How to Cleanly Put Out a Roll

It sounds simple enough; you're done with your roll, and you want to put it out, so you twist it against some surface or pop the cherry out and all is well. But what if you want to save your killer filter? Or you want to make sure your fingers don't smell? Or, most importantly, you didn't quite finish, and you want to relight later?

We'll dive into all of these scenarios, and we'll make sure that the next time you put out a roll, you're satisfied with the result.

Quick response on how to put out a roll

To put out your roll cleanly, use the pinch the filter method, go for a dip, or clip the tip.

Common methods and their issues

Below we'll list some of the ways people put rolls out that we believe have drawbacks that we will explain. These methods can still be used, but we believe there are better strategies.

Pushing the tip into a surface

This is one of the most common ways of putting out a roll. Using a rock or surface near you, you can suffocate the cherry by pushing it against a surface. If you want to reuse the roll, this is not a great option. It compresses what is left and pushes the cherry back into the unburnt part, charring it and wasting it.

Even if you aren't reusing, this method also causes the smoke to become trapped inside the roll since it has nowhere else to go. It then interacts with the filter and your hands, causing them to smell more.

Pinching or flicking out the cherry

This method works well for immediately putting out a roll. Always make sure you put out the embers that fell so that they aren't a fire risk. This method is likely to cause your hands to smell, and you risk burning your fingers.

Dropping it into a storage tube

If you have a storage tube, this method certainly works. Since the roll is in an enclosed volume, it naturally extinguishes. We strongly recommend not using a plastic tube since this can cause plastic particulates to interact with the roll, especially if you want to smoke it again.

This also makes the tube very smelly, and it leaches that smell for days to come. If you have a glass tube, it makes cleaning a hassle.

If you plan on smoking that roll again, this method is not a great option. The ashes and smoke from the roll cover it in debris and cause it to harden since the smoke encapsulates the roll. It won't be a pleasant smoke after pulling it out.

Our recommendations for putting out a roll

We're going to split our recommendations into two categories: rolls that are done and rolls that you'll still smoke. The way you handle each makes a big difference in how you approach putting it out.

Rolls that you've finished

"Pinch the filter" method

If you're done with your roll and you have a filter that has some give to it, you can turn the roll over an ashtray, pinch the filter, and roll it back and forth between your fingers while pinching. This naturally dislodges the burning end and causes it to fall out.

Go for a dip

Water immediately stops combustion. But ideally you don't dip into a cup that you use otherwise since it'll make the cup dirty and may be hard to clean. So, for this method, fill up a bottle cap with water and just dip the cherry into that bottle cap. The roll will go out immediately, and your fingers will remain clean.

Rolls that you plan on smoking more

Clip the tip

If you want to reuse your roll, you don't want to smash the end, because this will make relighting unpleasant, if not impossible. Instead, if you have scissors or a knife, just cut the end right behind the cherry, with the cherry falling into an ashtray. Your roll is easily stored and won't smell like it's just been smoked.

This is our favorite method because you don't get an ashy taste when you relight. It also allows you to use a pencil or thin object to push the rest back inside, then re-twist the end. As good as new.

Toothpick or bobby pin

It's pretty easy to toss a toothpick or bobby pin into your rolling kit. With this, when you're done smoking, you can use them to pop the cherry out, along with anything charred, and re-twist the end. The paper is still burnt, so it may make your fingers a bit smelly from re-twisting, but it's still a great option.

A unique way to extinguish a roll

One method that we've had a friend use in the past blew us away. Ironically, he used a lighter to put out his roll. When he was done with it, he placed the burning end of the roll just inside the ignition end of the lighter, and he turned on the fuel of the lighter without flicking the flint. Since lighters release butane, this suffocates the combustion, similar to water, just gaseous.

Use this method at your own risk. Butane evaporates at room temperature, so it shouldn't linger in your roll. However, running a flammable gas over a material presently combusting may not be the best idea.

Important notes

If you plan on smoking your roll again, we strongly recommend that once it's extinguished, blow into the filter to expel any lingering smoke. This will make the roll much more pleasant to smoke later.

It's crucial that you keep track of the burning cherry. Make sure you extinguish it fully once it's been separated from the roll.

Wrap up

It might sound simple, but putting your roll out properly can make all the difference at the end of your session. Try out different methods to see which works best for you, and you may be surprised at what you find.

If this was helpful and you enjoy rolling your own, check out our reusable filters that make rolling and smoking much more pleasurable.