Cigar World’s Guide for What to Do When You Don’t Have a Humidor

Cigar World’s Guide for What to Do When You Don’t Have a Humidor

It’s a terrible thing for a great cigar to be ruined by improper storage. However, for any number of reasons, you may find yourself with cigars but without a humidor in which to store them. This is not an ideal situation, but thankfully, there are steps you can take to protect your cigars and ensure you have a memorable, top-quality smoking experience. Here’s what to do when you don’t have access to a humidor.

Quick Refresher: Why Do You Need a Humidor in the First Place?

Cigars are natural products. They are made almost entirely from tobacco leaves. As such, they need to be stored under certain conditions (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and around 70 percent humidity — with variations either way based on preference) to remain in good smoking condition. If left out in the elements for more than a few days, most cigars will begin to crack, shrivel, and dry out, rendering them un-smokable.

Option #1: Smoke Them Immediately

The first way to guarantee you have a good smoking experience without a humidor is to simply smoke cigars the same day you purchase them. Brick-and-mortar retailers will allow you to buy individual cigars without committing to an entire box purchase (often between 10-25 cigars per box). So, if you’re a new cigar enthusiast and want to try some cigars for a special occasion, just plan to smoke them the day you get them. 

BONUS NOTE: Are you in the market for 5(ish) cigars but don’t have a humidor? Rather than purchasing five individual cigars and trying to find some way to keep them fresh over a few weeks, you can opt for a cigar 5-pack that comes in a specially designed pouch to lock in humidification. Many of the most popular brands offer such packs for sale.

Option #2: Store Them in an Airtight Container

At its most basic, a humidor is a box designed to maintain ideal cigar storage conditions. While you may not be able to exactly replicate what a humidor does with any airtight container, you can come close in a pinch. Here are a few storage options you may consider should you need to keep cigars fresh for more than a few days without a humidor:

• Plastic ziploc bag.

• Tupperware. 

• Mason jar.

• A cooler or box with an airtight seal. 

You can also improve the conditions of your cigars by adding a humidification pack (or two, as needed) to any of the above-listed options. Alternatively, you can increase the humidity levels of a makeshift humidor by adding a damp (not wet) paper towel or sponge. If at all possible, use distilled water to prevent the likelihood of mold developing. 

Note that these are all short-term options meant to keep your cigars in good shape for a few days or weeks — not long-term solutions meant for storing lots of cigars over a long period. 

Option #3: Go Get a Humidor

Yes, some cigar humidors are massive cabinets that cost thousands of dollars and require substantial investments of time and energy to set up and maintain. However, many cigar lovers manage just fine with a desktop humidor that holds up to 50 cigars and probably costs under $50 online or at your local cigar shop. 

If you smoke cigars on even a semi-regular basis, it’s a good call to go pick up a cost-effective humidor that can hold a box or two’s worth of stogies. That way, if anyone surprises you with a gift box of cigars, you can set them safely aside in your humidor. 

Looking for more helpful cigar content? Sign up for Cigar World to get access to more features like this — plus updates on the biggest trends in the industry.