ElPuro Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 When I started, I froze all my cigars. Curious: For those who don't have temp control in your humi, how many have experienced beetles in the last five years? I'm tempted to stop freezing, but concerned because it's possible I might get a bit warm in the humidor over the summer.
torsion Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 My experience - I started a coolerdor in Sept '14.No issues throughtout the winter into 2015.My apartment during the day in the summer can reach temps of 70+F and I had an outbreak last summer.Quite a few dress boxes affected however I froze everything that was in there and will continue freezing everything from now on.I'll happy smoke the affected sticks however goes to show even if HSA freeze there could be the odd box.. Lesson well learnt...
Wrangler Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Tread Jack alert.... How long do you freeze your cigars and do you just use your a regular freezer or deep freeze???
finecigar Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 My experience - I started a coolerdor in Sept '14.No issues throughtout the winter into 2015.My apartment during the day in the summer can reach temps of 70+F and I had an outbreak last summer.Quite a few dress boxes affected however I froze everything that was in there and will continue freezing everything from now on.I'll happy smoke the affected sticks however goes to show even if HSA freeze there could be the odd box.. Lesson well learnt... If you can remember, what cigars were affected? And you mentioned 70 degrees+, how high do you think the temperatures got when you noticed the beetles?
Tobbot Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I don't freeze any new arrivals. I've had a coolidor going for about the same amount of time as torsion and temps during summer get above 72° (haven't calibrated hygrometer for Temp, of course). So far zero beetles. Most of my stock in coolidor is from host and maybe I've been lucky? Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
SCgarman Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I think HSA freezers only go down to around 14 degrees F. I don't have enough faith in the consistency of their methods. I freeze all boxes I buy in a commercial grade stand up freezer that stays at 10 degrees below zero F. Have not had a beetle outbreak since.
sepp Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 Cigars reaching -20°C for 1 hour breaks eggs and kills larva/adults https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aez/41/1/41_1_87/_article
Blazer Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 I freeze everything I get for 48 hours in a regular freezer then let them sit in the fridge for 24-hours and then room temp for 12-24 hours before adding to my humidors. Is it really having a positive effect? I have no idea, but it does give me some piece of mind. My storage area can get as warm as 75 in the summer, but I keep my RH at 63-66% and I have not had a problem. Doesn't mean I won't have problem, just none so far. I am in the process of moving everything to a wineador to keep the temps below 70.
moryc Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I freeze everything that comes in, no matter what the source is. I had a beetle (dead) in a box of Siglo VI at the beginning. One cigar had a hole in it. My heart stopped for a few seconds when I saw that. From that point forward started freezing everything.
sepp Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I also religiously freeze all new inventory and have not had any issues. Why I started this post was because of the boxes I received yesterday.....upon opening boxes to admire them I was shocked to see the dreaded holes in some of the smokes. So the info I am looking for is how to kill them when you know they are there. Not as much of a preventative measure. I was truly shocked. We go to Cuba annually and always return with out limit and have never had a problem. Eggs are in the cigars. They hatch and then the larva are in the cigars. They grow to adults, eat their way out, find new cigars and lay eggs. Proper freezing stops the cycle at all stages Cigars reaching -20°C for 1 hour breaks eggs and kills larva/adults https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aez/41/1/41_1_87/_article
earthson Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 No beetles on intact boxes in the last 7 years and the only thing I freeze are customs. Have seen beetle damage twice - both on cigars bought on the secondary market (Trini Fundis and Fuente Opus). I think Havana is actually freezing cigars like they claim. As for how to kill, I go with my kitchen freezer for 7 days on the coldest setting. Hard to guage effectiveness without experimenting with known tobacco beetle eggs.
TheMonk Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I freeze everything, wherever the cigars came from. And even if I do get a wineador to keep the temp even more stable, I'll keep freezing everything. Taking no chances here. 1
creamypies Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 Surprised Monsanto or another company hasn't formulated some formulation that can be added to the humidification device that will kill these beetles. Then again if it's by Monsanto it'll probably kill us too when we smoke it or turn us fluorescent
earthson Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Good show, new guy! Looks like the acclimated larvae can be a bit of a nuisance.
Fugu Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Surprised Monsanto or another company hasn't formulated some formulation that can be added to the humidification device that will kill these beetles. Then again if it's by Monsanto it'll probably kill us too when we smoke it or turn us fluorescent That's essentially what Cuba did before they came up with the bulk freezing.... and I am GRATEFUL for that! N.B.: Perhaps mods could move this thread...?
DONSVO Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Good show, new guy! Looks like the acclimated larvae can be a bit of a nuisance. I'm just new to FOH My freezer is at 0-2*f, so a solid 48 hours ought to handle just about any critter.
malakai Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 I've experienced no beetles and had limited temp control in my humidor and now in my wineador. Temps definitely have gotten 70+ I'm sure on some occasions. I freeze everything and have had no issues with beetles in 15+ years.
btp1979 Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Can you take a box and put it straight into the freezer? And has anyone ever had problems with wrappers splitting from it? Knock on wood I haven't had a beetle outbreak in the last few years. I'm considered freezing my entire stock to hedge against the temp swings in my house, but I'm worried doing so could either damage the cigars or change the flavor profile. If my concerns are unfounded I'd be happy to know it. Billy
JoeyW Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 I do freeze every cigars before they enter my humidor . Been doing that since forever. I usually put my box in 3 freezer ziploc in the fridge for 24hrs then regular freezer for 72 hrs and back to fridge for 24hrs. Never had problem
Smallclub Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=126096#entry669846 btw, do we need a new thread about beetles every two weeks?
DONSVO Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 I do freeze every cigars before they enter my humidor . Been doing that since forever. I usually put my box in 3 freezer ziploc in the fridge for 24hrs then regular freezer for 72 hrs and back to fridge for 24hrs. Never had problemPretty much what JoeyW said. ALWAYS double or triple the freezer bags. I've had two freezer bags fail on me in over 1,500 frozen cigars for the past 7-8 years. I'm glad I triple bag, because if I hadn't both instances were not cheap (HTF Tatuaje S&S/Monsters and 90-100 JL2/Monte Edmundo/PSD4/BHK 54s). Triple bagging saved my ass. I use 3 ziplock bags that I've sucked the air out of and then sealed. I use a Bic pen tube (some use a milkshake straw) and suck the air completely out of the bags. Less air, less moisture and less room to allow the cigars a chance to dehumidify. This bundle then gets put into the freezer. I don't go with the fridge first, but mind you my cigars will be going in already at room temp (66-68*) so it isn't like a 110* parcel gets thrown into the depths of my freezer. My freezer is at 0* Fahrenheit, so 48 hours is more than enough to terminate any stage of beetle. They then get to go into my fridge for 12 hours to re-acclimate before sitting in my man cave for a day (still in the bags) and settle to room temp. Then they get pulled and put back into their respective boxes and stored. Same method for close to 8 years. Never had a single dried out, busted, cracked or flavorless cigar. They all retain their oil and sheen and are ready to go after my typical rest period. I've also never had a beetle in either of my humidors. I'd like to keep that record going strong! 1
Kenf13 Posted March 11, 2016 Posted March 11, 2016 48-72 hours, use 2-3 two gallon ziplock freezer bags, suck out as much air as possible. Just in case, I put in fridge for 24 to prevent splitting.
skalls Posted March 11, 2016 Posted March 11, 2016 My basement in the summer never gets much above 68 when I have the AC set to 72. During the winter it's typically 62-66. Never had an issue with beetles thankfully.
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