Tips for Working with Vanilla Beans

Self-taught and classically trained chefs alike appreciate the use of authentic vanilla beans in their recipes. But if you’re going to attempt to use this sought out spice in your own kitchen, it’s a good idea to gain an understanding of what’s involved when you attempt to garner the intoxicating aroma and flavor that is unique to the Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean.

Fresh vanilla bean has a better flavor and a better aroma when compared to the synthetic vanilla extract that can be found in your local grocery store. Using fresh authentic vanilla bean pods will make the food taste infinitely better than just using a pinch of vanilla extract that comes from a bottle. The bean is harvested from the orchid plant and is considered the second most expensive spice next to saffron. This is due to the amount of hard work that one needs to exert in order to produce it. It also has a myriad of uses from dessert recipes to main dishes to beverages and it is even used in perfumes.

If you want to buy vanilla beans to be used at home, then you need to know a few tricks to handling the beans and making sure you can get the most out of your purchase. The vanilla pods contain vanilla seeds, but both the pod and the seed can be used in recipes. The pod is fairly thick but it must be handled carefully so as not to lose any precious seeds when opened. There are a few tricks that can be employed to be sure that you handle the pod with care and gather all the seeds that are inside.

Some like to steam the pod in order to soften its covering and you can do this by holding the pod over a pot of boiling water for about two minutes. This is a fairly easy way to make the vanilla bean’s skin pliable enough to slice it open with a paring knife. The pod has a very slippery surface and boiling it will also allow you to soften the skin enough for slicing. No matter which method you use to ready the bean for slicing, be sure that when you actually slice the pod that you do so lengthwise. This is the best way to open the pod so that you can easily scrape all the precious seeds out.

The seeds inside the pod are very precious so do not let the seeds fall. You can catch all seeds with the use of a wax paper that is placed over the table as you try to open the pod. Since the spice is so precious, it is in your best interest to take care not to lose any of the seeds when you open the pod. The seeds are so tiny that they can slip through your hands so catching them on wax paper seems to be a great alternative.

After extracting the seeds from the bean, it is best to store them in an airtight container and in a place that is cool and dark, near your other spices. Just take care not to put them near a heat source as this can destroy the aroma and flavor of your vanilla before you’ve had the chance to use it in your recipes. Another way to use your pods is to store them with white sugar. This will give your sugar a vanilla flavor which will make your baked goods even better. You could also use the vanilla flavored sugar to sweeten your coffee or tea for an extra treat.

Once you take the time necessary to extract the vanilla seeds form their pods and use the authentic vanilla in your recipes, there is good chance you will never use synthetic vanilla flavoring again. The distinct aroma and smooth flavor that comes from pure vanilla cannot be manufactured. Your family will love the added attention to detail in your baked goods and other recipes that if you do happen to take a slight shortcut by using synthetic vanilla they will surely note the difference and you will be caught. Instead, enjoy your time in the kitchen and create your dishes using the best ingredients and always keep Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans in your pantry.