Do you freeze sticks from our host?

[Smallclub]

34 minutes ago, PadronFan said:

The issue for me with this is that clearly people have received cigars with beetles since 2006

Who? When? Where? Actually the opposite is clear to me.

[moryc]

I freeze everything.  Double bag freezer Ziplock, 1 day in the fridge, 4 days in the freezer, 1 day in the fridge.

[PigFish]

I don't really see how freezing can affect a cigar unless there is capillary water in the cigar. Like Gooey, I tend to fall in the stability and stress camp. That said, I am too lazy to freeze cigars. I have frozen infected cigars before, but it is not a habit with me. It is simply too damn much hassle when I buy cigars!

Cheers! -Piggy

[PapaDisco]

1 hour ago, PigFish said:

I don't really see how freezing can affect a cigar unless there is capillary water in the cigar. Like Gooey, I tend to fall in the stability and stress camp. That said, I am too lazy to freeze cigars. I have frozen infected cigars before, but it is not a habit with me. It is simply too damn much hassle when I buy cigars!

Cheers! -Piggy

You and me both Msr Cornichon!

I didn't freeze for the longest time, and then one day received a box of tubo PSD4's from Germany, one tubo had a beetle and a larva in it.  After that I froze like mad.  This was before I got my cellar cigar ready and so over-70 temps were a regular occurrence for me.  However, out of 100's of boxes all I ever saw was that one bug, so the freezing that HSA does is quite effective, but not absolutely perfect.

However, like Monsignor Le Pig, I grew lackadaisical about freezing and have decided to relax and tempt fate instead.   I never noticed any taste difference between frozen and not frozen cigars, but then I was always careful to slowly acclimatize them (3 days in the fridge, 3 in the freezer, 3 in the fridge).  Now, if it's an HSA product I don't freeze any more, I ziplock it and heave it in one of the tuppers in the cellar: a constant 65/65.  I check on things the first 1-3 months, and then let the long term stuff go to uninterrupted sleep.

The tobacco beetle has about a 90 day life cycle, so you might catch something if you check once a month or so, but every week is unnecessary and is just letting the juicy aromas out of your aging stock.  The ziplocks help with aging (IMHO, others say no) and will also keep any catastrophe contained.

But mostly I would just prefer my relationship with my freezer to be centered around making ice for cocktails, and having more time to enjoy same. 

[seattledude]

6 hours ago, Gusmab980 said:

I didn't even know people would freeze their cigars so I never have and I have never even seen a beetle.

Just a matter of time

[HoyoFan]

3 hours ago, moryc said:

I freeze everything.  Double bag freezer Ziplock, 1 day in the fridge, 4 days in the freezer, 1 day in the fridge.

That's been my approach. But that was when I had a regular humidor. I've recently switched to a wineidor and am wondering if I should still keep freezing them given that I now control both temp & RH

[El Presidente]

I opened up close enough to 600 boxes these last couple of days. Came across one beetle hole where the beetle would have exited the cigar at thefactory before finding its demise in the Habanos Freezing facility. 

I will normally come across one beetle hole during a warehouse visit. I can't recall the last time I came across a live beetle. 

The only cigars I freeze are anything I purchase in Cuba (customs or boxes) or any gifts from friends who send cigars sourced from Cuba or cigars pre 2006. 

[JoeyW]

I always freeze , no matter the source . 

[Smallclub]

1 hour ago, seattledude said:

Just a matter of time

Wrong.

[seattledude]

Just now, Smallclub said:

Wrong.

mmmkay

[TheMonk]

I freeze absolutely everything, no matter what the source - even if it's coming from a mate's home, I freeze it all.

[MrGinger]

Anything that goes into my humidor gets frozen.

[Gusmab980]

Just a matter of time

Maybe, but like I said I didn't know I was supposed to freeze them.

[seattledude]

Just now, Gusmab980 said:

Maybe, but like I said I didn't know I was supposed to freeze them.

Now you know =)

Honestly you are probably going to be ok without freezing them, but infestation can happen and it can ruin thousands of dollars worth of great cigars.

So this is just cheap insurance and will not harm cigars.

As I said earlier in this thread I encountered few cigars with beetle holes and beetle poop inside 2015 Cab 50 RASS earlier this year. (not from Prez)

It can happen. I just dont want to take that chance.

[Sprouthog]

I freeze everything regardless of the source.

[LLC]

If I buy it in Cuba I freeze it, otherwise I don't but any new boxes or singles go into a zip lock for at least 30 days before I inspect again and then move into a humidor.

[Kenf13]

Freeze everything, doesn't matter who the source is.

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[Franko]

Yes I freeze everything!!!!!

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[CigarSeeker]

Freezing cigars.. A topic that has many opinions and they are all subjective. 

Cigars coming out of Cuba get flash freezed prior to distribution. Is there still risk? Sure but the question is will your average home freezer help any? There's a lot of arguments whether a home freezer would or can reach the needed temperature to reach what you're looking for. 

Personally, I don't bother. I check my stock from time to time and wish for the best. I believe I can actually cause more harm to my cigars than help by freezing them. Just my opinion. 

[planetary]

I don't really have the time, and the risk isn't worth the effort, in my mind.  Should I have an outbreak, I will rethink my position.  Until then, I keep my humidor dialed to settings well away from the danger zone and I'm happily chugging along.

[Philc2001]

I freeze and/or quarantine. When freezing I give it a week in freezer, 2 days in fridge, 2 more in freezer bags. Quarantine for at least 2 weeks at room temp before they join general population.

How long do you generally freeze for, and what temperature?

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[Gunson]

I don't. I keep my sticks below the temp danger zone and that's about it.

[stigmata]

I've never frozen anything in twenty years and never had beetles.

There have been times  in the past it's been hot and I've had nowhere to keep them cool