Airing out Pipe Tobacco like Cigars?

[diamondback]

I’ve a question regarding ‘airing out’ my pipe tobacco jars in the same way I do my cigar tupperdores.
As I understand it, the conventional wisdom with cigars is to open up your humidors/tupperdores once every five or so months and let the cigars get a fresh breath of new oxygen. I’ve followed this faithfully for years and I’ve got many sticks that are aging splendidly (knock on Spanish Cedar). I’ll check and replace my Boveda packs if necessary during these airing-out sessions.
Now, with pipe tobacco, my understanding is that you only get into your jars when you’re doling out a bowl (or two) worth of tobacco to smoke and then immediately replace the lid.
What I want to make certain of is the difference between the two. Is there ever a time where I should open a tobacco jar briefly for fresh O2? I know my cigars need significantly higher humidity so I’d think the answer is “No. Don’t open stored/aging pipe tobacco unless you’re purposefully getting some out,” but I thought it worth asking.
Any takers? Much appreciated.

 

[mso489]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have heard that once you open jarred tobacco, the aging process is probably over, so it means you've put the blend into rotation. You don't have to smoke it up immediately, but it is not going to keep aging and improving if it would have otherwise. But I'll be interested to know what more knowledgeable folks say on this subject. When I open a tin or jar -- unless I am jarring the tin to age it -- I mean to put it in rotation and smoke it over the next year or less, roughly.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've never heard that as conventional wisdom for cigars and certainly wouldn't see that as a good idea for pipe tobacco. However, I would think the vast majority of humidors get opened regularly regardless.

 

[diamondback]

I was told that the occasional opening of (really a ‘tupperdore’ - I got tired of wrestling with humidors and went with air-tight Tupperware(ish) containers) allowed accumulated ammonia, etc. out. I’ve got some really old sticks so probably the ammonia is very very minimal in my oldest containers. The newer ones get opened naturally a few times in the dead of summer, but I faithfully follow the airing (wives tale?) rule with cigars.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

A Tupperdor would be a different story. Humidor are not air tight. I'd open a tuppordor occasionally to prevent mold.

 

[diamondback]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have heard that once you open jarred tobacco, the aging process is probably over, so it means you've put the blend into rotation. You don't have to smoke it up immediately, but it is not going to keep aging and improving if it would have otherwise. But I'll be interested to know what more knowledgeable folks say on this subject. When I open a tin or jar -- unless I am jarring the tin to age it -- I mean to put it in rotation and smoke it over the next year or less, roughly.

Thank you MSO!
For jars that I know are set aside for aging, I’m planning to add aluminum tape around the jar lid. If/when I get some out, I’ll re-seal it with new tape. I’ve got some very large Mason jars that my parents originally owned. Bought new lids for them and I’ve probably ten of them full of various bulk blends. I just came across the aluminum tape idea yesterday after reading about proper pipe tobacco cellaring. What I definitely don’t want is an old jar of a sawdusted blend that I won’t be able to buy again after the FDA completes their song and dance. My (literal) OCD pushes me to take any extra measures to ensure quality storage. I’d trade my cigars for safe pipe tobacco jar access over many years ;-)

 

[haparnold]

I think the deal with aging pipe tobacco is the aerobic vs. anaerobic aging processes, which I'm far from expert enough on to weigh in here.
But the 30,000 foot-view is that opening a jar of tobacco ends anaerobic fermentation, which I've heard mentioned as the reason an aged blend changes so much.

 

[diamondback]

A Tupperdor would be a different story. Humidor are not air tight. I'd open a tuppordor occasionally to prevent mold.

Cool! Thanks.
Now the pipe tobacco jars... don’t open unless? And then re-seal?

 

[diamondback]

I think the deal with aging pipe tobacco is the aerobic vs. anaerobic aging processes, which I'm far from expert enough on to weigh in here.
But the 30,000 foot-view is that opening a jar of tobacco ends anaerobic fermentation, which I've heard mentioned as the reason an aged blend changes so much.

I see, and many thanks!
This thread is now re-purposed.
At the end of the day, what I’m most concerned with now is accessing a jar, and then being able to re-seal it in such a way that I don’t have to smoke all the tobacco in the jar that I’ve opened within a year.
I’m concerned because I’ve got some really large jars that I’m sure I’ll want to dip my paws in once every couple of years without beginning a precipitous count-down to complete degradation.
Yes, I think too much, it’s a negative aspect of being obsessive :D

 

[prairiedruid]

I’m concerned because I’ve got some really large jars that I’m sure I’ll want to dip my paws in once every couple of years without beginning a precipitous count-down to complete degradation.

When you open one of your big jars take out what you are going to smoke in the next month or 2 and transfer the rest to smaller jars, preferably a size that equates to what you would smoke in a month or 2. Pack it in tight and seal with a new lids and that should limit the degradation.

 

[diamondback]

When you open one of your big jars take out what you are going to smoke in the next month or 2 and transfer the rest to smaller jars, preferably a size that equates to what you would smoke in a month or 2. Pack it in tight and seal with a new lids and that should limit the degradation.

Boo yaa!
Thank you sir! I’ll do exactly that. It may sound excessive but I’m thinking I’ll seal up the ‘to-age’ jars with both the mason jar lid and aluminum tape.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It may sound excessive but I’m thinking I’ll seal up the ‘to-age’ jars with both the mason jar lid and aluminum tape.

Not necessary, I've got jars in my closet from the late '90s that are still airtight with no tape.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’m concerned because I’ve got some really large jars that I’m sure I’ll want to dip my paws in once every couple of years without beginning a precipitous count-down to complete degradation.

I fixed that problem years ago. If you only use small jars, you never have to deal with transferring the tobacco.

 

[diamondback]

Thanks a ton Embers!
Looks like I’m in the market for new jars - just replacing the huge ones. The others are sealed good and I’ll not worry with the aluminum tape given your advice.
Noob mistake on my end. I’m glad this came up. I’d sure have been one unhappy camper here in a few short years!
Can’t thank you all enough!!

 

[rdavid]

Noob mistake on my end. I’m glad this came up. I’d sure have been one unhappy camper here in a few short years!

I've learned a ton of tips here that saved me a lot of heartache and despair. When I first started cellaring, I had visions of row upon row of 32 ounce jars.
Now it's all half pint jars. Definitely more work but much better for practical use. I put them in plastic totes with a layer of cardboard between each level of jars. That way, they're not sitting directly on top of each other. OCD in full effect!

 

[rdavid]

And back on track with the OP, I've never heard of airing out pipe tobacco and try to limit my open tins/jars to my current rotation. My deep cellar tins/jars will not likely be opened for years and only with the intention of consumption.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Opening a jar after a couple of years or months of aging doesn't stop aging; it changes it. Maybe better, maybe worse, maybe undetectable. Anaerobic aging can resume, though with more oxygen in the jar since you've taken tobacco out will delay the resumption of that sort of aging. Meantime, there's aerobic aging going on. Maybe good, bad or indifferent.

 

[diamondback]

@Panhandler: that pretty much how mine are, a layer of cardboard between predominantly half pint jars, stacked 3 high per ‘column’ I can very legitimately empathize with OCD!
@Jpmcwjr: thanks! I’ve decided that I’m going to buy smaller jars for the tobacco that I’ve got in the huge ones and just transfer it over. Then I’ll just wash my hands of it. If it goes at that point it just does
All said and done, it looks like I was probably waaay over-complicating all of this. Occurred to me as I enjoyed a bowl of old MM 965 and got in the chuff, where I was able to get some perspective. I did initially get a start though thinking that I’d jarred a lot of Deeming endangered blends and would have potentially lost them to a newbie mistake. I’m just going to downsize and ‘fahgetaboudit.’ I’m a little embarrassed, but it’s funny. And if I can’t laugh at my own old a$$ then who can I laugh at?

 

[haparnold]

Meantime, there's aerobic aging going on. Maybe good, bad or indifferent.

This. I don't think anyone really knows what the 'right' way to age is; just different approaches. Air is definitely an important factor, but I'm not sure regularly airing tobacco is the way to go.

 

[diamondback]

@Hap: sounds like a plan. Unless I’m specifically getting tobacco out to dry/smoke, I’m keeping ‘em closed.