[BettyR]

Can someone who has done this before give me some advice?

Am I supposed to use Brandy, is so what kind?

What kinds of vanilla beans are best to use within reason...I don't want to spend a king's ransom but I do want good beans.

How many beans do you use to how much alcohol?

Do you split the beans before you put them in?

How long does it have to sit before you can start using it?

Do you leave the beans in the bottle as you use out of it? If you do leave the beans in will it get stronger as time goes by?

How long will the beans keep flavoring the Brandy, can you refill the bottle as you use out of it?

I'm going to be taking a trip to Houston in a couple of weeks and I'd like to purchase what I need at that time.

[BettyR]

A professional chef on another site gave me the method that they use to make their vanilla; their method is for instant use.

3 Vanilla beans per 1/2 litre of vodka.

Add beans and about 1/4 litre of vodka to a blender and blend until beans are broken up into small bits. At this point, add your remaining vodka and blend for an additional 5-7 minutes.

Strain this into whatever vessel you'll keep your V. extract in and store in a cool dark place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I like the idea of blending the beans up it does seem that you would get the most flavor out of them but I do think that I will leave the beans in the bottle and rubber band some cheesecloth over the opening; that way I will get the best of both worlds.

Instant flavor that grows deeper over time.

I was also given this link to the website where they order their beans in case anyone is interested. I haven't done a lot of pricing on vanilla beans but these prices seem reasonable to me.

Welcome to Vanilla Saffron Imports

[chefkbr]

The way we did it at the restaurant I use to work for was to take the vanilla bean pod after it was used for what ever recipe and the beans were removed is just put it in a bottle of vodka. Everytime we made a recipe with vanilla bean in it we would just put the pod in the vodka and eventualy the vodka would turn to vanilla. Then just remove the pods from the vodka. It was just a good way to get use out of the empty pods

[Luc_H]

Hi bettyR,

Standard natural vanilla extract (which is the strength for home use) has a standard of identity set by the FDA. Here is some reading links that state the FDA standard.
Pure Vanilla Extract - Nielsen-Massey
All about Vanilla Extracts and Flavors

Here is a sight that use those standards and variations for home vanilla making. Maceration is the key... long rest.

Homemade Vanilla Extract » TipNut.com

Luc H

[BettyR]

Originally Posted by Luc_H

Hi bettyR,

Standard natural vanilla extract (which is the strength for home use) has a standard of identity set by the FDA. Here is some reading links that state the FDA standard.
Pure Vanilla Extract - Nielsen-Massey
All about Vanilla Extracts and Flavors

Here is a sight that use those standards and variations for home vanilla making. Maceration is the key... long rest.

Homemade Vanilla Extract » TipNut.com

Luc H

Thank you for the links, I'll look forward to reading them this evening when I have a little quiet time.
Betty

[Free Rider]

I add 3 vanilla beans from Penzeys (split, scooped, etc.) into a 375 ml bottle of Ketel One vodka. Shake every once in a while and leave 'til it looks good. Had pleasing results with that.

[Kelleybean]

Hi Betty,

Well I know that this post is probably a day late and a dolor short but I figured that I would post it anyway. This is a recipe from Paula Dean’s book “The Lady & Sons Just Desserts”. It’s a great recipe and VERY simple. I also included her recipe for Condensed Milk. It’s a great recipe and saves you a load of money to boot. Enjoy!

Homemade vanilla extract: It's so much better than a store-bought extract and wonderfully easy to make: Split 2 vanilla beans lengthwise, and then cut them in half crosswise. Put the beans, including any seeds that may fall out, in a clean glass jar. Add ¥2 cup of bourbon, seal the jar, and give it a vigorous shake. Put in a cool dark cupboard for 2 weeks and shake it well every day. After 2 weeks, let the extract sit undisturbed for 2 more weeks. It is ready to use after that. If you keep replenishing the extract that you use with an equal amount of bourbon, the beans should last you for at least a year, or longer if you use less extract.

•fv
Sweetened Condense

I CAN'T TELL YO u how many times I've started preparing a recipe, only to go to the cabinet and find I have no condensed milk. Hope this helps you out of a possible jam. Oh, by the way, you'll find this to be a good bit cheaper than the store-bought.
This recipe makes the equivalent of one i4-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk.

l/3 cup boiling water 4 tablespoons butter
% cup sugar
l/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract i cup Carnation powdered milk

Using an electric mixer, blend together water, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add powdered milk and blend until thick. Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

[henry]

Hi Betty,

great minds must think alike--I just did some vanilla making. I bought 15 Madagascar beans from Penzey's (a friend got them for me while in Kansas City) for about $30. I got a bottle of vodka and brandy (1/5's, I think), and put 7.5 beans in each one. I split them open but did not separate them. I cut the curly ends off and put them in the sugar bowl.

What are you planning to do with your vanilla when it's done? We're planning to give it away as Christmas gifts, with other stuff, but I don't know what kind of bottles to package it in and what to give away with it. Got any ideas?

[BettyR]

Originally Posted by henry

Hi Betty,

great minds must think alike--I just did some vanilla making. I bought 15 Madagascar beans from Penzey's (a friend got them for me while in Kansas City) for about $30. I got a bottle of vodka and brandy (1/5's, I think), and put 7.5 beans in each one. I split them open but did not separate them. I cut the curly ends off and put them in the sugar bowl.

What are you planning to do with your vanilla when it's done? We're planning to give it away as Christmas gifts, with other stuff, but I don't know what kind of bottles to package it in and what to give away with it. Got any ideas?

I was also planning on giving it for Christmas gifts, I haven't decided yet what I would put it in. Since this website has beans at such a reasonable price I thought I would give some vanilla that I made along with some beans and the recipe for making their own vanilla. Welcome to Vanilla Saffron Imports

I have found some really wonderful and unusual containers at the Dollar store for a buck in the past that I have put some of my Christmas creations in.

I have a Birds-eye pepperbush that I've had for years. It has blooms, green and red peppers on it all the time…all year long. I use what I want and let the rest go to seed. There is no way I could ever use them all. When the bush starts to get too big I just take my scissors and I give it a hair cut.

Last year I made some pepper jelly that I gave for Christmas gifts. I found a small container at the Dollar store that was shaped like a frog and held about 1-1/2 cups of jelly. I ran them through the dishwasher to sterilize them…then I used paraffin to seal the container and glue gunned a tiny decretive cellophane packet to the lid of the jelly jar with some seeds in it from the pepper bush. My friends and family loved it and now they have their own pepperbush as well.

[BettyR]

I wanted to update this post, I placed an order for 1/2 pound of vanilla beans with Welcome to Vanilla Saffron Imports last Sat afternoon the 8th and Friday morning the 14th I have my vanilla beans.

I’m very pleased with the service and the product. I got 1/2 pound of vanilla beans shipped for $24.79. I’m heading for the liquor store to start making my vanilla.

I’m also making some vanilla bean ice cream.

[tralfaz]

I've been getting my saffron and vanilla beans from them for years (vanilla saffron imports, that is), they also have good prices for dried mushrooms. They have great quality products.

[damack]

hi guys im very impressed with there prices, im thinking about buying a 1/2lb of vanilla and if i can convince my fiancee some saffron too. any way heres my question:
how would vanilla be stored, i will be buying it to keep whole and not to make extract, i make ice creams and other desserts like that, how do i need to store the beans, i see that they are shipped in a vacuum sealed bag, once i open that will they still be ok for a while? how long? i just dont want to see mold on them all of the sodden and halve to though them out. what is a good average shelf time for them.

[BettyR]

The seller says to store them in sugar.

I purchased my vanilla beans last September and I made two 1/2 gallon bottles of vanilla with about 1/4 of the beans. I have almost used up one bottle of the vanilla and when I break into the second bottle I will make a third bottle to let it sit and age. The vanilla by the way is out of this world!!!

We stored the vanilla in sugar as suggested and we are still using them. We use the vanilla sugar in our coffee every morning, adding more sugar as it gets used up. When we need a vanilla bean for some other application we just dig one out of the sugar and use it. They have been in the sugar for six months and they are still pliable fresh and fragrant.

[damack]

the sugar dosent make them dry and suck all the moisture out of them? i know chefs that once they use a vanilla bean they toss the "shell" into sugar, but i have never heard of storing them hole in there... any other suggestions or is this what eveyone else dose too

[damack]

well i ordered a 1/2lb and looking forward to it.

i have been reading recipes for vanilla extract with vadka and the beans,,
what is the ratio of vadka to beans that you use, and how long to you let it sit