Open Tins

[Wuce Brayne]

So, as I'm just getting back into pipe smoking after several years away, I'm having to reacquaint myself with some basic practices. One of which is what to do with open tins. Previously I've really only ordered bulks and just kept them jarred, but now that I am getting some tinned tobaccos I would like to know what you guys think is the best way to store open tins. I only smoke maybe two bowls per day, however I like to have a selection of blends to choose from when I go to load a bowl. This leaves me with multiple open tins. Currently I'm storing them in a box humidor. What do you guys think? Should the humidor do the trick or should I just transfer to jars?

 

[Jacob74]

I jar them myself, unless I'm thinking I'll be on a binge!

 

[philobeddoe]

Ball jars are the answer you seek.

 

[mso489]

Best practice is to jar them up soon after opening. I've smoked many a tin without jarring it, but I don't like to admit it, especially if it is something I like and smoke it (for me) fairly soon.

 

[kcghost]

Any tin that you will keep open for, say, 10 days or more should be jarred.

 

[mingc]

Jar.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Depends on how long it will take to smoke them and the relative humidity where they'll be sitting. For the most part, I open mind and do nothing except throw the empty tin away in 2 weeks to 2 months.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't see what the problem is with keeping them in the tin. Heck, I dry my whole tin the moment I open them. I am usually one to burn through a tin within a week or so, but there are some blends I only smoke occasionally, so a month or more is not uncommon for me to leave a tobacco in the tin.
If you dry your tobaccos anyways, are you afraid they'll dry out... and what would be wrong with that? If you prefer them wet, which is weird but not uncommon, just put a piece of Saran Wrap between the tobacco and the lid. But, to totally stale out a tobacco, you'd have to leave it open for a very long time. Tobaccos get stored very dry for a long time, usually, before it goes from the farmer to market, and probably rehydrated a few times along the way.

But there is a difference between stale and dry. Stale means that cell walls have been destroyed and all of the essential oils have left the leaf, just one stage before it becomes shitdust.

If stale tobaccos are not already a problem for you, then why worry?

 

[cigrmaster]

I normally have at least 20-25 tins open at the same time. I keep my open tins in these plastic tubs that I bought at walmart back in 2012. They keep my tobacco fresh for 1-2 years. They are tupperware like containers and they have worked for me all these years. In the picture below, the opaque containers with the white lids are the ones I am talking about. They come in a 4 pack in 4 different sizes. Here is the pick of them.

 

[JOHN72]

I don't see what the problem is with keeping them in the tin. Heck, I dry my whole tin the moment I open them. I am usually one to burn through a tin within a week or so, but there are some blends I only smoke occasionally, so a month or more is not uncommon for me to leave a tobacco in the tin.
If you dry your tobaccos anyways, are you afraid they'll dry out... and what would be wrong with that? If you prefer them wet, which is weird but not uncommon, just put a piece of Saran Wrap between the tobacco and the lid. But, to totally stale out a tobacco, you'd have to leave it open for a very long time. Tobaccos get stored very dry for a long time, usually, before it goes from the farmer to market, and probably rehydrated a few times along the way.

But there is a difference between stale and dry. Stale means that cell walls have been destroyed and all of the essential oils have left the leaf, just one stage before it becomes shitdust.

If stale tobaccos are not already a problem for you, then why worry?

Completely in agreement. I have several tins open, in rotation. And it's absurd that they're going to degrade in a few months or weeks............. ?

 

[maduromadness]

I have many many mason jars because of my inability to smoke a tin quickly. It takes me several years to smoke a tin unless it captivates me. This and me wanting to try new blends will be my downfall.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

In a pinch, I have tossed bulk baggies in a Tupperware container with a Boveda, but that was only when I couldn’t find Mason jars anywhere. They seem to be back in stock now.

 

[FurCoat]

The small ball jars for preserves work great for this application

 

[pantsBoots]

I have too many open tins. I'll get better, I promise! I just keep them in the tin. If they dry out too much, I moisten them up by throwing a Boveda or Water Pillow in the tin. If that doesn't work, I throw the whole affair into a quality Ziploc bag, such as what bull Rattray's or Mac Baren tobaccos come in. I don't philly with jarring tins - I only jar bulk or small samples (both purchased in bags).

 

[Grangerous]

Small ziplock for my flakes and re-close the tin. Stays moist.