Storing Flakes and Cakes

[mav]

I saw some older threads on this but I was wondering what people thought about storing flakes or cakes once out of the tin and transferred to jars. Is there any advantage to keeping them in flakes as opposed to breaking them up? Will they age better one way or the other?

 

[captpat]

I prefer to store them intact as flakes or coins, mostly because I usually fold and stuff. If the mood strikes me I can always rub them out later.

Hard to say how either method affects how a tobacco will age. Each blend ages differently, some improve, some don't or even degrade; some age quickly some relatively slowly. You might get a more definitive answer if you specified which particular blend(s) you're asking about.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I can't think of one good reason for rubbing them out first. They'll lose moisture faster and take up more storage space,

 

[kcghost]

I've never liked rubbing flakes out and then jarring them. Some how thing's seem different.

 

[didimauw]

I started off keeping them in jars as cakes. But then realized I had to wait hours for it to dry out. So I started breaking it up first and then storing it that way. Takes less dry time for me this way.

However it "probably" ages better in cake form. But I don't buy tobacco to age.

 

[CallMeSangy]

Has anyone ever tried storing them in airtight tupperware containers?

I've got some cake sitting in its tin in a rubbermade brilliance, because I'm not sure if i can be troubled cutting and breaking it apart and jarring it.

 

[justscience]

Glass is good, plastic much less so. Plastic is slowly permeable to air and flavors. Short term is fine (<1 year). Tin storage in plastic is fine but foil/mylar bags are better

 

[mav]

I started off keeping them in jars as cakes. But then realized I had to wait hours for it to dry out. So I started breaking it up first and then storing it that way. Takes less dry time for me this way.

However it "probably" ages better in cake form. But I don't buy tobacco to age.

Thanks, that makes sense. I don't buy it to age but it might sit in the jar for up to a year or so and I was just wondering if the different tobaccos would meld better pressed or loose. Most likely either way the difference wouldn't be that noticeable to make a difference.

I kind of like to break them up for the same reason you mentioned so that I can just grab it and go by doing the work up front.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have never opened a tin and then transferred it to a jar; I will never do that as I prefer aging my tobacco in their original tins. I bought all my bulk years ago and used some fairly large jars with silicone gaskets. I have seen the red rubber on the canning jars deteriorate in a decade or so.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I transfer mine to jars, but not in any hurry. I actually like them to "air out" for a week or two after opening.
For flakes or cakes I smoke alot, like almost daily, I rub em out or grins them to a ready rub to save drying and packing time.
For the more "special occasion" flakes or ones I smoke less frequently, I like to leave them intact. There's also some I leave intact because i Like folding them, but that's not many- as I rub almost all my flakes.
But if it's in a jar, I don't think it matters either way if it's in Flake form or rubbed out. It's going to retain moisture content and age the same I'd imagine. I'd say it just all depends on your preference

 

[mav]

But if it's in a jar, I don't think it matters either way if it's in Flake form or rubbed out. It's going to retain moisture content and age the same I'd imagine. I'd say it just all depends on your preference

That was my thought too, but it's good to hear it from others- Thanks

 

[sparker69]

I agree to keeping them intact. Leaves you with multiple options later.

I prefer to store them intact as flakes or coins, mostly because I usually fold and stuff. If the mood strikes me I can always rub them out later.