Is air space necessary? If so, how much? And can I cram as much in the jar as possible?
How Much Air Space When Jarring Bulk?
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I think it depends on how much you are putting away. I've probably got over 200 lbs of bulk in the cellar. Space matters, I put in as much as I can make fit. If I were storing 20 lbs, is probably leave a bit more space if for no reason other than keeping the flakes intact.
Just make sure you do not have any tobacco near the rubber seal. I fill to make sure I have just a little wiggle room up top.
With ribbon I pack the jars but I don't jam them. I put the flakes in tight but not so tight that they break going in or coming out. I leave a bit of space on top
Here's a thread I started in June 2018 asking the same question. You might find some of the responses interesting.
Cellaring/aging...amount of air in the jar. :: Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions
I have read a lot about cellaring/aging on the forums...still have a question. Does the amount of air in a mason jar affect the aging process? Photo: (Jar "A" left, Jar "B" right) Two identical jars, same tobacco. Will the aging process be the same? Would the solution be to just force the...
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If any one has written about that, it'd be Greg Pease.
But I maintain that even when packed as tight as you can, there's still plenty of O2.
But I maintain that even when packed as tight as you can, there's still plenty of O2.
Same here. I originally left some space and didn't force things. Another 100 pounds later and I'm literally compressing stuff into jars.
Since I've started using Mylar I don't force it anymore.
With ribbon cut I generally pack at a 1:2 ratio, 2oz tobacco to a 4oz jar, 4oz tobacco to an 8oz jar, etc. I leave about 1/4" of air at the top. Flakes are packed as tight as I can get them while still being able to remove them when needed. I use the tall 12oz jars for most flakes so that I don't have to cut or bend them.
Thanks all! Good info, including the 2018 thread. My purpose is to have good tobacco stored, not so much to age for flavor. Thanks again.
I have various amounts of headspace and tightness of pack in my jars. Honestly, I don’t think it matters. But I’m a subset of one.
I opened a jar of PS Bullseye flake from 2014 about three weeks ago. I packed that jar so tight the tobacco was essentially a plug so much of it stuck together. When I pulled the bricks apart the color was uniform throughout and was a very dark color.
I opened a jar of PS Bullseye flake from 2014 about three weeks ago. I packed that jar so tight the tobacco was essentially a plug so much of it stuck together. When I pulled the bricks apart the color was uniform throughout and was a very dark color.
I've had luck either tight or loose, and while the cut does matter, full steam ahead when jarring.
I use 1/2 pint Mason/Kerr wide mouth jars for canning bulk tobaccos. I weigh out the bulk prior to jarring.
I cram 4 oz. of most flakes into a jar & leave a small amount of air at the top.
For other tobacco cuts the 1/2 pint jars hold 2 oz. perfectly. If necessary I'll use a canning funnel & double-sided espresso tamper to aid in jarring certain cuts. This still leaves a small amount of air at the top.
For plugs it depends on the size of the plug. I don't worry about how much air sits around the plug.
The oldest bulk blends I have jarred are from ~2004/2005 & they've aged beautifully so far.
Thanks for the info. Up to now I've just bought what I needed. The writing on the wall tells me I need to stockpile!
A theory on aging is that you need both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, but mostly anaerobic. So you want an airtight seal, with as little O2 as possible. One theory.
Over the many years I've read different postings, some of them from pros, I've come to the conclusion that nobody actually knows what the best way is to age tobaccos or what really goes on during the "aging" process. Tobacco gets shut away in one fashion or another, for however long, until pulled forth to be packed in a pipe and immolated.
Some tins are tight packed and vacuum sealed and others are loose packed with air and it all just sort of works. About the only really destructive thing is the tobacco drying out and going stale. And, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find people who prefer dried out stale tobacco.
Yep! No one actually knows, but there is some logic in having a plan based on hopefully sound theory.
I understood a little air space is good for aging, as long as the jar stays sealed. If you are jarring for immediate use, you could pack it down to some degree, just to conserve jar space, since you'll be opening it as you smoke it. In any case, I wouldn't pack it down in a compressed way; I'd want to keep a little fluffiness and looseness in the blend for best smoking.
I go by weight. I never put more than 4 oz in a jar, most of the time 3 oz of ribbon fills it nicely. Headspace, matters not to me. Having more than I can smoke in a week once I open the jar does matter.