Anyone make their own vanilla extract? I bought a "kit" and was wondering if it tastes as good

[tess]

as the store bought. (I usually buy Nielsen-Massey.)

I happened to be in TJMaxx / Homegoods and they had what looked like old fashion soda bottles with a hinge style stopper on top. Inside the bottle were 3 vanilla beans and nothing else. The instructions say to add vodka and let steep for a period of time. Since the beans looked moist and not dried out, and the price was $2 (they were on clearance sale) - I picked up the 2 bottles that were there.

So - now the question is - is it worth making vanilla extract? or should I use the pods for baking or something else?

As an aside - on a prior trip to TJMaxx/Homegoods they had Nielsen-Massey vanilla extract there - on clearance $3 for the large bottles. Needless to say I bought all they had - 5 bottles. I haven't had that luck since.

Thanks,

Tess

 

[rvb]

yes it is. on both counts.

extractimg the vanillin in brandy, rum or bourbon is delicios.

it's also convenient and delicious to split one bean and put in some sugar

 

[cynupstateny]

I use good rum and only use the resulting vanilla for creme brulee and dishes like that !Great stuff

 

[agm_cape_cod]

I would buy them for the vanilla beans alone. 2 for $8.5 at Williams Sonoma (nt)

 

[rvb]

google vanilla bean for sources like this

$20 for 10 madgascar vanilla beans.

http://www.thevanillashop.com/produ_madagascar_beans_a.html

 

[bvlaurence]

Order on Ebay also.

 

[ruthsf]

I do and I tried an experiment...

since others had expressed a preference and because I'd gotten such a great deal on vanilla beans, so I setup (small) bottles of vodka, rum and cognac for making vanilla. I let them steep for a few months, tasted them, and steep for a few months more. It's just a matter of preference... I liked the vodka version best myself because it tasted and smelled purely of vanilla. I think the one you prefer will, in part, be influenced by the brand you most often cook with (some manufacturers use rum, others vodka or pure grain alcohol, my favorite was always an alcohol-free version). And 'tastes as good', depends entirely on the ingredients you're using... especially which type of vanilla bean since they vary considerably. The premier crops seem to be, almost entirely, snatched up by the large manufacturers.

Also when I use a vanilla bean (scraping the seeds), I just add the leftover pod to my vanilla extract or toss it in a jar with sugar because there's still quite a bit of residual vanilla flavor in them (you never seem to get all those seeds out). The stronger the vanilla is, the better, from my perspective.

 

[evan]

I ass two vanilla beans to a cup vodka >>

and let it sit for 4-6 months. It tastes wonderful!