I have to admit that this particular purchase the vanilla beans were so much more fresh than my first purchase. I use these to make my own vanilla extract and for other baking uses. They smell wonderful, and the results of my extract in baking have been fantastic. I also would give the extract as gifts to friends and family who love to bake. I recommend this brand.
- VocalGirl
“After looking at several Vanilla bean sellers, I decided to go w 2Tre Organics brand, as the most current reviews were good. Item did arrive fresh, pliable and fragrant in a hermetically shrink-wrap sleeve. Beans were approx 6-7" length-insides were moist. I cut off some of the curled up 'hardness' on ends (my preference). Using to make vanilla extract so too early to know results. I did use all the beans once I opened the package. Item in pictures is representative of how it came.”
- Francis
I've purchased vanilla beans before but these are the freshest I've ever seen. Very soft and pliable, very fragrant. I was making vanilla extract for Christmas gifts so I wanted to slice the beans lengthwise to expose the pulp inside. These were so easy to slice open because of the freshness.
My vanilla extract is 3 weeks old now, still with 5 weeks to go before it's finished. I just opened one and sniffed... the alcohol smell is already gone and there is a mild vanilla fragrance. I'm sure that by the end of the brewing period I will have a good, rich vanilla at this rate. I'm very happy with this purchase and will be ordering more after the holidays.
- Edna
“I use these to make Vanilla extract. They do a fine job of it, and overall I am happy with them. They came quickly, and packed in a vacuum bag. They are still fresh and moist, when they arrived. I split each bean, and drop them all into about 16 oz of Vodka. I leave them there for a few months, then drain the liquid into a different bottle, using a coffee filter to strain out any particulate material from the beans.
The alcohol appears to burn off while cooking, so I never taste it. I can get two runs like this so I end up with a quart or so of Vanilla extract for whatever the price of the beans, and vodka were. I use the cheapest vodka I can find, as it burns off in cooking. I hear one can use other carriers for the extract liquid, but I have not tested those yet.”
- Dave
Grade A vanilla beans are superior in flavor, fragrance, and vanillin content. Grade A vanilla beans are harvested right at the peak of ripeness when the tips start to turn yellow. In turn, vanillin content is at its highest, providing that sweet, heavenly scent that we are all familiar with. They are easy to split and to scrape the caviar from inside the bean. This enables the caviar to be added directly to your favorite culinary confection.
Create your own delectable vanilla bean extract with these simple steps.
Begin by choosing high-quality vanilla beans—look for plump, aromatic beans.
Carefully split 3-4 beans lengthwise to reveal the seeds inside. Next, opt for a high-proof alcohol such as vodka, rum, or bourbon as the base.
Place the split beans into a glass bottle or jar, pouring the alcohol over them until fully submerged. Seal the container and give it a gentle shake.
Allow the vanilla beans to steep in the alcohol for at least 2-3 months in a cool, dark space, shaking occasionally.
Once the desired intensity is achieved, strain out the beans using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
Transfer the rich extract into a clean glass bottle for storage. Add this homemade vanilla bean extract to elevate the flavors of your culinary creations.
The result is a homemade vanilla extract that can be used in cakes, cookies, and other baked treats.
Instructions
Slice each bean lengthwise and place in bottle. ...
Pour one cup of vodka (or alcohol of your choice) into the bottle. ...
Shake once or twice a week.
Wait at least 8 weeks, but 4-6 months is ideal. ...
Presto, your alcohol has turned into delicious homemade vanilla extract!
It is up to you when you want to discard the old beans and start fresh. I choose to use them 2-4 times, depending on the quality of the beans, how long the extract has been sitting and if I've been careful about making sure the beans stay submerged at all times.
If your jar is larger than 8 ounces, use more beans and alcohol so that the alcohol will cover the beans. Just remember this ratio: 6 vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol. So if your jar is 12 ounces, use 9 vanilla beans. If it's 16 ounces, use 12 beans.
So, while most online communities say no need to wash, we don't see a problem in giving them a quick water or alcohol rinse right before use, just as you would with store-bought produce. It may remove some external oil, but most of the oil for extracts comes from within the pod skin itself.
Just two ingredients are needed, grade B vanilla beans, also known as extract grade vanilla beans, and food-grade glycerin. Food-grade glycerin is easy to find and less expensive than the traditional method using ethyl alcohol or Vodka.