Fridge as a storage option? Read completely.

[Drez]

Just throwing around some ideas. I myself, similar to a large number of others, use wine coolers of some various form or function to store cigars. I keep mine at a probably lower temperature than many other members may suggest, but the cigars are not open to the air of the wine cooler and are stored in individual plastic containers to regulate humidity.

I'm fairly against going the route of expanding into a humidor, simply because to me they bring more trouble than they are worth in terms of possible problems and failures. I've seen several coolers turned into a humidor, and that may be my next step for storage/aging/and extra room if it comes to that.

I've always heard against fridge storing cigars. The produced moisture and humidity is too high. However, was thinking of - if it came to needing more room - would an unplugged unit not be suitable? There will be fewer environmental factors, similar to the cooler, to affect the inside. The ease of shelving solutions is what intrigues me to the idea more than a cooler. It would be upright, easy to access, and easy to sort/store/find. A mini-fridge, without freezer. Compact enough to tuck away into a corner, maybe even sit my wine cooler on top of. They can generally be found fairly cheaply. The cigars here would also be stored in individual containers by sorting, with Boveda.

Has anyone else converted an old non-working fridge, or a small no longer used unit to cigar storage successfully?

[WNYTONY]

Don't see why it wouldn't work since you've got them in tuppers anyway. You're just basically controlling the ambient air around them. I've seen threads of people asking this same question and trying it but never followed them long enough to see how it worked. I saw you cross posted on our prior forum and I believe that's where I've seen this mentioned. You may get some ideas there or try a search because someone is probably doing it.

But being upright and having shelves you'd miss out on the digging aspect that a big cooler offers

[Drez]

Maybe it's my laziness, or my desire to have everything organized and super easy to find but..I dont think I'll mind missing the treasure hunt of digging.

[josh lucky 13]

I previously used a wine fridge for cigar storage while the cooling unit no longer worked it was a great way to store cigars as long as temps dont get too high. The problem with using a working fridge is moisture but not the addition of but the subtraction. Working fridges zap the moisture out of all its contents. If you want to test it put left over pizza in a ziplock and another piece open to the fridge wait a few days. Ziplock pizza still edible but open air pizza is cardboard with toppings. Now if you plan on using individual tupperdores then the refrigeration is not an issues. I have also heard of temp controllers people have used that can control when the fridge is able to turn on to cut how often the fridge runs. I used to run the wine fridge and several other humidors that was until I came into my cabinet humidor. My biggest issue with it is changing my batteries for my hygrometer and going to find certain cigars.... posted in another thread. I personally love have all my cigars in 1 place it gets easier not having to check on 4-5 humidor. Hope this helps

[Brimy]

Unplugged, I agree it would be a large cooler and don't see an issue.
If I remember correctly, there was someone on our prior home who was actually using working refrigerator. And he was talking of the challenges of combating the condesors drying effects.
Now, you have me curious and I have to go look.

[Brimy]

Found it!!

https://www.puff.com/forums/vb/profi.../topics/199075

Mods,
If there's a problem with me posting this link, please feel free to take it down & let me know so that I don't make the same mistake in the future.

[jhedrick83]

Yeah, unplugged with a good seal on the door should be pretty good. You may want to wash it out well first though with some blue dawn and baking soda, just to get any lingering crud out.

[Emperor Zurg]

I've got an antique fridge I'm on and off restoring for pipe tobacco. Not planning on having it plugged in but I figure I will need a small amount of beads in there to regulate the humidity so it doesn't get stagnant smelling or mildewy. I just want it for a cool looking cabinet since all tins and jars are sealed anyway