Learn How to Make Extracts: Step by Step Instructions to Make Vanilla Extract

Learn How to Make Extracts: Step by Step Instructions to Make Vanilla Extract
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Materials Needed to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

  • Whole Vanilla Beans, roughly one per pint of extract to be made.
  • Grain Alcohol or alcohol of your choice such as vodka, rum, or gin.
  • Clean Mason Jars
  • Dark and cool area for jar storage
  • Optional: Small amber colored bottles for distribution to friends and family. The amber colored bottle will prevent light from getting in and breaking down the flavors.

Choosing the Vanilla Beans to Make Extracts

There are several different types of vanilla beans available to make your extract. The most common are:

  • Madagascar or Bourbon Vanilla Beans: These are the thinnest beans of the three. They have a rich, sweet, flavor. They are creamy, and have a lot of natural oils, which causes their strong aroma.
  • Mexican Vanilla Beans: These beans are also long and skinny, but are a little thicker than the Madagascar bean. The vanilla flavor in these beans is not as strong. These beans have a slight spicy, wooden like smell to them.
  • Tahitian Vanilla Beans: These beans are much different than the other two. They are shorter and fatter beans, with fewer seeds and a thinner skin. The flavor has more floral notes and more of a fruit taste to it. Some liken the smell to licorice.

Choosing the Alcohol Base to Make Your Own Extracts

When choosing the alcohol to use to make the vanilla, it is important to remember that a high proof grain alcohol such as Everclear will work best, because it doesn’t have a flavor of its own. When you use another liquor, the flavor of that liquor will become part of your vanilla. While some may like this, it will alter the overall flavor of your vanilla extract.

The Process

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Step One

Slice the beans lengthwise. Leave about an inch of the bean at the top uncut, so it will be easier for you to handle. Smash the beans to release more flavor. Some people say to remove all the seeks and other gooey stuff from the inside of the bean before putting in the jar, while others say doing this robs you of valuable flavor. We say try it both ways and see what you like the best.

Step Two

Place the bean(s) in the jar. The more beans you use, the stronger the flavor. Too many beans will cause the final extract to be bitter.

Step Three

Add enough alcohol to cover the beans.

Step Four

Seal the jars tightly.

Step Five

Store in a dark room for two to three months checking the jars every week, just to remind yourself they are there.

Step Six

Pour the vanilla from the jars into the small, amber colored bottles and give to your friends and family.

References

Hill, Tony. <em>The Spice Lover&rsquo;s Guide to Herbs and Spices</em>. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2004. Print.

Food.com Library: Different Types of Vanilla Beans

Image Credit: Flickr