Comments on: How to use a Vanilla Bean

By: elana

elana — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:54:48 +0000

hi,
yes how much vanilla bean do you use per year.Please write back soon.
Elana

By: Rosali Kleinschmidt

Rosali Kleinschmidt — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:43:54 +0000

I have put my vanilla beans into vanilla extract to make it stronger. How many times can I use the same bean?

By: zoe

zoe — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:17:41 +0000

Hi Tracie,

I think your vanilla extract is going to be amazing. When I make it I cram as many beans in as I can fit. It should be way more than most recipes are willing to suggest, due to the cost of the beans. You extract is going to be lovely!

Enjoy, Zoë

By: Tracie

Tracie — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:51:21 +0000

Hi, Zoe! I recently bought some vanilla beans and tried to make vanilla extract out of them. However, I did the recipe conversion wrong and ended putting 14 beans into 750 ml of vodka. I’m wondering if I will end up with vanilla extract that is extremely condensed or will it be okay? (It’s too late for me to fish out the extra beans.) I noticed there are a lot of recipes with different vodka to bean ratios out there but I clearly used way more beans than any of the recipes called for.

By: Jorie

Jorie — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:27:07 +0000

Hi, Zoe. I love all of the vanilla wisdom! My son just returned from Madagascar with a wealth of fresh vanilla beans. How should they be stored? Should they be air dried or kept moist in the plastic bags he brought them in? I see that you recommend freezing–how long can the beans be kept that way?

By: Colby

Colby — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:42:00 +0000

Hi Zoe,
Quick question. After I use my vanilla beans once how many more times will I be able to use them? Do I still wash in cold water and store in an airtight container and then soak them in warm water before my next use?
THanks,
Colby

By: zoe

zoe — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:03:59 +0000

Hi Kate,

What a fantastic idea! It would need at least a few days in the oats to impart any flavor.

Let me know how it turns out! Zoë

By: kate

kate — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:09:18 +0000

hi — i’ve heard of adding a bean to sugar, but what about adding a vanilla bean to a canister of steel-cut oatmeal? Do you think that would infuse the oatmeal with a vanilla flavor?? If yes, would you guess at how long the bean would need to be in the oatmeal for it to have any effect? Curious, since we just started buying and using vanilla beans (for a totally out of this world tomato sauce!)…can’t wait to try your recipe for devil’s food cupcakes! thanks…

By: zoe

zoe — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:56:14 +0000

Hi Josh,

Just wrap it in plastic wrap and save it in a dry cool spot. Or, you can freeze it if you don’t think you will use it for a long while.

Enjoy, Zoë

By: Josh Whitrow

Josh Whitrow — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:17:38 +0000

Hi,

I noticed that you said, if a recipe calls for 1tsp of vanilla extract to use half a bean. Is it possible to save the other half for later, or will it go bad? Im unsure of what to do or how to store the other half.

thanks