I have a pretty tall stack of Orlik tins (1.7oz size with the screw on tops) and not a lot of jars. Can I keep these opened tins in their original screw top containers, or should I move them to jars? Some of them may be dried out potentially (I got them from a friend who was cellaring for a long time but I'm not exactly sure how to tell); are these blends ruined if that's the case, or can rehydrating those potentially effected revive them?
Can I Use Open Tins for Storage or Move to Jars?
- Thread starter sunnysmokes
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Truly dried out tobacco really is drier than one thinks. Open tins are fine for consumption within 2 to 3 weeks. If longer say a month then jar it up. I go the extra step and vacuum seal the jars but some folks think it stops the natural fermentation. Up to you to vacuum seal. But jaring will preserve the flavor nuances for long term 1 month or longer open use.
A lot depends on how you like your tobacco. I generally like mine dry so a couple months in tins isn't a problem. it will get smoked. Long-term, it should be jarred, although it may be a bit late in the game for the ones you already have. Rehydration can increase the moisture level of a dried-out tobacco but much has been permanently lost from a flavor perspective. Some of that goodness isn't coming back.
I've got tins that I opened up to 2 years ago, and only open once or twice a year, and the tobacco is still about the same moisture it came in new. They're mostly full. Round screw top and C&D style with plastic lid and all cardboard inserts in place. I'm not advocating open tins as viable long term storage solutions, I'm just pointing at that an unsealed tin of good construction can do a pretty good job of maintaining a decent level of moisture if they're still pretty full and you keep the paper/cardboard covers in there.
Are they all Orlik? Or did you get bulk from a friend that you used Orlik tins for your own purpose? That wasn't clear to me... Sorry.
Can't imagine why you would have more than one tin of the same blend open.
If they are all Orlik, new and in unopened tins, they should last for quite a long time.
Another consideration is if the tobacco has PG - polypropylene glycol - to maintain moisture or casings potentially which maintain moisture. I have left out certain aromatics for weeks and no noticable change in moisture while other aromatics I've noticed reduced flavor.
Also consider where you store the tobacco. In humid climates like Florida it's probably going to last longer than in drier climates like Arizona.
Also consider where you store the tobacco. In humid climates like Florida it's probably going to last longer than in drier climates like Arizona.
I always move it straight to a jar as it takes me more than a few weeks to go through it. Just figure out a way to keep track of what’s in the jar. I do fairly well by memory, appearance and nose, but admittedly more than a few times I’ve had to stop and think about what’s in the jar.
Most are Orlik (only one blend I got two tins of, no idea why). I have one White Knight tin which I just opened. None of them are bulk just in random tins
For these folks... it is impossible to remove 100% of all air from the tins. The tins would be squashed from the pressure. There will still be plenty of O2 in the tins to age them.
Where do you live? Makes a lot of difference in how tobacco is cared for.
Please put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
Why: It will save time for others as to where you live when you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc. In many instances that saves time for those who read your posts, and for you in not having to reply to inquiries. .
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
Why: It will save time for others as to where you live when you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc. In many instances that saves time for those who read your posts, and for you in not having to reply to inquiries. .
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
Seems some tins are better than others. I just got some hh latakia flake. Tins are a rectangle. They are less than useless to seal the tobacco again. They look cool but are garbage. I don’t know if all non round tins are like that but keep it in mind.
I have a square tin of St Bruno I received (wasn't much left in it) that is very dry at this point. I know these square ones don't have any semblance of a seal, that's why I ask about the screw top circle ones since they can be cranked down pretty good
It's extremely humid where I live. The house basically stays around 55% RH with the central air/heating.
I have some air-tight food bins that I keep my open tins in. Open my tobacco cabinet and you can't smell anything, so I guess they work. Open the Virginia bin and you get a fruity, blueberry smell, open the burley bin and you get a floral smell like some herbal teas. This isn't like preventing aging, but it does lock in moisture. I'm sure given enough time, the moisture content of all the tobaccos in all the tins in a bin would equalize, but they're all definitely wetter than if the opened tins (with lids back on) just sat out in the open air of the house, and for sure wetter than pulling some out and leaving it on the table to dry for 30 min.
I've had open tins in this bins for as long as a year that never dried out and tasted just fine. Hell, my tin of Savinelli Brunello Flake was produced in 2018 if I remember right and opened in 2022 and the rim has started to get rust on it. Tobacco inside is just fine and tastes the same every time I have at it (open about a year now), and it's one of those square tins.
So not just humidity, but storage matters too. Leaving stuff in tins is going to be different if you have a glass front cabinet that gets sun vs a solid door that blocks the sun.
I have some air-tight food bins that I keep my open tins in. Open my tobacco cabinet and you can't smell anything, so I guess they work. Open the Virginia bin and you get a fruity, blueberry smell, open the burley bin and you get a floral smell like some herbal teas. This isn't like preventing aging, but it does lock in moisture. I'm sure given enough time, the moisture content of all the tobaccos in all the tins in a bin would equalize, but they're all definitely wetter than if the opened tins (with lids back on) just sat out in the open air of the house, and for sure wetter than pulling some out and leaving it on the table to dry for 30 min.
I've had open tins in this bins for as long as a year that never dried out and tasted just fine. Hell, my tin of Savinelli Brunello Flake was produced in 2018 if I remember right and opened in 2022 and the rim has started to get rust on it. Tobacco inside is just fine and tastes the same every time I have at it (open about a year now), and it's one of those square tins.
So not just humidity, but storage matters too. Leaving stuff in tins is going to be different if you have a glass front cabinet that gets sun vs a solid door that blocks the sun.
It's
humid in my neck of the woods as well. Everything sits in my cool dark closet with 0 sun exposure and minimal light exposure overall. So even leaving tins in Tupperware basically would work in my situation?
So it seems most are new and unopened. I think you'll notice the replies indicate that leaving them as is, generally is accepted as sufficient.
Garbage?? No, quite useful for smoking out of for a couple of weeks. Useless for long term storage, yes.
Please put your location in your Profile!
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
Where is that, please?
Please put your location in your Profile!
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
I mean, I dunno about tupperware... that isn't particularly known for being air tight. The food bins I use are specifically made to be air-tight. The lids have gaskets and everything.
Depends on how long it will take you to finish that tin, and how humid your environment is. Or be a good boy scout and put it in a jar.