Humidors are the best way to keep your cigars fresh and safe. But what do you do if you don’t have one? It’s not impossible to store cigars without a humidor, but it does take some effort and know-how in order to keep them as fresh as possible over time. Unfortunately, many cigar smokers make the mistake of storing their smokes improperly, which can ruin their quality and shorten their lifespan considerably. Read on to learn about five common mistakes made when storing cigars without a humidor, so you can avoid making them yourself.
Mistake #1: Keeping Your Cigars In The Freezer
Freezing cigars not only damages them (due to condensation) but also slows down their aging process, which means they may never reach their full potential. If you have a few rare cigars, it might be okay to throw them in your freezer for a day or two...but that's it. Long-term storage should involve much more careful handling. A humidor is obviously preferable, but there are other ways to protect your cigars, too. Do keep them out of direct sunlight and heat, though. Those elements speed up aging and fading processes by increasing evaporation rates and oxidation levels.
Mistake #2: Wrapping Them In Coffee Filters
Wrapping cigars in coffee filters or similar materials is probably one of the most common mistakes that people make. There are some mixed opinions as to whether or not it helps at all, but there’s no doubt that if you do decide to use something other than a real cigar humidor then you should never wrap your cigars in anything! Wrapping them like that can actually cause mold to grow and damage your cigars. They should just be left loose, which is another big mistake people make when they store their cigars. As long as they have room to breathe and aren’t compressed in any way, shape, or form, they will be fine for extended periods of time.
Mistake #3: Keeping Them In Plastic Bags
People often mistakenly think that storing cigars in plastic bags is a good way to keep them fresh. The truth is, however, it's actually not as effective for cigar storage as most people think; plastic does little to regulate humidity. In fact, even paper bag packaging may be better for cigars than plastic! Additionally, many people make a mistake by keeping them wrapped in tinfoil. The idea here is that tinfoil helps preserve the cigar’s flavor and keeps them from drying out, but in reality, it often has the opposite effect and can leave your cigars tasting stale.
Mistake #4: Not Rotating Through Your Collection
How many cigars do you own? If you’re like most cigar smokers, it’s a lot. Most experienced cigar enthusiasts will have at least 100–200 cigars in their humidor at any given time. While that doesn’t sound like a whole lot, it can get to be a problem when you don’t rotate your collection. Humidors are designed for long-term storage, but only if they’re properly maintained and rotated. Over time, different cigars will lose moisture at different rates, and if you don't take care of it, they could become stale or ruined altogether.
What else should I consider when buying my first humidor? As we mentioned above, choosing a high-quality humidor is important, but there are other things you should think about as well. The size of your collection will play an important role here as well,l you don’t want one that’s too small because then you won’t be able to fit all your smokes! However, if it's too big, then there's no point because over time it'll become difficult to maintain humidity levels within an acceptable range.
Mistake #5: Leaving Them Out on Display
Unless you’re a cigar shop, there’s no reason to leave cigars on display. Exposure to light, heat, and air will ruin them. So if you’re not smoking what you have, put them in some sort of humidor or at least an airtight container. Otherwise, your best bet is to keep your stogies at a stable temperature (ideally 65–75 degrees) and store them in a dark place that has low humidity levels. Humidors can be expensive, but many people use Tupperware containers with Bovedas instead (see mistake #1). This isn’t ideal for long-term storage, but it works well enough for short periods of time. Just make sure you monitor them closely so they don't get too dry.
Buy A Cigar Humidor from Cigarfinder.com
If you’re buying cigars for yourself or as a gift, it only makes sense to treat them right by storing them in an appropriately-sized humidor. Humidors ensure that your cigars maintain their freshness, flavor, and aroma. Investing in a quality box will save you lots of headaches down the road, so take some time to choose one that’s appropriate for your needs and budget. By investing in these five mistakes when it comes to storing cigars, you can ensure that they’ll be worth smoking.
Hi-Tech vs Traditional Cigar Storage
With all of today’s hi-tech gadgets on offer, cigar storage is no exception. Some enthusiasts swear by using plastic bags and even specialized glass jars for long-term storage, but there are a few disadvantages to both options. The most common way to store cigars is inside wooden boxes called humidors. A humidor helps keep humidity steady at 70%, which prevents cracking or shrinking of wrappers on premium cigars and ensures that there is minimal deterioration over time due to tobacco beetle infestation.
