Comments on: Homemade Vanilla Extract

By: CTS

CTS — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:12:20 +0000

I have been making vanilla extract for years. Rule of thumb is to weigh your vanilla beans with a kitchen scale, rather than bean count. 1 oz. of beans to 8 oz. of vodka. Beans can vary in size, so it’s best to weigh them. Although beans can be ready in a shorter amount of time, it is good to extract them for at least 12 months. It truly is the best extract you’ll ever use.

By: Pam Turner

Pam Turner — Fri, 31 May 2024 18:36:02 +0000

I have been enjoying your recipes. However, I have been making vanilla for quite sometime now. Only part of your information is correct. The FDA guideline is correct. It is easier to weight out the beans per ounce though. Incorrect information: 1, You cannot keep adding alcohol to your vanilla as you use it. that dilutes the extract. 2, Once the beans have been extracted they cannot be used over and over, they are spent. you can make vanilla sugar with them though. Dry them first and add them to sugar. 3, The extraction comes from the inside wall of the bean. Science has shown that if you slit your beans and cut them up you will have more extraction surface. 4, It takes 4-6 months to fully extract, with some shaking. It is easier to put your beans and alcohol in a canning jar for the extraction time and then decant into smaller bottles. I like to put a few pieces of bean into my smaller bottles of vanilla to continue to age, like fine wine ages.

By: aimee

aimee — Tue, 28 May 2024 19:42:15 +0000

In reply to Lisa. Yes! I haven't done it this way, but I've seen others suggest it, so I might try it next time. Just make sure you are adding enough beans for the oz of vodka :)

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:39:42 +0000

Can you put the vanilla beans into the vodka bottle and then funnel it into bottles when it’s ready?