Freezing snus
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I'm not an expert, but in talking to a refrigerator person I was told that the way "frost free" freezers work is they're on, then off, then on, then off and they suck out the condensation/liquid when it's semi-frozen between cycles. Does that make sense? I figured that this process would dehydrate my snus, so I keep most of it in the refrigerator where it's not subjected to that process. I also have some in the freezer, but it's double wrapped with tin foil, then double freezer bagged. I'd guess that those "sealing" machines would work to sufficiently trap the moisture inside and protect it from the freezer's dehydration process.
I'm interested to hear what others might say about this...
I'm interested to hear what others might say about this...
I read an article a few months ago at snus central that said the main thing is not to expose it to really hot temps and also the worst was big temp variations. I think a lot of people here either freeze it or refrigerate it. I do neither. I keep it at a constant temperature with some at home in my basement and some at work. I haven't had any problems yet. I am working on general mint that is over four months old and it's still really fresh. I opened a can of thunder berry the other day at work that was about three months old and it was as fresh as could be. My main reason is that there is no room to store my stash in the refrigerator at home and didn't want to run a small one just to store snus after reading that article. I got a can of snus that had been frozen for some time from a person on a trade and it was really dried out. I didn't want to take that chance with my stash. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong but just telling what I am doing and the results thus far.
My stash is sealed with a foodsaver and stored in the freezer. Some has been there since back in July and so far doesn't seem to be showing any problems. I don't have any "unfrozen" stored snus to compare it to, though, so don't take my word as gospel on that. I'd probably have to agree with hittman that whether you freeze or don't freeze, the key is consistency in temperature for long term storage.
Perhaps you are giving me too much credit. My ignorance runs deep when it comes to snus... 
Why refrigerate snus?
Why freeze snus?
Why do anything other than just set the tins in a corner somewhere until you want to use them?
Does it have anything to do with whether you've opened the tin?
Do you need to use an entire tin within a certain period of time or it goes bad?
Why refrigerate snus?
Why freeze snus?
Why do anything other than just set the tins in a corner somewhere until you want to use them?
Does it have anything to do with whether you've opened the tin?
Do you need to use an entire tin within a certain period of time or it goes bad?
There are a number of reason to keep snus at least in the fridge if not the freezer. The first one is freshness. Snus can loose flavor as time goes by but keeping it cool will extend the time before it starts going flat. Opening the can with likely greatly speed up how fast that happens. It can also dry out when it's open, though it can be rehydrated.
Snus is on the alkaline side. Usually about pH 8.5 or somewhere around there. This keeps the nicotine in a base which makes it more available when you use it (nicotine is an alkaloid). Over time snus can become more acidic which makes the nicotine less readily available. Keeping it cool or frozen will slow down the rate that this happens.
Having said that, snus is actually very robust. It really doesn't go bad though it can loose flavor and degrade a bit over time. Best to keep it at least cool if not frozen to slow this down and have the freshest snus you can.
Snus is on the alkaline side. Usually about pH 8.5 or somewhere around there. This keeps the nicotine in a base which makes it more available when you use it (nicotine is an alkaloid). Over time snus can become more acidic which makes the nicotine less readily available. Keeping it cool or frozen will slow down the rate that this happens.
Having said that, snus is actually very robust. It really doesn't go bad though it can loose flavor and degrade a bit over time. Best to keep it at least cool if not frozen to slow this down and have the freshest snus you can.
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I would probably store mine in a fridge if I had space available. I do keep mine in sealed containers that are fairly air tight. Stubby knows more than I do about it so I would follow his advice if you can.
Only trouble I've had with freezing portion snus is the wetter ones can freeze together in a block
& be a tad difficult to get 'a days worth' (5 for me) away from the block without getting fingers
all over it (I like to treat long-term-stored wet snus like food & minimise any bacterial contamination e.g. from skin).
With that in mind I tend to keep 10 cans at a time in the fridge & the main stock in the freezer,
& in the morning I get 5 snus out of the fridge cans into an empty warm can for the day.
btw Stubby you might want to edit your post for clarity ?- I assume you mean 'on the alkaline side' and 'pH 8.5'
& be a tad difficult to get 'a days worth' (5 for me) away from the block without getting fingers
all over it (I like to treat long-term-stored wet snus like food & minimise any bacterial contamination e.g. from skin).
With that in mind I tend to keep 10 cans at a time in the fridge & the main stock in the freezer,
& in the morning I get 5 snus out of the fridge cans into an empty warm can for the day.
btw Stubby you might want to edit your post for clarity ?- I assume you mean 'on the alkaline side' and 'pH 8.5'
Ya Ya.... I got the edit exo
I do about the same as you exo. I don't like to dig in the freezer to often so I have up to a dozen cans in the cooler. I go to the freezer when I start running low. I just take what I need for the day out and rest stays cool.
I do about the same as you exo. I don't like to dig in the freezer to often so I have up to a dozen cans in the cooler. I go to the freezer when I start running low. I just take what I need for the day out and rest stays cool.
I keep mine in a designated snus fridge, one of those little ones you might find in a college dorm. With the t-stat turned all the way down the temp stays @ 32*F in the very middle (not frozen), but I suspect either the temp is a little lower in the very back or more latent heat is removed in proximity to the coil, since those cans freeze. The only trouble I've had is the ones in the rear (that freeze) evidently suffer from occasional thawing. I've had cans where I'll find up to 6 portions with little flavor and a lighter nic hit, what I'd assume is "freezer burnt". It's not really a problem, more of a disappointment. The rest spread throughout the fridge are as fresh and tasty as when I bought 'em, and several of those are many months past their "best by" date. I think my oldest ones are some Lab 02 that have a April 15, 2010 date.
Bit of thread resurrection here
just came off the end of months of using a large (to me) purchase of Thunder Frosted (minis),
kept in the fridge (but almost freezing cos the freezer door compartment is busted).
Getting a bit tacky & 'frozen blocky' if you know what I mean, and a bit same-ish day in, day out.
Anyway, ordered a selection of snus - same TF again + Lab02 + Thunder Berry & various Offroads
Tried the Thunder Berry & got a huge difference in the 'floating calm' effect I assume comes from things other than straight nic., slept very much better that night.
So was wondering, maybe snus quality actually does significantly deteriorate during long(ish) term
cold storage ? gut feeling says <maybe> some chemical changes, feels like reducing amounts of 'other factors' to me, possibly the minor alkaloids shifting some how (in form or availability).
The old cans say best before April '11 - do they usually have a 6 month shelf period ?,
so not really out of date yet, seems longer ago than that I bought them,
still the fresh ones are significantly better.
just came off the end of months of using a large (to me) purchase of Thunder Frosted (minis),
kept in the fridge (but almost freezing cos the freezer door compartment is busted).
Getting a bit tacky & 'frozen blocky' if you know what I mean, and a bit same-ish day in, day out.
Anyway, ordered a selection of snus - same TF again + Lab02 + Thunder Berry & various Offroads
Tried the Thunder Berry & got a huge difference in the 'floating calm' effect I assume comes from things other than straight nic., slept very much better that night.
So was wondering, maybe snus quality actually does significantly deteriorate during long(ish) term
cold storage ? gut feeling says <maybe> some chemical changes, feels like reducing amounts of 'other factors' to me, possibly the minor alkaloids shifting some how (in form or availability).
The old cans say best before April '11 - do they usually have a 6 month shelf period ?,
so not really out of date yet, seems longer ago than that I bought them,
still the fresh ones are significantly better.
Exo, I have some that I bought pre pact that are considered expired that seem fine. I never froze mine. The flavor isn't as good as a fresh can but its still pretty good. The thunder berry has become one of my favorites. It seems like it dumps the goods a bit quicker than some others.
Interesting, wonder if they formulate Berry much different to Frosted then,
think I'll try one of the new & old TF minis 'side by side' quickly swapping to see if I can tell much diff.
think I'll try one of the new & old TF minis 'side by side' quickly swapping to see if I can tell much diff.
I soooooo don't want to hear that, exo. I have 142 cans in the freezer. So far they seem fine (the oldest ones are coming up on a year old). I probably overbought.
Exo, I'm not really sure but the berry seems to hit harder than the thunder frost es. Maybe its just me. I do remember someone saying something about ph levels causing different reactions.
Axl, holy cow! I thought I over bought. Not compared to you.
Axl, holy cow! I thought I over bought. Not compared to you.
It's Swedish made smokeless tobacco that can be bought either in pouches or loose. We are in the smokeless tobacco section after all.
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