Can you store tobacco in the fridge?

[kieveryuu]

The reason I am asking this question, about the possibility of storing tobacco in the fridge, is that my apartment is older and does not have air-conditioning. Granted, at the moment storage is not a problem, but this winter has been warmer than usual and spring might come a little early. Regardless of that, my apartment, which is a wonderful little place, part of an old estate (early 1900s) that was converted, can get upwards of the high 80s inside during the peak of summer. Thankfully I have small air-con unit that keeps my main space comfortable-ish. Thinking ahead, it seems like my only real options are to store my tobacco in the fridge or in a cooled cooler. Just want to be prepared and not lose my growing collection of tobacco and am looking for advice and options.

 

[Hermit]

Temperature is an issue with cigars and possible beetle
hatches, but sealed pipe tobacco isn't gonna be harmed.
Good thing; I'd need a walk in cooler. :lol!:

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

I have read that temperature, both hot and cold, affects tobacco. You are right to be concerned. I'd read about it and humidity.

 

[monbla256]

The reason I am asking this question, about the possibility of storing tobacco in the fridge, is that my apartment is older and does not have air-conditioning. Granted, at the moment storage is not a problem, but this winter has been warmer than usual and spring might come a little early. Regardless of that, my apartment, which is a wonderful little place, part of an old estate (early 1900s) that was converted, can get upwards of the high 80s inside during the peak of summer. Thankfully I have small air-con unit that keeps my main space comfortable-ish. Thinking ahead, it seems like my only real options are to store my tobacco in the fridge or in a cooled cooler. Just want to be prepared and not lose my growing collection of tobacco and am looking for advice and options.

I've stored un-opened tins of tobacco in an interior closet in an un-air-conditioned house in Texas and it can get VERY hot down here in the summer and have never had any problems. Remember, the tobacco was NOT packed in a cooler and the tin is metal and will conduct far more cool to the tobacco than it had and probably would effect it MORE than stored in a warmer closet. I've done this for 40+ years now and honestly not had any problems

 

[Zanaspus]

Temperature is an issue with cigars and possible beetle
hatches, but sealed pipe tobacco isn't gonna be harmed.
Good thing; I'd need a walk in cooler. :lol!:

This.

 

[kieveryuu]

Ok, good to know I do not need to worry about my sealed tins, but do need to find a solution for my open tins and bagged tobacco.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

If beetles are a concern, keep in mind there's also a strong theory that Latakia-included, cased or even lightly binded tobacco (which 95% of pipe tobacco is somewhere in one or more of those categories) somehow are not affected by bacca-bugs.

I would imagine refrigerator storage would harbor the same concerns as coffee: upsetting the "sitting" humidity and the way the chemicals change over time. Also, aerobic/anaerobic bacteria effectiveness (in regard to aging) might also be adversely affected at fridge temperatures.

Just thoughts.

8)

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

I keep every jot of an opened tin in its own jelly jar.

 

[Hermit]

I have read that temperature, both hot and cold, affects tobacco. You are right to be concerned. I'd read about it and humidity.

Yeah, but not within the range of human comfort.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I have read that temperature, both hot and cold, affects tobacco. You are right to be concerned. I'd read about it and humidity.

Yeah, but not within the range of human comfort.

Especially when it's busy combusting... tobacco changes pretty drastically at that point. :twisted:

 

[monbla256]

I think that on these Forum's folks tend to obsess quite a bit over things that are nothing to obsess about. Folks have been smoking, blending, and storing both straight tobacco and blends for a VERY LONG time BEFORE the advent of environmental control was available in their living/working environment and I get the impression things were OK even without the ability to effect it. If tobacco ( pipe smoking I'm refering to) is kept dry and sealed in it's original container (tin) and is not subjected to widely variable temperature changes over it's storage life, I don't think one has to worry. AFTER you break that seal and open it, the manufacterer planned that you would SMOKE it up and get some more. It's when you break this OEM storage/use design ( open and want to age some more ) that you might find some problems. That's why I normally only have at the most 3 tins open at any one time. It's worked for me for 40+ years now

 

[Zanaspus]

If beetles are a concern, keep in mind there's also a strong theory that Latakia-included, cased or even lightly binded tobacco (which 95% of pipe tobacco is somewhere in one or more of those categories) somehow are not affected by bacca-bugs.

I would imagine refrigerator storage would harbor the same concerns as coffee: upsetting the "sitting" humidity and the way the chemicals change over time. Also, aerobic/anaerobic bacteria effectiveness (in regard to aging) might also be adversely affected at fridge temperatures.

Just thoughts.

8)

My take on this is that most cigar tobacco is grown in Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras etc. whereas most pipe tobacco is grown in a more temperate climate. Tobacco beetles are not a problem at temperatures less than 80F, thus, no beetle eggs are generally laid in pipe weed in the first place.

 

[blendtobac]

Tobacco should never be stored in a modern refrigerator as frost-free models (which is pretty much everything today) work by removing moisture from the air inside it. Beside that, tobacco is hygroscopic in nature, so it will readily absorb flavors and odors from anything nearby. I'd hate to have a pound of 5100 that tastes like cabbage. As others have noted, as long as the tobacco has enough moisture and the temperature doesn't fluctuate widely, the tobacco should be fine.

Russ

 

[kieveryuu]

Tobacco should never be stored in a modern refrigerator as frost-free models (which is pretty much everything today) work by removing moisture from the air inside it. Beside that, tobacco is hygroscopic in nature, so it will readily absorb flavors and odors from anything nearby. I'd hate to have a pound of 5100 that tastes like cabbage. As others have noted, as long as the tobacco has enough moisture and the temperature doesn't fluctuate widely, the tobacco should be fine.

Russ

That is an excellent point.