How to Store Cigars with a Humidor?

If you’re an avid cigar smoker, you’ve probably realized that taking care of the tobacco leaves takes up quite a bit of time and effort. If you live in a climate with low humidity levels, or if you prefer to smoke your cigars inside your home rather than outdoors, it may be necessary to purchase a humidor and use it to store your cigars until you’re ready to enjoy them. This guide will show you how to store cigars with a humidor so that they remain fresh and at the peak of their flavor no matter how long they sit between smokes.

Choosing the Right Humidor

If you’re going to invest your hard-earned cash into cigars, you’ll want to make sure that you choose a humidor that best suits your needs. Acrylic humidors can be the best option for people who don’t have enough room for glass or wood humidors, these small and inexpensive models are also perfect for beginners who are just getting started with cigar storage. But if you have more space available, opt for a larger humidor made of solid wood and lined with Spanish cedar, these types of units offer maximum protection against humidity loss while protecting your cigars from potential damage caused by excessive moisture. 

Keeping the Proper Temperature

If you live in an area where temperatures can get quite hot or cold, avoid excessive fluctuations. Ideally, keep your cigars at around 68°-75°F (20°-24°C) year round. Not only is temperature important for storing your cigars, but humidity is as well. A humidor should always be placed away from heat sources like wood stoves and central heating systems; these elements cause your humidor’s internal temperature to fluctuate often which can dry out your precious smokes.

Tips for Avoiding Mold

If you’re trying to store cigars for longer than just a few weeks, it’s important that you keep them away from mold.  Mold can grow on your cigars if you expose them to too much moisture or high levels of oxygen over time, so be sure not to leave your cigars in airtight containers or sealed plastic bags while they sit around. Instead, buy yourself a humidor and fill it with small pieces of cedar wood, these will naturally regulate humidity and fight off mildew spores. Or you can buy a set of cigars that have a good quality box to be used as humidors. For example, Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 comes with a box that has a solid construction with solid wood, a Spanish cedar interior and is large enough to have space for both your cigars and a humidifier. Space is essential for storing cigars as they need to breathe and absorb humidity.

Preventing Tobacco Beetles

Tobacco beetles cause damage by eating tobacco leaves, but they also tend to thrive when they find tobaccos that are improperly stored. While it’s impossible to completely avoid introducing tobacco beetles into your humidor, you can make it harder for them to survive by keeping your cigars in high-quality cigar tubes and, most importantly, keeping your cigars well-stored.

General Storing Instructions

Once you’ve purchased a humidor, it’s vital that you care for your cigars correctly. The number one rule is that cigars need to be kept in an environment with constant humidity. Unless you live near water, like by an ocean or lake, chances are high that your home is too dry for storing cigars. In fact, most homes can only maintain 40%-50% humidity consistently which means air conditioning and heating systems cause daily fluctuations in temperature which makes it challenging to store cigars properly. If you love smoking premium cigars but don’t want to invest in a climate controlled vault, consider investing in a personal humidor!