Microwave

[gamzultovah]

I imagine sometimes when we’re in a hurry and in order to get the perfect humidity on the tobacco we want to smoke, some of us use a microwave? My question is when/if you do, do you notice any change in the taste of the tobacco as opposed to air drying?

 

[mikethompson]

I've wondered about using the 'microwave method', but I've never heard any negatives from it.

 

[proteus]

Steamer and plastic bag.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I wouldn't go so far as to say perfect humidity, just drying more quickly in my case and rarely do it. Can't say it affects taste. Frankly, setting the oven at 300, putting some in while it preheats and taking out when the bell goes off seems to work better, IMO. Microwave seems to "burn" - so I fold it into a napkin in the microwave - no idea if that even matters, lol.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

When zapping some tobacco you never want to overcook it. It rarely takes more than 7 or 8 seconds for a bowls worth of very moist tobacco to get dry.
Also, once nuked, it can take a minute for the material to fully dry, so don't be hasty.

If anything, in my experience, it can have a slight "toasting" effect on the flavor. A very slight enrichment or concentrating effect. Definitely worth experimenting with in these more humid months.

 

[greeneyes]

I have a strong lamp in my pipe room. I'll rest a strip of flake tobacco on it to drive out the moisture. I wouldn't use the microwave method as it's also likely to drive out much of the volatile compounds and might leave the tobacco "flat".

 

[VirginiaMan]

Ive tried the microwave. I am peronsally not a fan due to the uneveness, and how easily you can "burn the tobacco".

 

[sablebrush52]

I imagine sometimes when we’re in a hurry and in order to get the perfect humidity on the tobacco we want to smoke, some of us use a microwave? My question is when/if you do, do you notice any change in the taste of the tobacco as opposed to air drying?

Absolutely. I get a sort of cooked cereal taste to the blend, which is why I don’t nuke tobacco.

 

[gamzultovah]

Absolutely. I get a sort of cooked cereal taste to the blend, which is why I don’t nuke tobacco.

I’ve only noticed this with one tobacco so far and that is McClelland. The ketchup nose for me does transfer to the smoke, but not when microwaved. Kind of gets a metallic flavor.

 

[sablebrush52]

I noticed it in everything.

 

[JOHN72]

I hate cooking. I've never tried it, but I don't want to try it.

 

[bullet08]

Never. Only thing microwave is good for is White Castle.

 

[JOHN72]

Since I tried it with a German stuffed sausage, I have never played with the microwave again.

 

[AJL67]

I have found in the past that i do get a different "flavor" from nuked stuff, could be the oils are getting completely boiled out. All it takes is 2 seconds too long in a nuker to turn your tobacco in complete dryness and not in a "i like my tobacco very dry" way, again because i think you are cooking out the goodness that doesn't usually vanish in a typical drying process. YMMV

 

[Piping Abe]

I’ve put a blend in the microwave for over a minute and it was still wet and wouldn’t stay lit.

 

[gamzultovah]

I’ve put a blend in the microwave for over a minute and it was still wet and wouldn’t stay lit.

A minute and still wet? Wow!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I just put a large bowl’s worth in an empty coffee filter, 5 to 8 seconds, and I get good results. But, I’m done trying to convince people. If someone has any hesitation maybe don’t. Whatever.

It’s not my go to way to dry. Just helps when I’m in a hurry, which is rare these days. Now, I just leave tops off of tins, and free myself of the notions that tobacco has to be air tight at all times, and that moist somehow means fresh. Phhhht… to each their own.

 

[olkofri]

Wondering if it'll get imbued with the flavours of the last meal that was reheated there.

Then you can have home blends such as Dark Fired Yesterday's Burrito, or Sour Virginia Honey Eggs.

I'll keep using a high wattage task lamp to dry it, TYVM.

 

[gamzultovah]

I just put a large bowl’s worth in an empty coffee filter, 5 to 8 seconds, and I get good results. But, I’m done trying to convince people. If someone has any hesitation maybe don’t. Whatever.

It’s not my go to way to dry. Just helps when I’m in a hurry, which is rare these days. Now, I just leave tops off of tins, and free myself of the notions that tobacco has to be air tight at all times, and that moist somehow means fresh. Phhhht… to each their own.

Exactly. Since the very beginning, I’ve always kept opened tobacco’s in either ziplock sandwich bags or non-airtight ceramic containers and never had any issues. Heck, I have Amphora Virginia sitting in its original pouch for over a year now and it is both dry and tasty. But, recently, I’ve been bouncing around between blends that are not dried to my liking and have been cheating by using the nuker. I’ve only found one blend that tasted different and it got me thinking (which to some may seem both impossible and dangerous), hence the thread.

 

[Andre_T]

Wondering if it'll get imbued with the flavours of the last meal that was reheated there.

Then you can have home blends such as Dark Fired Yesterday's Burrito, or Sour Virginia Honey Eggs.

I'll keep using a high wattage task lamp to dry it, TYVM.

This is the second time in as many days I have read about microwaved eggs on this forum. Which isn't a lot but just weird never the less. I can not try this as I have not had a microwave in my house since 2004. Can't say I've missed it much.