticks) can catch mold early and it can simply be wiped off with a soft rag, paper towel or soft bristle brush.