How to Store Cigars without a Humidor
Not everyone has a humidor. Many cigar newbies, for example, may be hesitant to buy a humidor when they just want to dip their toes into the world of cigars. Casual smokers may also find they have no need for a humidor—until they’re gifted a box that will end up lasting them a year. So, if you have no humidor, how do you store cigars?
What is the best way to store my cigars if I don’t have a humidor?
Plastic Baggies
There is a rather simple solution that works surprisingly well: keep your new cigars in a plastic bag. After you have your cigars bagged, it’s just a matter of keeping them in a temperate environment. As you may already know, the ideal environment for cigars is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity. Luckily, that temperature is rather close to room temperature in most homes. However, humidity may pose an issue if you plan on keeping your cigars in the bag for a long time.
Enter Humidipaks. Boveda Humidipaks are designed to keep the humidity in a closed environment (like the inside of a Ziplock bag) consistent for an extended time. Best of all, you can buy your choice of a box of Humidipaks or a single Humidipak, based on your needs. Generally, two packs are recommended for 50 cigars. But if you were just gifted an unexpected box of 20, simply toss one of these packets in a Ziplock bag with your new cigars and keep them in a temperate area. You’re good to go!
Approaches to Avoid
Now that we’ve covered the right way to store cigars without a humidor, let’s touch on what NOT to do. First and foremost, don’t shrug your shoulders and leave your cigars to the elements. Unless you plan on having all of them smoked in a week or two, you need to keep proper storage in mind.
Of course, different people have different definitions of “proper storage.” One myth that need to be debunked is that of the fridge or freezer as a humidor. It’s anyone’s guess how this idea got started, but it definitely needs to stop. Not only are these storage areas far below 70 degrees, they are also far too dry. If you put your new cigars in the fridge or freezer, you can expect them to be dried out incredibly fast.
So there you have it. If you have a large enough Ziplock bag, you are well on your way to keeping your cigars fresh and their flavor in tact. Of course, should you ever decide to finally invest in a humidor, we have options for every size and style at wallet-friendly prices.
