All these beetle stories...

[junkman_56]

You will not kill beetle eggs freezing your cigars. You will kill adults and/or larve. In order to kill the eggs you need to have an enviroment that gets down to at least -10 and preferably -20 degree's. This temperture can not be duplicated in conventional refridgerators. Those low temps are produced on an industrial level cooling unit designed for deep freeze temps.

I wrap the cigars in a freezer bag pushing all the air out of the bag and then place it in another freezer bag removing the air from it as well. Place it in the fridge for 1 day.... freezer 3 to 4 days.... fridge 1 day.... back to the humidor.

[snapback]186611[/snapback]​

Can dry ice be used to kill the eggs and would it damage the cigars?
If you can use dry ice, has anyone on this board tried it?

Sorry for all the newbie questions, but all this talk of beetles is making me nervous.

 

[Allofus123]

Interesting idea..... dry ice is cold enough. It is rated to be -109.3°F. I understand you would use up 5-10 lbs in a 24 hour period using a typical ice chest.

I don't know... I can't think of any reasons it wouldn't work if you kept the dry ice viable for 3/4 days. Anyone else?

 

[inflatus]

You will not kill beetle eggs freezing your cigars. You will kill adults and/or larve. In order to kill the eggs you need to have an enviroment that gets down to at least -10 and preferably -20 degree's. This temperture can not be duplicated in conventional refridgerators. Those low temps are produced on an industrial level cooling unit designed for deep freeze temps.

[snapback]186611[/snapback]​

I really have to wonder what that does to cigars in terms of the taste; I know most foods that you deep-freeze and then thaw out just never taste the same.

I've never frozen my cigars; I may live to regret it, but we'll see!

[snapback]186750[/snapback]​

I am with moki. I have never frozen my cigars.


Besides they taste better with beetle in them! :whistling:

 

[Sunward]

Not my choice to freeze unless there is a problem. So was the advice i have read prior to this forum. I am sticking to NOT freezing, unless i need to. The Farm sticks i bought are the only ones i questioned the integrity of (outside Havanna on some guys farm) so i froze those.

If you do freeze: quick freeze, slow thaw is the rule to kill cells. (from my work in the research lab, however we had an industrial freezer to minus 53, then liquid nitrogen.. very cool stuff!!! )

Ed

 

[sir-smokes-a-lot]

Am lucky to have only discovered beetles one time, but they were in a closed container that arrived w/ 4 sticks in a cedar can. Tossed the whole thing in the freezer for a bit.

I usually take anything that has just arrived and place them in a small cooler for a few days. If nothing is noticed, put them in my reg humi. And yes, I love fondling and new cigar I get, so check each for any telltale signs.

 

[Allofus123]

I challenge anyone to be able to tell the difference between a stick that was frozen (properly) and one that wasn't. I have never run across anyone that could tell the difference. To each their own.

I took a break from freezing my cigars....... never again. Its not a pretty site. So far my outbreak has cost me over 1.5 G's and is well on its way towards 2 G's. Thank god I haven't found any in my rarer stuff. I guess you can say I have a different perspective on this subject than those of you who haven't experienced it. I've never drank shots of tequila and danced the Macarena but that doesn't nessessarily mean it won't happen.

If you don't want to freeze at least isolate new arrivals for several weeks and inspect them carefully before introducing them to your humidor.

I'm stepping down off my soap box.....

 

[Peekay]

I can't believe it cost you that much in stikcs!!! Sorry to hear for your loss, I will defintely heed your advice.