Tips on The best way to Use Vanilla Beans

If you enjoy cooking and enjoy watching famous chefs cook on TV then you’ve probably seen more than one cook scrapes the seeds from the inside of a vanilla bean pod. This process of scraping the bean looks simple, particularly if it is performed by a pro cook. They are sure to use a very sharp and pointy knife to split the bean lengthwise and gather all of the small seeds from within the bean pod. You can try this at home, but beware that splitting the pod with a paring knife likely looks simpler on TV than it is in reality because the bean is hard and leathery.

To get the very best from your vanilla beans, you should prepare it before you use it. To make it a bit easier to split the pod open, you can soften the skin a couple of different ways. To soften the pod with steam, you can put the bean in a sifter and hold it over boiling water for about two minutes. Or, you can simply boil the bean. After the pod has cooled down, you will find that it is much easier to slit it lengthwise.

Next, scrape the seeds from within the pod. It's a great idea to use parchment paper or a wax paper on your working surface to catch the seeds as they fall from the opened pod. Without something to catch the small seeds, you'll lose them and what a terrible loss that would be because the seeds are so precious. Also take care the seeds don't stick to your hands or get under your nails as you work to free them from the pod. The entire vanilla bean is edible and can be used in many different ways. You can scrape the seeds from the pod and add them straight to any recipe. If you would like to prepare vanilla sugar, then add the bean pod to your sugar jar and in a couple of weeks you’ll have a sweet addition to your cupboard. Ensure that the jar has a particularly snug fitting lid and it's crucial that you keep the jar away from full-on daylight. You can use the sugar in your coffee or on top of your morning cereal.

This valuable ingredient is actually grown from the orchid plant which must be pollenated by hand. This makes the bean a pretty costly ingredient so using the entirely of the vanilla bean is in your best interest. This way you’re not wasting this wonderful ingredient and you’re not wasting any money.

Did you know that there are a number of other uses for the vanilla bean besides just in recipes for things like cookies and cakes? Other uses include scents like those used in perfumes and candles, and one can even add it as an ingredient in cigars or stuff it into tobacco pipes. Some prefer to eat it rather than smoke it, so you can use it to add a little flavor to your yogurt or cottage cheese. Vanilla pairs quite well with dairy products. You could also treat yourself and your friends by serving hot cocoa or coffee with a hint of vanilla added.

There are a many great uses for vanilla beans and having the ability to prepare them yourself makes it better. It’s recommended that you try it because the imitation vanilla flavoring that may be bought at your food store just does not do the ingredient justice. A manmade rendering of the ingredient just can't compare to the juicy scent and intense flavor that a genuine vanilla bean can offer. You may even make your own vanilla extract to be used in your recipes. Your grandma's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe will never taste better than when you use legitimate vanilla extract. And making your own extract is so simple. Put your vanilla beans in a bottle of vodka. Store it in your cupboard for 2 to 4 months, dependent on the power of extract you want. Then enjoy all of your vanilla bean recipes a million times more than before because you took some time to make and use real vanilla beans.