What came first, the cigar or the humidor? For most beginners, the cigars come first. You might not yet know the best humidity for your cigars or the importance of storing them correctly, especially if you don't plan to smoke them immediately.
That raises the important question of how to store cigars without a humidor. Until you invest in your first Spanish cedar humidor to keep your collection in a controlled climate, you'll have to find an alternative.
Our beginner's guide to storing cigars without a humidor will help you understand your options, as well as why you should consider buying a cigar humidor if you plan to make smoking a long-term habit.
Why cigar humidity is important
Tobacco is a plant and, like any other, its leaves contain moisture. During the fermentation and aging process, the leaves are dried out, making them ready to burn. But there's still humidity in there, and it's important to keep premium cigars at the right humidity level.
It's generally accepted that the best humidity for cigars is 65-72% relative humidity (RH) at a temperature of about 70F. Too damp and the leaves will swell, making the cigar soft and spongy. Too dry and they will shrink, making the wrapper feel loose and crackly.
Staying in this Goldilocks zone of 70F and 70% RH will preserve the structure of the cigar, which in turn preserves the flavor profile as the tobacco will burn as intended.
Monitoring cigar humidity
A good-quality cigar humidor is the best way to monitor and control cigar humidity, but there are some alternatives, even when using makeshift storage solutions.
Digital hygrometers can tell you the moisture level inside any box, along with the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Boveda packs are another great innovation for beginners. Just remove the cellophane and place the Boveda pack in your cigar storage box, and it will keep the inside of the box at the target RH for up to three months.
How long can cigars last without a humidor?
The fact is, cigars will not stay in good condition without some sort of humidor-like storage. Within a matter of days, they'll typically start to dry out to such an extent that it's no longer really worth smoking them.
Knowing how to store cigars without a humidor is really about finding ways to imitate the storage conditions of a humidor. That means keeping your smokes at the right temperature and relative humidity.
If you can do this, you can extend that storage time from a few days to a few weeks. It won't be easy to get the humidity spot-on, but it's more forgiving than keeping your cigars in their delivery box.
Alternative cigar storage methods
Here are some of the best alternative ways to store cigars without a humidor, including some simple how-to steps to help you get set up.
Food storage containers
Plastic food storage containers are designed to hold liquids and other perishable items, and are usually airtight. That quality makes it a good option to keep the moisture in your cigars during short-term storage.
Make sure the container is clean, so there's less risk of mold. Put your cigars inside, along with a Boveda pack or humidification pouch. Seal tightly.
Avoid extreme temperatures (e.g., the inside of your car on a hot summer's day) and rotate your cigars regularly for the best medium-term storage.
Plastic bag
A plastic bag is another way to stop that all-important moisture from escaping. It won't be totally airtight, but it gives you a good compromise compared with leaving your cigars out in the open air.
If you don't have a humidification pouch handy, soak a small piece of clean sponge in some distilled water and add it to the pouch. As the water evaporates, it will help keep the sticks moist.
However, this isn't an ideal storage condition, especially if you can't keep the cigars from making direct contact with the sponge. Too much contact time will leave you with a soggy wrapper, so try to keep it to a minimum.
Cooler
A picnic cooler can be a good makeshift way to maintain the best humidity for cigars in medium-term storage.
While not ideal — a plastic cooler can't compare with the natural antibacterial properties of Spanish cedar humidors — it should at least keep some moisture inside. Try to get a model equipped with an airtight seal or vacuum-insulated walls.
Use a digital hygrometer to check that the interior is at the right relative humidity, or throw in the right size Boveda pack and leave it to do the work for you. Check your cigars regularly and if they don't feel too spongy or crinkly, then you're doing fine.
Moving on to humidors
As your collection grows, you'll want to pick up a purpose-made cigar humidor in Spanish cedar, oak or glass. There are plenty to choose from and, in general, they should all do the job better than these makeshift solutions.
Whatever you go for, remember to space out your cigars inside to maximize airflow and rotate them regularly for more even long-term storage, and you should get the best smoking conditions out of them for many months.