Homemade Vanilla Extract Made in the Instant Pot- Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How is vanilla extract made step by step? ›

Add 5 or 6 of them to each 8-ounce jar, or 20-24 vanilla beans if you are doing a larger batch in a quart-size jar for personal use. If you are using smaller, 4-ounce jars, you will need to cut the beans in half so they fit and use only 2-3 beans per jar.

Vanilla beans come from different areas and have different grades assigned to them. Grade A is called a “gourmet” bean. It is supposedly a softer bean that is easier to cut and extract the vanilla “caviar” from the inside to use in cooking. Grade B is typically recommended for making homemade vanilla extract.

Use either. 80 proof Alcohol: Vanilla extract is most commonly made from vodka, but you can use bourbon, brandy, or rum instead. I usually use vodka, but the one bottle of bourbon vanilla I made 7 months ago is DIVINE. No need to splurge on expensive alcohol.

Not only is it cheaper, but the flavor is worlds apart from your average extract. Making your own vanilla extract is one of the easiest things you can do, and it can save you loads of money verses the stuff sold in stores.

Split 4–6 whole vanilla beans lengthwise with the tip of a sharp knife. Use the dull side of the knife to scrape the seeds (vanilla caviar, if you're feeling fancy) from both sides of the pod, and transfer the vanilla seeds to an airtight container (I use a 16-ounce mason jar).

Re-fillable: Once you run out of vanilla, refill the bottle with Vodka and use the beans for another batch (they will last for up to two batches). Also, the vanilla extract wont expire as long as it's stored in a cool, dry place.

It's easy to remember that 8oz of spirits is a cup, so use 1oz of vanilla beans in 1 cup of spirits. That method is easy to remember and will never let you down!

Container: You can use any glass container you would like that has a lid. I like to use pint-sized mason jars with plastic lids. Waxed Paper: A piece placed between the lid and the jar helps to keep the extract from leaking when you shake the jar. It also helps to create a better seal.

Are Grade B vanilla beans good for making vanilla extract? ›

Grade B vanilla beans, on the other hand, are considered 'extract-grade beans', and they are primarily used in making vanilla extract.

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.

Remember, the number 1 ingredient in vanilla extract is alcohol. #2 is vanilla beans. You will always smell some alcohol in your extract.

Select a dark glass or amber-colored bottle for your vanilla extract. Light can degrade the quality of the extract by breaking down its aromatic compounds. Dark glass helps to protect the extract from light exposure, preserving its flavor and aroma. Air can also impact the quality of vanilla extract over time.

In vanilla extract the content of ethyl alcohol is not less than 35 percent by volume and the content of vanilla constituent, as defined in § 169.3(c), is not less than one unit per gallon.

Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol ( 1 ). The extract gets its signature vanilla flavor from a molecule called vanillin found in vanilla beans ( 1 , 2). Standards for pure vanilla extract vary by country.

Re-fillable: Once you run out of vanilla, refill the bottle with Vodka and use the beans for another batch (they will last for up to two batches). Also, the vanilla extract wont expire as long as it's stored in a cool, dry place.

IMPORTANCE OF ALCOHOL FOR EXTRACTION

The reason that there are content requirements for alcohol in vanilla bean extract is due to its important function. The alcohol has the huge responsibility of extracting all of the wonderful compounds and flavors from the vanilla bean.