Microwaving cigars to sterilise tobacco weavle eggs?

[monkey66]

Was chatting with a very competent RF engineer the other day and the discussion for using a microwave oven to sterilise insect eggs in soil came up.

I asked him if this would have the same effect on tobacco beetle eggs and he felt that 5 seconds or so ought to do it without unduly heating up the cigar. Has anyone ever thought / tried / discussed this concept before?

Also UV light will apparently do the same job but will only work on individual leaves (ie during production).

warning - try this at your own risk - heating up your cigars may well ruin them (and potentially activate any eggs still alive!). One assumes that the cigarette industry have gone through all of this and will know some of the answers.

[tippexx]

Well .... it might work .... but so might pounding them with a hammer.

I think giant industrial freezers are what the NC manufacturers use. Same for most of the large US wholesale/retailers who freeze containers before letting them into their humidor areas.

In Cuba they most likely just wave a lolly-pop at the boxes.

[Lee Nub]

Quote "In Cuba they most likely just wave a lolly-pop at the boxes"


LMAO

[daverave999]

I thought sterilisation was a product of temperature? Looking around the web, it seems you have to microwave the soil until it is hot. If the cigar gets hot enough to kill eggs, what would that do to the tobacco? I don't think it would get hot enough in 5 seconds to do much. Interested to hear from anyone who knows about this kind of stuff though.

Good suggestion. I'm all ears!

[monkey66]

In Cuba they most likely just wave a lolly-pop at the boxes.

Candidate for quote of the year ...and it's only January!

[satch]

5 seconds sounds like it will bring the eggs up to the right temp for hatching.

[bryanj9]

ummm cooked eggs and cigars sounds tasty

[rollzst]

freezing cigars is the best option, this has worked for a very long time. never had problems

[Boss Hog]

I didnt think it was the heating it up part that kills things, I thought it was the fact that the microwave rubs the particles together that plays havoc with living organisms.
Which is why you shouldnt put small dogs and rodents in there to "dry off" after a bath as they die after a few seconds.

[daverave999]

Google 'fly in microwave'.

[Boss Hog]

Google 'fly in microwave'.

I did all I got was Jeff Goldblum??

[monkey66]

I think that is the point. To sterilise, not heat up.

[daverave999]

That was my point-what is the mechanism if not heat? If a fly can fly around in a microwave and survive, what chance has an egg got of being sterilised purely through radiation?

[EugeneSax]

The microwave energy is at such a frequency that it makes the bonds between the oxygen & hydrogen atoms (the dipole?) in water molecules vibrate, ie it heats up the water content of anything in a microwave oven. It also acts on other hydrogen bonds such as those found in fats and possibly proteins (have you ever put bacon in a micro - it cooks in seconds?).

I think because of this eggs, which contain fats proteins & water are likely to be heated very efficiently. However, in order not to damage the cigars themselves - you'd need to dry them first.:rip:

[jdawg]

I just think it is a bad idea all together! Personally, I would never risk putting my prized stogies in a microwave. :eek:

[Kdot]

id be too scared in case the eggs mutated into some type of incredible hulk type beetle...imagine the damage they'll do when they get angry!:ahhhhh:

[peanutpete]

id be too scared in case the eggs mutated into some type of incredible hulk type beetle...imagine the damage they'll do when they get angry!:ahhhhh:

lmfao

[cohibaIV]

Why do anything....Unless you have a problem in the first place...:cowboyic9:

[monkey66]

Just got thinking after having to freeze the Indonesian sample stick.
On a similar vein - is it safe to assume the Swiss suppliers freeze all their stocks before putting them in their warehouses?

[eggopp]

Just send the cigars to me, free of course, they will get smoked before the eggs even hatch... The additional protein in the eggs may increase flavour !! :smoke: :rolleyes:

[Smallclub]

In Cuba they most likely just wave a lolly-pop at the boxes.
All the cigars for export are frozen in a facility in Havana.

[monkey66]

Do you know that for a fact Smallclub?

[tippexx]

On a similar vein - is it safe to assume the Swiss suppliers freeze all their stocks before putting them in their warehouses?[/QUOTE]

Safer to assume NO I think. An industrial size freezer is some investment I would reckon.

[tippexx]

Though in fairness, I would imagine the likes of InterTabak (Switzerland), Altadis (Spain & France), Hunters & Frankau (UK), Havana House (Canada) etal have procedures and precautions in place. Davidoff I think have a large scale freezing facility.

[monkey66]

It would seem to me quite unlikely that any commercial supplier would not either only buy stock that has been frozen or do it themselves. The risk to their stock would be too high.

Would be nice to get some definitive answers.

[tippexx]

[QUOTE=monkey66;64508]It would seem to me quite unlikely that any commercial supplier would not either only buy stock that has been frozen or do it themselves. The risk to their stock would be too high.

In the US I believe your answer is a YES. The big wholesalers are paranoid about beetle infestation and use freezing as a 'double precaution' at their delivery-in points, where as I understand it they freeze before unloading from containers. NC cigars are also frozen prior to leaving their factories. Insurance I can imagine has a lot to do with this. One female beetle can ravage a million dollars worth of stock.

In Cuba all precautions are taken in the factories. But I'm not sure if any large scale freezing is employed.

[tandblov]

I have heard that all cigars leaving cuba go through a freezing process. That said, I have never had an issue (knock on wood).

[Smallclub]

On a similar vein - is it safe to assume the Swiss suppliers freeze all their stocks before putting them in their warehouses?

Safer to assume NO I think. An industrial size freezer is some investment I would reckon.
I know as a fact that Intertabak, the official importer/distributor for Switzerland, freezes all their stock.
Now, as for the stock of… errr… a certain warehouse in Geneva :whistle:, I can't affirm anything…

[tandblov]

I know as a fact that Intertabak, the official importer/distributor for Switzerland, freezes all their stock.
Now, as for the stock of… errr… a certain warehouse in Geneva :whistle:, I can't affirm anything…


I have received cigars with beetles from one of the warehouses. So, if they are freezing, it isn't early enough.

[tippexx]

I have received cigars with beetles from one of the warehouses. So, if they are freezing, it isn't early enough.

If Forum beetle paranoia wasn't bad enough already. What you trying to do Tand, I'm on my eighteenth nervous breakdown as it is? :smile:

[jacques]

In the German cigar community people are obsessed with beetlephobia. Everyone freezes their purchases. 5-7 days. I have been doing it for years, no problems whatsoever.

[monkey66]

What's your process for freezing Jaques?


In the German cigar community people are obsessed with beetlephobia. Everyone freezes their purchases. 5-7 days. I have been doing it for years, no problems whatsoever.

[moidoid]

I have had a box from a reputable Swiss vendor that I picked up on my travels which turned out to have beetle. I unknowingly did a swap with a forum member which was very embarrassing indeed :frown:. Luckily he was a very decent chap but I certainly learned my lesson there and I freeze them all now when they arrive - wherever they come from.

[monkey66]

Ok - now i want to Freeze all my sticks.

can we establish an agreed freezing process, what are people doing?

[daverave999]

I've not done it myself but I found this paper (http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aez/41/1/41_87/_article) which I posted in this thread (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?t=3548) which gives temperatures and other stuff.

[jacques]

What's your process for freezing Jaques?

No fuss. I just put them in a zip loc, put the bag in another bag (for added security in case my mother-in-law decides to freeze some chicken broth in my absence) and leave them there for a week. I defrost in the fridge although this does not seem to be necessary. Some people suck out excess air from the bag but I don't see the point. I've read that MRN doesn't loke frreezing but he stores at low temperature so beetles won't breed in the first place.

You can actually even smoke a frozen cigar!

[Flying Cigar]

All the cigars for export are frozen in a facility in Havana.

That is correct.


Do you know that for a fact Smallclub?

While I am not smallclub, let me post this : I have had the privilege of visiting the very modern central export warehouse of HSA on the outskirts of HAV with a Festival del Habano group and seen the large refrigeration chamber and been explained the process.

It is true that large national importers mentioned before also have their own freezing chambers.

My own method is to keep boxes below 18 C and wrapped in bags, but I have also frozen cigars after receiving them from unknown sources.

The method Jacques is refering to will involve 4-5 days of freezing the boxes well wrapped in bags at at least minus 20 C and then back to the humidor storage - should kill the eggs.

The problem chiefly arises if boxes/cigars are subjected to longer periods of above 22/24 C, then the beetle will "wake up" (provided it was there having a nap ) and be hungry .........:eviltongue:

Nino

[Flying Cigar]

No fuss. I just put them in a zip loc, put the bag in another bag (for added security in case my mother-in-law decides to freeze some chicken broth in my absence) and leave them there for a week. I defrost in the fridge although this does not seem to be necessary. Some people suck out excess air from the bag but I don't see the point. I've read that MRN doesn't loke frreezing but he stores at low temperature so beetles won't breed in the first place.

You can actually even smoke a frozen cigar!

Vielen Dank, Jacques, ich wollte Dir nicht vorgreifen :smile:

[monkey66]

Hi Nino,

Great info. So if all Cubans are frozen before export then there is no need to re-freeze them?

[Smallclub]

So if all Cubans are frozen before export then there is no need to re-freeze them?
I have never frozen a legally exported and imported habano, and never will. As for boxes and custom rolled bought IN Cuba (LCDHs, hotels, etc.), it's safer to freeze them, or at least monitor them very closely.

[tippexx]

Hi Nino,

Great info. So if all Cubans are frozen before export then there is no need to re-freeze them?

Might need to know when the freezers were made operational Monkey .... then any boxes pre that time might need a close look at.

[Flying Cigar]

Hi Nino,

Great info. So if all Cubans are frozen before export then there is no need to re-freeze them?

Depends on your confidence in the cuban freezing process.

I have never frozen anything bought in Germany, Switzerland, UK or Spain.
Don't like to freeze anything other than stuff that I don't know where it came from.

Don't freeze my custom rolled ones either.

BUT : I store my cigars at very low temps and take precautions.

No general rule -Has to be decided on each's own storing habits/location/methods.

Nino

[EugeneSax]

Might need to know when the freezers were made operational Monkey .... then any boxes pre that time might need a close look at.

But how long can the eggs lay dormant but still able to hatch should the conditions become favourable?

[Smallclub]

Don't freeze my custom rolled ones either.

:yo:Hi Nino
some friends of mine bring back hundreds of custom rolls, two or three times a year (and they never got caught :spy:), they never freeze anything…

[Flying Cigar]

:yo:Hi Nino
some friends of mine bring back hundreds of custom rolls, two or three times a year (and they never got caught :spy:), they never freeze anything…

My compliments, Frank - you have good friends :hail: ..... hope you abuse them !! :smoke:

LMK if there's a difference btw "frozen" and "natural" sticks :smile:

Nino

[monkey66]

Ok, not how this thread started out but never the less i am now convinced/frightened that there is a risk of the dreaded lurgy in my stash and have started a freezing program post haste!