Cigars left in their plastic wrapper will last for up to a month or even several months. However, plastic is porous so the surrounding humidity does impact how long the cigars cellophane wrappers keeps it fresh.
Whether keeping the plastic wrap on cigars will keep them good for longer is one of the first and most common questions among beginner cigar smokers. Look no further, we have the exact answer for you.
How Long Are Cigars Good in Plastic?
There are two answers to this question. Are you asking whether cigars should be kept in their plastic cellophane or in a plastic Ziploc bag?
When you leave a cigar in the plastic wrapper, it will stay fresh for about 1 month outside of the humidor. It may last for even longer in the ideal conditions i.e. not in direct sunlight and at a comfortable room temperature.
That’s the first answer. The second answer is to whether cigars stay good inside a Ziploc bag.
You may find that travelers will carry a few bad boys in a plastic baggy. It may not be the most elegant solution but it is truly not a bad idea.
Unwrapped cigars kept inside a ziploc bag will stay fresh for 2 or 3 days. You can keep them inside your suitcase but try to keep them out of the heat.
The plastic may prevent them from drying out for a few days but it doesn’t prevent them from getting squished by whatever is moving around in your bag. If you travel often and want to carry cigars with you, it is best to invest in a cigar tube.
Should I Leave My Cigars in the Plastic Wrapper?
So, now you know that plastic wrappers and ziploc bags are not the worst thing for cigars. In fact, they serve a very good purpose.
But the follow-up to that question is; should you leave cigars in their cellophane wrap? The jury is out on that one.
Technically speaking, the cellophane is more to keep the wrapper intact than to prevent the cigar from drying out. Plastic is porous so it does let in and out some moisture but not enough for long term storage.
Eventually, the cigar will still dry out even if you keep the plastic on. If you have no other way to protect it, keep it in plastic. Just remember not to wait more than a couple weeks to smoke it.
Should I Keep My Cigars in the Plastic Wrap in the Humidor?
This is another serious battle in the cigar world. Is it better to keep the plastic wrap on in the humidor or should you take it off?
We stand on the plastic off side and here’s why.
If you are monitoring the humidity inside your humidor, it is the ideal environment for aging a cigar. So, if you are doing that right then your cigar no longer needs its plastic wrap.
The cellophane would act as a barrier. Meaning, the ideal environment inside the humidor is less effective in keeping the cigars fresh. So let the humidor do its job and remove the plastic wrap from your cigar.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Long Do Cigars Last in Tubes?
Humidified tubes will keep a cigar fresh for several months but a cigar tube that is not humidified will only make them last for up to a week. Special sealed tubes may keep cigars fresh for up to a month.
Do Wrapped Cigars Go Bad?
Plastic wrapped cigars will still go bad if not stored properly. They will last for about 30 days outside a humidor and stay fresh longer inside a humidor.
Should I Remove Cellophane from Cigars?
Do not remove the cellophane from cigars unless you will store them inside a humidor. If you don’t have a humidor, keep them wrapped until you are ready to smoke them.
Cigars & Plastic Wrap: Final Answer
Let’s summarize in simple and plain language.
- Leave cigars in their plastic wrap when storing outside of a humidor.
- Remove the cellophane from cigars if stored inside a humidor.
- Keep (un)wrapped cigars in a ziploc bag if traveling with them.
- Invest in a proper cigar tube or similar container if traveling with cigars often.
That should answer your burning questions about keeping the plastic wrap on or off cigars. Stay safe and make it last longer by keeping the wrapper on. The only time your cigar no longer needs its plastic protection is when you are ready to light it up or when it goes inside the humidor.