Preventing Mold in 5 lb Bulk Storage? Chemistry?

[romaso]

How can I prevent mold when storing 5 lb bags (Mac Baren & Stokkebye) and 5 lb bricks (Sutliff flake)?

Glass jars and small mylar bags are not an option with this quantity, and I haven't seen any mylar bags large enough to enclose 5 lbs. I'd prefer not to open the bags until needed to reduce exposure. I currently live in the PNW, which is a damp climate.

I'm looking at gasket-sealed plastic tubs. Is there something I can add that would inhibit mold but not affect flavor? I'd prefer to use larger tubs due to cost, though that increases the amount of tobacco exposed in each tub.

I've stored 1 lb bags of Mac Baren's for over 10 years successfully in a sealed 5 gal bucket, but the 1 lb bags are sealed and are heavier plastic than the 5 lbs bags.

Any chemists or others out there with experience with mold prevention? Thanks for your help!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Glass jars and small mylar bags are not an option with this quantity

I would often go for the five pound option. It all got jarred.

 

[telescopes]

If you can find a way to displace the 02 using Argon gas, you should be good to go.

 

[proteus]

I store 1 2/3 to 2 lbs of tobacco flakes and ribbons in half gal masons with a moisture level of about 20 percent with no mold for years. I vacuum seal them using a small device that sucks out the air I got on Amazon. Works well for me.

 

[woodsroad]

Most pipe tobacco has already been treated with an anti-fungal, so don’t concern yourself with that. As for storage, smaller amounts are better. Just open one at a time, while the rest sleeps quietly. I use 4 oz. jars.

If you want to purge O2, you can use CO2 (that’s what fermenting tobacco emits) or Nitrogen (that’s what is used for long-term food storage).

 

[andrew]

Gasket sealed jars are terrible for long term storage. I don't see why they'd be better in tubs. I don't see why 5 gallon mylar bags wouldn't be good. Is there a particular reason why you have to have 5 pounds in one bag?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Gasket sealed jars are terrible for long term storage.

Nearing 30 years on some of mine. The seals are fine.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Gasket sealed jars are terrible for long term storage.

Are you thinking bail-type or two piece lid mason jars when you say this?

Is there a particular reason why you have to have 5 pounds in one bag?

Solid question.

 

[Grangerous]

My suggestion as well. Break it up.

The 64 Ounce Mason Jars will each hold One Pound of tobacco, albeit tightly.

So a six pack of these Jars should comfortably preserve your 5 Lbs.

Then you can enjoy them one pound at a time over the years.

 

[antonine]

I feel like splitting them up into multiple large mason jars is your best bet, although I realize that's going to get fairly expensive at this volume.

 

[romaso]

Gasket sealed jars are terrible for long term storage. I don't see why they'd be better in tubs. I don't see why 5 gallon mylar bags wouldn't be good. Is there a particular reason why you have to have 5 pounds in one bag?

I didn't know they make 5 gal mylar bags. Can you suggest a retailer?
I have a bunch of bags, breaking them down would be tedious if not absolutely necessary.
I thought sealed tubs would keep environmental debris/spores out. Thanks for your input.

 

[romaso]

Thanks all, but glass is not really an option with my volume as we will probably be moving twice in the next few years.
My idea of tubs was to seal it with something inside that would inhibit mold.
Not sure how to do that with a non O2 gas, maybe those O2 absorbers they make for food storage?

 

[woodsroad]

Again, the tobacco already has been treated with an antifungal. Don’t worry about mold.

The large totes with a gasketed lid are not food grade. Smell them. They smell like plastic because they emit plasticizers. You tobacco will smell and taste like that too. And they aren’t oxygen barriers. Mylar laminates are made with a polyester film and foil layers, and/or aluminized polyester. Food safe and an oxygen barrier. Break the five pounds up into smaller bags so that you don’t disturb the aging process just to have one pipefull. Don’t rely in a ziploc seal, heat seal the bags.

 

[andrew]

I didn't know they make 5 gal mylar bags. Can you suggest a retailer?
I have a bunch of bags, breaking them down would be tedious if not absolutely necessary.
I thought sealed tubs would keep environmental debris/spores out. Thanks for your input.

Just pit 5 gallon mylar bags into Amazon search

 

[andrew]

Are you thinking bail-type or two piece lid mason jars when you say this?

These are gasket lids. Can't use them for canning. I just use them once I pop a canning jar and it goes into a rotation. I'm getting more into smoking through a Jar and not having much open or I find it loses alot of flavor.

 

[Sobrbiker]

View attachment 346207
These are gasket lids. Can't use them for canning. I just use them once I pop a canning jar and it goes into a rotation. I'm getting more into smoking through a Jar and not having much open or I find it loses alot of flavor.

Copy that.
I figured that was what you meant, and not Mason style canning jars-just asked for clarity.

 

[andrew]

Copy that.
I figured that was what you meant, and not Mason style canning jars-just asked for clarity.

Even mason jars, unless you get the old school ones with glass tops and rubber seals and the ring I wouldn't trust them long term. The new ones say on the l7ds they're only made to last around 16 months. This isn't your grandma's canning jars. I've opened a few mason jars lately and even though there's a strong pop when you pull off the lid the contents are bone dry, so no aging has occurred after 5+ years. It's still totally smokable and enjoyable, but it's what could have been. I'm leaning towards tins now, plus also the resale value down the road. Like I have a bunch of mcCllenneds. I don't plan on selling it. Bit the fact they're going 100 a tin and probably more in a few years, it's not a bad thought, like it's an investment I 500% returned at the moment

 

[bullet08]

Five jars. 1 lb each. If something goes bad, you still have four to fall back on.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Jaring the tobacco in mason jars is the way.

The smaller the jars the better.

I used a bunch of big jars early on, and I wish I hadn't.

 

[woodsroad]

Let’s be clear:
Mason Jars = Ball/Kerr Canning Jars