Short term storage for a few cigars

[neeneeneet]

I usually only buy a few cigars at a time, but I might not smoke them for several weeks after i buy them.

I have a small case that's lined with cedar, but, as I learned when I had a few really dry cigars, it doesn't necessarily keep them fresh.

So... what if I just a damp rag in the bottom of it?
Would that hold them for a couple weeks?
Three weeks tops.

[Cigary]

Get a tupperador ( rubbermaid ) and a couple of humidor pillows and soak em in distilled water. You can keep them in there for quite awhile. Might be wise to throw in a cheap hygrometer as well. At some point you will need a humidor. I'll tell you about a CBID later after we get you rolling down the slope.

[neeneeneet]

So... wait a minute... slow down, haha.

I get a tupperware container, put pillows soaked with distilled water in it, and then throw cigar cases on top? (I'm assuming I just put the cigars in the case with the wrap on and everything.)

Google tells me that a hygrometer measures relative humidity.

So just how relatively humid should the inside of this tupperware container be?

(Ya, I have no idea what I'm doing.)

What do I do with them overnight before I go and get all this stuff? (It might be a few days, when I get paid, before I can spend any money.)

Is this a trip to Walmart or what?

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by neeneeneet

So... wait a minute... slow down, haha.

I get a tupperware container, put pillows soaked with distilled water in it, and then throw cigar cases on top? (I'm assuming I just put the cigars in the case with the wrap on and everything.)

Google tells me that a hygrometer measures relative humidity.

So just how relatively humid should the inside of this tupperware container be?

(Ya, I have no idea what I'm doing.)

What do I do with them overnight before I go and get all this stuff? (It might be a few days, when I get paid, before I can spend any money.)

Is this a trip to Walmart or what?

Oops, forgot you were a newbie here. You can buy a Rubber Maid to store your cigars in ( $2-$4 )

You can also put some distilled water in a shot glass and place in the Rubber Maid.

This will keep your cigars just fine until payday when you can buy a cheap hygrometer from WalMart for $7. You can keep your cigars in there for as long as you want as long as the temp and RH are 70/70 ( some like their cigars at 65% RH ) so check it a couple times during the day.

[thebayratt]

You can grab a inexpensive 20ct humidor for $4-7 off cigarbid.com usually. If you only plan on buying a few sticks, that would be another inexpensive way to go.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by thebayratt

You can grab a inexpensive 20ct humidor for $4-7 off cigarbid.com usually. If you only plan on buying a few sticks, that would be another inexpensive way to go.

ROFL! I say we take him down the same rabbit hole we've gone down. Get a coolerador and save yourself the time and aggravation and $$$$. You're gonna go down so you might as well enjoy the ride and get some big time storage.

[mrsmitty]

I still say a 20 ct humi would be wise investment even if you go bigger which you will, it comes in handy for dry boxing.

[neeneeneet]

I see. Well, thank you guys I will definitely look in to those things.

I read that they'll stay in a zip lock bag for a couple of weeks. So, if anybody can confirm that, that would be nice.

Last night I stuck them in a zip lock bag with a couple of damp paper towels next to them just for the sake of humidity. There's a slight dew-like build up on the bag so it must be humid, haha. I don't know if it runs the risk of being too humid but they aren't soaked or anything.

[bimmian]

Originally Posted by neeneeneet

I see. Well, thank you guys I will definitely look in to those things.

I read that they'll stay in a zip lock bag for a couple of weeks. So, if anybody can confirm that, that would be nice.

Last night I stuck them in a zip lock bag with a couple of damp paper towels next to them just for the sake of humidity. There's a slight dew-like build up on the bag so it must be humid, haha. I don't know if it runs the risk of being too humid but they aren't soaked or anything.

I'm guessing that if theres condensation on the inside of this bag, it's too humid in there. Water is 100% RH, so if it's building up on the walls of the bag it's probably around 85-95% in there.. (Just an uneducated guess, mind you) I would remove the damp rag immediately, since too much moisture can cause the cigars to swell up and split themselves.. Not to mention they will be unsmokeably "tight".

Follow the previous posters advice and get a tupperware container (even a disposable Glad or Ziploc brand container will do), as long as the lid fits fairly tightly. You can use one you already have in the house, just wash it well to remove any lingering odors/flavors that might be clinging to the inside. I wouldn't really worry about a humidifier for just a short while, (esp. since they're probably over humidified right now) but it's not a bad idea, either. If you feel you need a humidifier (I don't know where you are, and what the weather is like. If it's a desert climate, you should definitely put one in there) go with the previous advice about the shot glass and distilled water. The water doesnt have to be distilled if you're gonna smoke these sticks up soon, as it's mostly to prevent mold building on the cigars.. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!) Distilled water can also be made, by boiling water and catching the steam on the bottom of a plastic bag, then dripped down into a container.

If you absolutely can't afford a tupperware container, just leave them double bagged in ziplocs.. That is my humble advice to you.. BTW, welcome to puff, it's a great community they have built up here you'll soon find out for yourself!

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by neeneeneet

I see. Well, thank you guys I will definitely look in to those things.

I read that they'll stay in a zip lock bag for a couple of weeks. So, if anybody can confirm that, that would be nice.

Last night I stuck them in a zip lock bag with a couple of damp paper towels next to them just for the sake of humidity. There's a slight dew-like build up on the bag so it must be humid, haha. I don't know if it runs the risk of being too humid but they aren't soaked or anything.

Make sure it is distilled water and not touching the outside wrapper of the cigar. Open the bag at least once a day for some fresh air to get in so the cigars do not get damp. The weather is starting to cool off so don't leave in the bag in a place where it might get too warm.

Squeeze out all the water from the paper towel so it's just damp. Like the brother said above, if you are seeing condensation in the bag that tells you it's too damp. I have kept cigars in a baggie for a week or so doing the method I am telling you about and the cigars were just fine but the Rubber Maid is something that I would really try to talk you into. and it only cost $4.00 at Walmart. You burp it after putting the top on and it serves as a great overflow humidor. I keep one of those long ones that I will show a picture of and use a cheap hygrometer and the cigars are always at 65% RH.

[neeneeneet]

Oops, haha.
Ok I stuck it in a new ziploc baggie w/o damp paper towels.

I'd put them in a rubber maid but I doubt my mother would be happy about that. I'll probably go to walmart and grab one of my own next time I get cigars.

Let me see if I got this straight: If I put them in a small plastic container, they should stay fresh for a while provided I breath the container every once in a while and put a small glass of distilled water in with it and make sure it is at 70 rh?


Haha, well, I don't think my cigars are ruined or anything. I pinched them a little. They felt about the same. They smell pretty good. (:

[guy g]

Another inexpensive humidor.... look online for a cigar jar. It is an acrylic jar with a latching lid. Then go to Walmart and buy one and a hygro for less than half the price.I have one in my truck and two at home. The truck one has a nice hygro and a Drymistat tube. (more on drymistat when you can spring the $$, 8-9)

[ungarsfragile]

If you have a cigar store nearby you should be able to get a "humidification pillow" for around a dollar. It will work great at keeping the humidity at 70%. Every month or so you just dip it in distilled water to "recharge" it. I can't post links yet but if you google "humidification pillow" you'll find what they look like.

You don't want to use damp paper towels or a shotglass of water, cause that will make your cigars too damp, which will make them hard to smoke (tight draw, and the wrapper will split). too wet is just as bad as too dry.

[ssutton219]

how many are you wanting to keep fresh....


If its only 5-7 I got you covered if you email me your address

ssutton219@gmail dot com



Shawn

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by neeneeneet

Oops, haha.
Ok I stuck it in a new ziploc baggie w/o damp paper towels.

I'd put them in a rubber maid but I doubt my mother would be happy about that. I'll probably go to walmart and grab one of my own next time I get cigars.

Let me see if I got this straight: If I put them in a small plastic container, they should stay fresh for a while provided I breath the container every once in a while and put a small glass of distilled water in with it and make sure it is at 70 rh?


Haha, well, I don't think my cigars are ruined or anything. I pinched them a little. They felt about the same. They smell pretty good. (:

Honestly, we're not trying to lead you around the block here as much as we're trying to give you some simple answers to what you need. Short term storage a baggie is fine with a humidified pillow. If you want to store longer and don't want to pay for a humidor then get the Rubber Maid as I have 2 of them and they are fine. A shot glass of water is not the right idea of any kind of long term storage as I thought you only wanted a few days or up to a week. The best type of humidification is beads,,,pure and simple and they are worth their weight in gold. You have to decide for yourself what you want to do and it would seem if you want to save your $$$ so you can buy more cigars a RubberMaid with beads is the ultimate answer.