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How to Season A Humidor in A Quick And Easy Way

Posted on by Ella Ella
17
Oct

Introduction

Setting up and seasoning the humidor is a multi-step procedure, but if done correctly, your cigars are sure to stay fresh and usable for many years to come.

Some of life’s greatest joys necessitate some effort and upkeep to draw the optimum essence out of them. For instance, take wine and craft beer industries, where connoisseurs keep revolving bottles just to retain them at specific angles or temperatures.

This sort of attention to detail is requisite to ensure that a product is excellent, and cigars are no exception. That’s why it’s critical to set up and maintain your humidor properly.

It’s critical to store cigars at the appropriate temperature and humidity levels to keep them fresh and maximize your smoking experience.

Choosing the Right Humidor

Before you start seasoning, you ought to find the humidor that fits your needs and preference.

It is necessary to keep the humidor at least half-filled (ideally 3/4) for proper functioning. So don’t go out and buy a 400-cigar humidor if you only have 25 cigars.

You would also want to have know-how about what style of humidor you want. If you are constantly traveling and intend to savor your cigars on the go, then a travel humidor is the one that would perfectly suit your requirement.

On the contrary, if you want more of a fixed or desk piece, explore a wide range of wooden humidors- the ones lined with Spanish cedarwood.

Before you start seasoning, you ought to find the humidor that fits your needs and preference.

It is necessary to keep the humidor at least half-filled (ideally 3/4) for proper functioning. So don’t go out and buy a 400-cigar humidor if you only have 25 cigars.

You would also want to have know-how about what style of humidor you want. If you are constantly traveling and intend to savor your cigars on the go, then a travel humidor is the one that would perfectly suit your requirement.

On the contrary, if you want more of a fixed or desk piece, explore a wide range of wooden humidors- the ones lined with Spanish cedarwood.

Seasoning your humidor for the first time? Here’s what you need to know.

Why is it Necessary to Season A Humidor?

The reason is straightforward. The purpose of a humidor is to keep your cigars moist. An equilibrium of humidity must be achieved for a humidor to accomplish this vital role. Otherwise, instead of providing the ideal conditions for storage that premium handmade cigars demand, your humidor may absorb the humidity in your cigars and cause them to dry out.

These days, humidors come in a variety of designs, sizes, and even materials. On the top and sides, many are composed of solid cedar with a wood veneer or high-end polish. If not fully built of cedar, many options available would at least have a cedar lining on the inside. It’s important to note that the procedures for breaking into a humidor may differ slightly. Some may work more swiftly than others, but we’re only interested in the most efficient methodology here.

Although we’re discussing humidification, temperature is also a factor to consider. Keep your humidor at a moderate room temperature (about 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and away from direct heat sources or direct sunshine.

Although not all humidors have vital peripherals like a humidification unit and a hygrometer, most do. To set up and install your humidor for the first time, you’ll need a few additional supplies.

Things You Need For Seasoning A Humidor

  • Humidification Part
  • Hygrometer
  • Hygrometer Calibration toolkit
  • Propylene Glycol 
  • Distilled Water
  • New kitchen sponge
  • A glass dish or stainless steel pan
  • A clean towel/dish rag

How to Season A Humidor- The Right Way

Step 1- Wipe your humidor mildly

Once you have made a choice, it’s about time to start the humidor seasoning process. You should season the wood with distilled water or a glycol solution before putting your cigars in it. This will ensure that moisture has been absorbed into the wood before your cigars are placed inside.

Soak a sponge or paper towel in distilled water, compress excess water, and then gently wipe the wood in your humidor.

You would want to make sure it’s uniformly done throughout the wood and that it’s moist. Don’t put too much in, or the water will seep out of the wood and onto your smokes.

Step 2- Check out the humidity levels inside the humidor

The next step in humidor seasoning is to fill it with the same distilled water or solution, which usually comes with the humidor. You also have the option to purchase it separately.

Start by removing the humidifier unit from the box, placing it in a large dish. Propylene glycol solution (also known as 50/50 solution) should be poured into the humidification unit. You can either inject the solution or immerse the entire device in a dish filled with propylene glycol with a conventional foam humidification unit.

Propylene glycol is a safe method for humidifying your cigars and preparing your humidor. Only distilled water can be used without propylene glycol; tap water can cause mold in both your humidor and your cigars. Propylene glycol is preferred over distilled water for the preparation procedure because of its viscosity, which prevents over-humidification.

Feed the humidification unit with just enough propylene glycol to fill it. Check to see if it’s saturated. In addition to the propylene glycol, you can add distilled water to the humidification unit towards the end to ensure that it absorbs enough moisture. When the humidification unit is filled, shake it over a basin to release the surplus solution.

The humidor will leak out some moisture during this time- the process referred to as “seasoning.”

The humidor seasoning process will continue for another couple of weeks or more. During this time, refrain from putting any cigars in your humidor. After a week or so, you should check your hydrometer, which is a humidity gauge.

You’re all set to go and use the apparatus once the reading falls between 67 and 72 percent.

About Hygrometer Calibration

Your humidor does not require the use of a hygrometer. However, the latter is needed to determine whether your humidor is working properly because it allows you to monitor the humidity level on the box’s interior. The procedure of calibrating your hygrometer is straightforward; however, it does take 6 to 8 hours.

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Step 3: Place cigars

After you’ve double-checked the gauge, it’s time to place your cigars in the humidor. Just double-check to make sure the wood doesn’t have any excess moisture in it.

After you’ve cross-checked every detail, it’s time to start filling your humidor with cigars.

Step 4: Invest time in maintenance

For many cigar smokers, a significant amount of time can pass between occasions when they must smoke a cigar. In the meantime, it’s easy to forget about your humidor. Your humidor and cigar collection, like a home plant, require regular maintenance and watering. You aim to keep the relative humidity (RH) between 65 and 72 percent.

It’s time to refill the humidifier when the hygrometer reaches the low 60s. Either distilled water or propylene glycol solution can be used. Propylene glycol provides additional protection against harmful microorganisms.

Many enthusiasts use distilled water regularly and add propylene glycol solution to the humidifier every 3 to 4 cycles. Never use tap water, as previously stated. Allowing your cigars to dry out is preferable to risking a mold infestation by using tap water.

Also, we recommend rotating cigars a couple of times a year. You don’t want the same cigars to be in close vicinity to your humidification source all of the time. Change the order of the cigars in the top row to the bottom row and vice versa. It’s a good idea to do this once or twice a week. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to check on your cigar collection and, of course, to smoke one!

We also advise re-seasoning it every 4-6 months while rotating the cigars inside to ensure that moisture is evenly distributed throughout all of them.

How Long Does it Take to Season A Humidor?

The amount of time needed for seasoning a humidor varies according to the materials chosen, the humidification technique used, and the humidor’s dimensions. The process takes 3 to 5 days for most humidors.

Some enthusiasts, on the other hand, may spend up to two weeks breaking in a new humidor, only to ensure that it is done as gradually and carefully as possible.

The procedure of seasoning a humidor is quick and uncomplicated. You can exponentially grow your cigar collection once your humidor is fully functional!

What Next?

Now since you have learned something about how to season a humidor, why don’t you also check out our other related guides as follows:

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