Storing Tobacco In Zip Locks

[PApiper63]

In a conversation with a respected tobacconist he informed me that people made too much of tobacco storage. He feels that storage in zip locks is fine and if the tobacco dries out a bit simply put it in a bowl, spritz it with distilled water and cover it with a paper towel.
I bought some tobacco in May(7 months ago) and have left it in the baggies it came in. I periodically smoke a bowl and notice no real difference. Most of my rather large cellar is in mason jars but I am surprised by my little anecdotal experiment. Of course I realize YMMV but I am curious about your thoughts.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Everything in my cellar is either in it's original tin, or in a mason jar; however, I do store some tobacco in plastic bags. My pipe case that I take on the go has tobacco in plastic baggies. Depending on the tobacco, some keep better than others. I don't use the baggies for long term storage though. If you're going to be smoking from the tobacco in the baggies regularly then it's probably fine to keep it in there for the short term.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Depends on the tobacco, depends on the bags, depends on length of time, depends on your preferences - plenty of info on here about storage. IMO, a simple ziploc is a relatively short term solution.

 

[sfduke]

Ziploc bags come in different thicknesses. Pipe tobacco in a sandwich bag will dry out quicker than in a freezer lock.

Most B&M tobacconist used mid- to thick- ziploc bags. My recommendation is for mylar bags which what Iwan Ries uses.

Yes, it is common for B&Ms to spritz their counter jars to rehydrate dry pipe tobacco. Not ideal.

 

[Manawydan]

Not sure about moisture protection, but I certainly can smell tobacco through ziplock freezer bags and cannot smell anything through the nice mylar bags. Something is certainly different.

 

[PApiper63]

Not sure about moisture protection, but I certainly can smell tobacco through ziplock freezer bags and cannot smell anything through the nice mylar bags. Something is certainly different.

Do you use mylar bags with a Ziploc type seal or do you use the kind that has to be heat sealed?

 

[Bassman65]

Interested in trying Mylar. Even though I store in mason jars inside a big Rubbermaid container, I can often smell tobacco when I open the bin. Not sure why.

 

[dottlejockey]

When i travel, i often take some stock in thick ziplocks, usually old ones from tobacco shippers. The supplies are certainly fine after a couple weeks, but by no means would i be comfortable cellaring in such a way for any long-term period of time. It's true that rehydration can be accomplished, but i'm more comfortable being able to open a jar that something's been in for 5-10 yrs and experiencing the tobacco still in a decent humidified condition.

 

[Manawydan]

I use the 7mm gusseted zip lock mylar bags from topmylar.com. Even just zipped I don't smell anything outside of the bag. I heat seal bags that I am going to cellar, but otherwise just zip if contains a smaller amount that I intend to smoke within the next several months or so.

 

[Bassman65]

Not sure about moisture protection, but I certainly can smell tobacco through ziplock freezer bags and cannot smell anything through the nice mylar bags. Something is certainly different.

Can you recommend a Mylar bar sealer and bags used?

 

[Manawydan]

As an aside, I got the clear-front mylar bags the first time and liked that I could actually see the tobacco inside. But I store them in a light-proof tub so they aren't affected by sunlight exposure (just in case). The second time I ordered them I accidentally got the opaque front bags. Easier to write on, and self-light-proof, but not as visually appealing.

 

[Manawydan]

Can you recommend a Mylar bar sealer and bags used?

topmylar.com 7mm gusseted zip lock mylar bags as mentioned above; I bought an 8 inch Metronic Impulse sealer off Amazon that works great.

 

[Bassman65]

topmylar.com 7mm gusseted zip lock mylar bags as mentioned above; I bought an 8 inch Metronic Impulse sealer off Amazon that works great.

Thanks so much!

 

[Peterson314]

I put my deep storage stuff in 1-gallon mylar bags sealed with heat.

I don't think it's a surprise that a local tobacconist would think that Ziploc bags are good enough. If they're doing what they are supposed to do, they shouldn't be holding onto tobacco as long as I am.

 

[Peterson314]

Mason Jars are just as good as Mylar IMO.

 

[anotherbob]

In a conversation with a respected tobacconist he informed me that people made too much of tobacco storage. He feels that storage in zip locks is fine and if the tobacco dries out a bit simply put it in a bowl, spritz it with distilled water and cover it with a paper towel.
I bought some tobacco in May(7 months ago) and have left it in the baggies it came in. I periodically smoke a bowl and notice no real difference. Most of my rather large cellar is in mason jars but I am surprised by my little anecdotal experiment. Of course I realize YMMV but I am curious about your thoughts.

not really great. The plastic will get holes in it. It doesn't trap moisture. Honestly folding a small amount in paper (I can find instruction when I remember what the proper term for how to fold paper for that) works about the same. Fine for a few bowls but not for long term.
Also how much easier is it for the bag to malfunction in some way. Not closed 100 percent of the way. Maybe even your best pal opened the bag just a little to smell the blend and didn't seal it. If the jar is damaged like has a hole in it much more noticeable and unlikely, compared to the baggie.
Tobacconists rarely know much about pipes. Sadly. If you find one that says they don't know, you should consider your self lucky.

 

[Peterson314]

If you find one that says they don't know, you should consider your self lucky.

I had one of these!!! Dude said he never smoked a pipe (whilst we were looking at the snowman-shaped cobs from last year), so I bought him a Cob and some 1Q and some BCA. I don't know if he liked it, but I got some respect and had a good time. That's a bargain for $10.

 

[sardonicus87]

not really great. The plastic will get holes in it. It doesn't trap moisture. Honestly folding a small amount in paper (I can find instruction when I remember what the proper term for how to fold paper for that) works about the same. Fine for a few bowls but not for long term.
Also how much easier is it for the bag to malfunction in some way. Not closed 100 percent of the way. Maybe even your best pal opened the bag just a little to smell the blend and didn't seal it. If the jar is damaged like has a hole in it much more noticeable and unlikely, compared to the baggie.
Tobacconists rarely know much about pipes. Sadly. If you find one that says they don't know, you should consider your self lucky.

For people jump at aged tobacco though, these cigar shops masquerading as full on tobacconists often have 5 tins floating around that are 5+ years old, just need to wipe off the dust, if they can remember where they stuck their pipe tobaccos that is.

 

[Manawydan]

Mason Jars are just as good as Mylar IMO.

I totally agree with this -- just comes down to which is easier to pack and store however one does that. I like to use the 8 oz canning jars for my 2oz of each blend to smoke from; keeps the tobacco fresh even if it takes me a year to finish it. I use mylar for anything larger and for longer-term storage because the bags pack a bit smaller overall. I don't use the caulking-gun approach to my jars.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

Living in the desert in Vegas I can’t leave tobacco in a ziplock bag for more than a day or two. After that it starts drying out really fast since there’s really no humidity here. I always put it in a mason jar as fast as possible.