Freeze times at VERY low temperature?

[mrknowitall]

So I live in southern California right on the beach. The weather is very moderate here, so we do not have air conditioning. Average highs are about 75 in summer BUT, a few days a year, we will get up into the upper 80s and might even hit 90. I recently started enjoying cigars, and am now worried about beetles. I'd love to take the wine fridge approach, but I live in a small 1 bedroom apartment and it's just not a possibility.

We do have storage space in the basement garage that will be much cooler. I don't really want to keep the cigars down there all summer, because it's a pain, but I just might, especially since I only have 1 or 2 a week.

Anyway, back on topic. So I am thinking about freezing the cigars to kill any beetles. I want to freeze them REALLY cold for a short period of time. I've read the threads where people discuss the long soak times required at moderate freeze (0F or so), but not at really low temps. How long do they need to soak if I get them VERY cold. I'm thinking about -65F but I could go down to -90F or so. I would have to do this at work, so a short soak time is necessary. An hour or two is what I'm hoping for. But I can't leave 'em in all day.

Has anybody seen data on soak times and these extreme cold temperatures?

[Blindjimme]

Search 'freeze cigars' and there are many posts. Hope this helps.

5c (41f) requires ~12 days (275 hours)
0c (32f) requires ~9 days (220 hours)
-5c (23f) requires ~4 days (100 hours)
-10c (14f) requires less than 24 hours
-15c (5f) requires less than 24 hours
-20c (-4f) requires less than 24 hours

[mrknowitall]

I've yet to find a post that deals with VERY cold temps in the range of -90f or so

[Blindjimme]

At -5f it takes less than 24 hours. How fast do you need to it be?

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by mrknowitall

I've yet to find a post that deals with VERY cold temps in the range of -90f or so

You could always do the experimentation then post your findings here.

[Cypress]

I am thinking about 4 hours myself. IMHO freezing should only be done if there is a problem. I live here in Houston TX where it aint cold nor dry and have never had a problem.

[mrknowitall]

I would gladly do that...but how do I know when beetle larvae are dead?

[mrknowitall]

Well my plan is to take them -90f and ideally soak for only a few minutes, maybe an hour tops. They'd likely take about an hour or so to get that temperature.

[Cypress]

Originally Posted by mrknowitall

Well my plan is to take them -90f and ideally soak for only a few minutes, maybe an hour tops. They'd likely take about an hour or so to get that temperature.

Only do a few of your cheaper cigars. Changing temps from room temp to that cold back to room temp may have some side effects due to moisture turning into ice. It may crack the cigar. You will have to experiment.

[mrknowitall]

Well water does increase in volume as it freezes. But from 32f to -90f the ice doesn't expand so I don't think that's an issue.

I've read to put them in the fridge before and after freezing to help eliminate cracking. I can still do that. I don't expect that the trip for 32 to -90 will affect the cigars at all.

[SmoknTaz]

Sounds like a great experiment in the making. I'm really curious to see if the wrapper will be compromised due to such extreme changes in a short time. Let us know how it turns out.

[mrknowitall]

Anybody have any idea about freeze times at these low temps?

[AspiringGent]

I would tend to believe that nothing would survive at that temp (I think of the pine beatles that are taking over here in BC). So as long as it's long enough for the cold to permeate the cigar for 20 minutes or so you should be fine. Definitely watch out for cracking given the quick change in temperature.