How to Season a Humidor: Guide to Setting up Your Humidor

If you’re a cigar aficionado, then you know that maintaining the right humidity levels in your humidor is crucial for preserving the flavor and longevity of your cigars. Seasoning your humidor before its first use and periodically thereafter ensures that your cigars are stored in the optimal environment. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through a detailed, step-by-step process to season your humidor properly.

What is Seasoning a Humidor?

When talking about “seasoning a humidor” this refers to adding moisture to the inside of your humidor a certain way to prevent your humidor from absorbing all of the humidity from your cigars. When you get a new humidor, the wood is going to be dry, thus absorbing any available moisture when you first start using it. When done correctly and properly maintained, you should only need to season it once. However, if you go without maintaining it or live in a very dry climate, you may need to do this process more than once.

How to Season Your Humidor

Below we’ll cover the process of seasoning a new humidor from start to finish.

Step 1: Empty Your Humidor

If you’ve already stored your goods inside of the humidor, then the first step in seasoning a humidor is to remove all contents, including any cigars, trays, dividers, the humidifier, and the hygrometer. This is important because you want to ensure that every part of the humidor gets adequately seasoned, and helps avoid damaging the contents inside. The process of seasoning includes adding water, which can damage your cigars and hygrometer.

Step 2: Adding Moisture Interior

Once your humidor is empty, the next step involves lightly coating the interior lining, including any trays and dividers, with distilled water. For this, you can use something made for this, like Humi-Care Seasoning Wipes, or you can use a damp washcloth. Just be sure not to use paper towels, as dissolved paper towel residue may be left behind.

Make sure to only apply just enough moisture to darken the wood slightly without saturating it. Over-wetting the cedar can lead to warping or other forms of damage. This can also lead to your cigars being too humid, which will cause them to have problems staying lit. Gently wipe the interior surfaces, ensuring an even coat and paying particular attention to not let any areas pool with water.

Step 3: Reassemble and Rest

After you’ve evenly moistened the interior, reinsert the dividers and trays. Close the humidor and let it sit for 24 hours. This period allows the cedar to absorb the moisture uniformly, ensuring that the humidity levels inside stabilize. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for a well-maintained humidor.

Step 4: Reinstall the Humidification Devices

After allowing the humidor to rest for 24 hours, it’s time to reinstall the humidifier and the hygrometer. Once these are in place, close the lid and leave the humidor closed for another 24 hours. This additional resting period helps the humidifier and the cedar to acclimate to each other, stabilizing the internal environment of the humidor.

Step 5: Check the Humidity Level

Upon completing the second 24-hour period, open your humidor and check the humidity level using the hygrometer. The ideal humidity range for storing cigars is between 68% and 72%. The specific humidity level you aim for might vary depending on the climate you live in, as external conditions can influence the internal environment of the humidor.

Understanding Humidor Maintenance

Seasoning your humidor is just the beginning. Maintaining the right humidity level is an ongoing process that requires regular checks and adjustments. Here are some tips to help you keep your humidor in top condition:

Regular Monitoring

Check the humidity levels regularly using your hygrometer. Fluctuations can occur with changes in external temperature and humidity, so it’s important to monitor these changes and adjust your humidification methods accordingly.

Re-seasoning

Depending on how often you open your humidor and the climate conditions of your area, you might need to re-season your humidor. This doesn’t have to be done frequently, but be aware of the signs that your humidor might need a touch-up, such as dry cigars or a consistent drop in internal humidity levels.

Handling Humidity Leaks

If you notice that your humidor consistently fails to maintain humidity, check the seal. Humidors can have issues retaining humidity if the seal isn’t tight enough or has gaps. In some cases, re-aligning the lid or replacing worn seals can resolve the issue.

Using the Right Solutions

Always use distilled water or proper humidifying solutions designed for humidors. Tap water can introduce impurities and minerals that might damage both the humidor and your cigars.

Shop Humidors with Cubano Central

If you’re in need of a new humidor, you’re at the right place. Cubano Central has a selection of quality humidors that are built to last and keep your cigars in prime condition. Browse our variety of cigar humidors, lighters, and other accessories.

FAQs

How often do I need to season my humidor?

Seasoning your humidor is generally a one time thing that you do when you first get it. However, if you live in a dryer climate, you may need to do it more frequently. The frequency will vary based on how often you find yourself needing to add humidity packets or water.

What is seasoning a humidor?

Seasoning a humidor is the process of coating the interior of a humidor with distilled water. This is meant to prevent the humidor from absorbing the humidity from your cigars that you have stored inside.