Do dormant cables need "RE" Broken In? If so how long can they sit dormant?

Isn't the purpose of "cooking" cables just a matter of moving valence electrons around to break in a cable?

Can't someone just have an appropriate source of current and voltage such as a power supply of the proper voltage connected to the cables and then to a lightbulb, motor (or similar) and accomplish the same goal for pennies on the dollar?  This is just how my mind works... 

That should do it.... 10,000 dollar cable "cookers" are more for guys with IQ below room ambient temperature.

This is worth repeating and putting down in print, from the article posted above:

"...having numbers to validate what listeners have heard for years is meaningless."

@soix 

I have to agree with you. The Monster M2.2's (Dormant for many years) that I purchased have been playing daily for a couple of week's now and I swear things are opening up even more. Could be my ears...however, I was doing some serious listening last night and I swear the cables are sound better than the week before. I keep the stereo on quite a bit for background listening. 

It’s pretty crazy, but when I was reviewing cables even having them outta the system for a half hour they’d need a minute or so to settle back in.  Not sure about cables they’ve been sitting dormant for a while, but it’s definitely a thing IME.

Anytime I've reinstalled cables that have been in storage for months, it has taken around 200 hours for them to stabilize. Sometimes you hit a wall where they don't seem to be improving. In those instances, I disconnect them and reinstall them and that seems to hasten the settling a bit. Bass seems to come and go as they settle and imaging seems to be the last to arrive. Tara Labs seem to take the longest.  

Can anyone qualified clarify how cables are "cooked"?

Isn't the purpose of "cooking" cables just a matter of moving valence electrons around to break in a cable?

Can't someone just have an appropriate source of current and voltage such as a power supply of the proper voltage connected to the cables and then to a lightbulb, motor (or similar) and accomplish the same goal for pennies on the dollar?  This is just how my mind works... 

I have a few extra components around that allow me to hook up cables to,break them in. I got a connector converter so I can power my extra refrigerator through an audio power cord… hence cooking it… without harming any chickens. 
 

Those cable cookers are expensive.

I just wrap mine around a dead chicken every few months. 

Warning: Chickens WERE harmed in this procedure.

P.S.

Oh crap, sorry. I honestly thought the cooker was a sarcastic response until I just Googled it. Wow.

Some forums reported that periodic cooking of one’s cables yields sonic benefits, so I’m considering purchasing a Audiodharma cable cooker.  A lower cost alternative is Hagerman Frybaby.

Great info thanks!!

+1 ellajeanelle

I agree with the statement in the article which says coiled cables will need some break-in time once they're installed in a system. Used cables should only take a few hours.

Unfortunately, yes. But typically it is only a few hours. Just playing around with them can require some additional breakin… but not long. 

Not an exact answer to your question but interesting, nonetheless.

 BREAK IN: REAL OR IMAGINED? | Galen Carol Audio | Galen Carol Audio (gcaudio.com) 

I let my system warm up for a few hours every time with something playing at a very low volume before listening. 
For the cables that haven’t been used for a few months, I would allow 24-48hrs of play time. Go by what your ears tell you.