Microwave Experiment

[Domer]

I guess this should go without saying, but
"Don't put your tobacco on a paper towel and microwave it to dry it out quicker."
It took all the flavor out of some McCranie's Red Flake.

On the plus side, the kitchen smelled wonderful!

 

[BigCasino]

never put metal in the science oven, probably not good for toebacky either

 

[joshoowah]

Yup. For those that are curious, the same happens when one tries to increase the fermenting process by heating tobacco. Pease has talked about this several times. Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

 

[d4klutz]

Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

So, that means don't put a flame to it.... send me your stashes, boys. Lol

Anyways, back on track, my tobacco sits in a cool room, when i set it out to dry, it warms up a bit (10 -15 º) i dont think that affects it at all. Or are we talking a quick heat rather than slow heat?

 

[RDPipes]

Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

So, that means don't put a flame to it.... send me your stashes, boys.  Lol

Anyways, back on track, my tobacco sits in a cool room, when i set it out to dry, it warms up a bit (10 -15 º)  i dont think that affects it at all.  Or are we talking a quick heat rather than slow heat?

Extreme Heat, above 75-80 degrees for a extended length of time.

 

[joshoowah]

Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

So, that means don't put a flame to it.... send me your stashes, boys.  Lol

Anyways, back on track, my tobacco sits in a cool room, when i set it out to dry, it warms up a bit (10 -15 º)  i dont think that affects it at all.  Or are we talking a quick heat rather than slow heat?

Lol.

I'm talking about using heating agents (oven, stove, microwave) and/or dashboards of cars.

 

[Hermit]

I guess this should go without saying, but
"Don't put your tobacco on a paper towel and microwave it to dry it out quicker."
It took all the flavor out of some McCranie's Red Flake.

On the plus side, the kitchen smelled wonderful!

I dry mine on a sheet of paper under a desk lamp for a few minutes.
Never been tempted to try the microwave.  :evil: 

 

[Ocelot55]

never put metal in the science oven, probably not good for toebacky  either

Now that's funny!  :lol!: 

 

[docwatson]

You mean that no one here uses Fred Hanna's method of baking full tins in an oven for hours at 180 degrees??? Personally I haven't tried it yet but I will. Sure, it's going to change the flavor but I've heard of excellent and tasty results. As for microwave ovens, that's a no no.

 

[DoverPipes]

You mean that no one here uses Fred Hanna's method of baking full tins in an oven for hours at 180 degrees??? Personally I haven't tried it yet but I will. Sure, it's going to change the flavor but I've heard of excellent and tasty results. As for microwave ovens, that's a no no.

I have dried extremely wet tobacco in the stove, as well as flavored it with rum. I posted my methods a while ago. It works for me....... :roll: 

 

[docwatson]

I have dried extremely wet tobacco in the stove, as well as flavored it with rum. I posted my methods a while ago. It works for me....... :roll: 

Sean,
I should have known that you have experimented with this. Glad to hear of your success.
Andy

 

[KevinM]

To get a vacuum seal in jarred bulk tobak headed for the cellar, I've put it in the microwave and zapped it on low for 20 secs. Then I clap on the sealed lids pronto. It doesn't seem to affect the tobak one way or t'other. OTOH I've also just cellared the tobak in jars without benefit of a vacuum seal, and I'd be hard put to claim that one method produces better results than the other.

 

[Steveaux]

You mean that no one here uses Fred Hanna's method of baking full tins in an oven for hours at 180 degrees??? Personally I haven't tried it yet but I will. Sure, it's going to change the flavor but I've heard of excellent and tasty results. As for microwave ovens, that's a no no.

Tin Baking

 

[gravel]

Yup. For those that are curious, the same happens when one tries to increase the fermenting process by heating tobacco. Pease has talked about this several times. Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

I thought this statement was off at first glance J. I remember Pease's experiments, but I don't recall him saying never never. I think you've got the attribution wrong bud.

Experiment as you would lads. The link provided above is a great summary, including accounts by GL Pease.

 

[taharris]

I frequently zap wet tobacco in the microwave for 6 - 8 seconds to dry it out a little before smoking and have not noticed any loss of flavor.

Todd

 

[joshoowah]

Yup. For those that are curious, the same happens when one tries to increase the fermenting process by heating tobacco. Pease has talked about this several times. Never, ever heat tobacco in anyway.

I thought this statement was off at first glance J. I remember Pease's experiments, but I don't recall him saying never never. I think you've got the attribution wrong bud.

Experiment as you would lads. The link provided above is a great summary, including accounts by GL Pease.

The "never, ever" were indeed my own words. My comments, which should have been clarified, have more to do with aging than anything else. But honestly, even drying out tobacco by heating it seems wrong to me, though it is a matter of preference. Below are a couple of Pease articles, not the only ones, that speak against "tin baking" in order to accelerate the aging process. Pease admits heating tobacco/tins/etc. changes the complexities of the blend, sometimes for the better and other times for the worse, but it does not increase the age on a given blend. He also says it is fun to experiment and see what happens but cautions against it at times. For me, I am not willing to take the chance because tobacco is not all that cheap for me. I prefer to keep my own tobacco hovering around 15-20 C, setting it on a dry plate for an hour or so if it is in need of drying.

http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/ask-g-l-pease/ask-g-l-pease-september-2011/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/ask-g-l-pease/ask-g-l-pease-september-2012-volume-17/

So, yeah, experiment if you will.

 

[Dottie Warden]

I'd have to be some desparate to resort to microwaving. Putting it under a warm desk lamp sounds like a better idea to me.

In my case I just set it out at room temperature and wait it out; the slower you go, the less likely it'll get too dry.

 

[leacha]

I would believe heat isn't such a huge factor with tobacco. Cooking it maybe, heat no. Think Perique barrels under pressure. That generates heat. And lets not forget it takes place in a warehouse down in Louisiana within the summer. I would bet the temps in those barrels get above 150°F.

Just a thought while reading this.

 

[WarlockBob]

Talking about Perique, the same process applies to aging liquor. The temperature does affect it, but it's more or less pressure and capillary action within the barrel.

For the sake of aging tobaccos, I think it would be interesting to see what might happen by putting blends under light to moderate pressure and using something to cause a bit of turbulence among the blend, just so all the 'baccy can mix and interact well.

Who knows...