Recipes for making Vanilla Extract

METHOD OF EXTRACTION

Extraction methods are simple and just require time.

Normal vanilla extract you find in stores are extracted from Lignum, wood. They comprise only of 3 different flavour compounds of Vanillin. Real vanilla beans comprise over 250 flavour compounds. When you use extract, yes, you are eating wood, chemically extracted wood!

For pure vanilla extract, here is the extraction method.

(1) You need only 2 ingredients, vanilla beans and alcohol of around 35% strength. Vodka is the best as it has no taste

(2) Split vanilla beans with a knife and scrape all the seeds into the vodka

(3) Stuff all the empty, split beans into the vodka (The bean shell has flavours and aromatic oils too!)

(4) Cover with the bottlecap and place in the fridge for minimum 4 weeks, 6 months is the best and vanilla extract gets better with age, like wine!

(5) If possible give the whole thing a vigourous shake once or twice a day for 2 weeks - Industrial manufacturers have a rotating thingy that circulates the alcohol

(6) Your vodka will turn from white to dark black. That is pure vanilla extract.


VANILLA EXTRACT RECIPES

Before you start, bear in mind the following and decide for yourself which you want. Vanilla extract is divided into several categories of strength.

(1) 1-Fold Vanilla is - 100grams of vanilla beans to 1000grams (1 ltr) of alcohol. Need about 20 beans

(2) 2-Fold Vanilla is - 200 grams of vanilla to 1000grams of alcohol. Need about 40 beans

(3) 3-Fold Vanilla is - 300 grams of vanilla to 1000 grams of alcohol. Need about 60 beans

(4) 4 - Fold Vanilla is - 400 grams of vanilla to 1000 grams of alcohol. Need about 80 beans

Bear in mind that each vanilla bean is around 4 to 5 grams and you can halve or quarter the recipe. A good way to make it economical is for you to get foodie friends/relatives to combine and make one big batch and share.

Professional chefs in Europe use 2-Fold or 3-Fold vanilla but pastry supply houses here only sell 1 fold vanilla and they usually contain vanilla flavourings and are extracted from C-grade beans which are not that ripe. Quality in, quality out.