Formats of Vanilla
There are several ways to maximise your purchase! Use the natural Vanilla beans directly to make:
1. Vanilla Extract
2. Vanilla Powder,
3. Vanilla Paste and
4. Vanilla Sugar.
If you are looking for non-alcohol alternatives, Powder, Paste or Vanilla Sugar would be your best substitutes.
There are several ways to maximise your purchase! Use the natural Vanilla beans directly to make:
1. Vanilla Extract
2. Vanilla Powder,
3. Vanilla Paste and
4. Vanilla Sugar.
If you are looking for non-alcohol alternatives, Powder, Paste or Vanilla Sugar would be your best substitutes.
1. Making your own Vanilla Extract
I received quite a number of questions at the market. Customers were asking me on how to go about making their own vanilla extracts? How many vanilla beans and with what type of alcohol? where to store the extract? how long to steep? Etc.
Note: If you are looking for Halal alternatives(not using alcohol), using only natural vanilla beans, powder format - Best would be to prepare your own, because you know what goes into the preparation - you never know what you buy if the vanilla is processed and sold to you in a bottle.
Here I present to you some facts which I gathered to prepare Vanilla extracts:
According to the US FDA, in order to classify a product as real vanilla extract, one would need to have 13.35oz per gallon alcohol @ 35% abv proof.
So..What does this mean?
Essentially, if you are more comfortable with the metric system, which I am, the conversion would translate to 378.466g of vanilla beans (about 94 beans) with 3.785 litres of alcohol with alcohol content of at least 35%.
So to make a US FDA recommended Vanilla Extract at home, you will need approximately:
--> (1 FOLD) 100g of vanilla beans (about 25 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
--> (2 FOLD) 200g of vanilla beans (50 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
--> (3 FOLD) 300g of vanilla beans (75 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
It is recommended that you use Vodka, because it is the most neutral (alcohol) that will bring out the best vanilla extract.
If you travel frequently, or if you have friends flying in and out of Singapore, ask them to get you the Smirnoff Vodka at the DFS duty free - 1 litre @ about S$16.30 tax free! You just need to throw in 50 vanilla beans in that one bottle! Voila.
This is really cheap. But if you prefer the higher end vodka, you can go for absolute vodka, grey goose, amongst others. Anyway, all of these will spot a proof of about 40% abv, regardless.
Also, the number of folds will dictate the strength of the vanilla extract. The more beans you put in your preparation, the more intense the strength. You may want to experiment and calibrate it accordingly - so that your vanilla inspired recipes taste perfect with the vanillin.
So, at the market I mention to my customers that they need need about 6 - 8 beans steep in about 250ml of vodka. This was deduced from the 1 FOLD recipe of making vanilla extract. You can double-up if you like. I was told that typically, bakers will use two-fold vanilla extract for baking. Seriously, if you are planning to make 1 litre of extract, that is really really alot of extract - of course you can share this with your friends, as gifts etc. :)
So, how exactly should you store your home made vanilla extract:
1) You can use a air-tight bottle, steep the beans into the recommended proportion of alcohol.
2) Put them in a dark cupboard which is, preferably cool and away from your heat, oven etc; or
3) Put it in the chiller of your fridge compartment;
4) Shake vigourously daily or weekly basis or as and when you have the desire to shake, so the beans can steep well.
5) How long to steep? There were alot of differing opinions on this: Some recommended 4 weeks, some recommended 4 - 6 months. I would say, it depends on what you like. They say the longer you steep, the better the flavour. It is like wine. But do steep it for at least 4 weeks.
Here is a concluding note:
It is to my surprise that most extracts in the market do not specify what goes into making the extracts. But well, hopefully you are now more discerning. Buy your own beans and start making your own extracts!
Note: If you are looking for Halal alternatives(not using alcohol), using only natural vanilla beans, powder format - Best would be to prepare your own, because you know what goes into the preparation - you never know what you buy if the vanilla is processed and sold to you in a bottle.
Here I present to you some facts which I gathered to prepare Vanilla extracts:
According to the US FDA, in order to classify a product as real vanilla extract, one would need to have 13.35oz per gallon alcohol @ 35% abv proof.
So..What does this mean?
Essentially, if you are more comfortable with the metric system, which I am, the conversion would translate to 378.466g of vanilla beans (about 94 beans) with 3.785 litres of alcohol with alcohol content of at least 35%.
So to make a US FDA recommended Vanilla Extract at home, you will need approximately:
--> (1 FOLD) 100g of vanilla beans (about 25 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
--> (2 FOLD) 200g of vanilla beans (50 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
--> (3 FOLD) 300g of vanilla beans (75 vanilla beans) per litre of Alcohol @ least 35% abv proof.
It is recommended that you use Vodka, because it is the most neutral (alcohol) that will bring out the best vanilla extract.
If you travel frequently, or if you have friends flying in and out of Singapore, ask them to get you the Smirnoff Vodka at the DFS duty free - 1 litre @ about S$16.30 tax free! You just need to throw in 50 vanilla beans in that one bottle! Voila.
This is really cheap. But if you prefer the higher end vodka, you can go for absolute vodka, grey goose, amongst others. Anyway, all of these will spot a proof of about 40% abv, regardless.
Also, the number of folds will dictate the strength of the vanilla extract. The more beans you put in your preparation, the more intense the strength. You may want to experiment and calibrate it accordingly - so that your vanilla inspired recipes taste perfect with the vanillin.
So, at the market I mention to my customers that they need need about 6 - 8 beans steep in about 250ml of vodka. This was deduced from the 1 FOLD recipe of making vanilla extract. You can double-up if you like. I was told that typically, bakers will use two-fold vanilla extract for baking. Seriously, if you are planning to make 1 litre of extract, that is really really alot of extract - of course you can share this with your friends, as gifts etc. :)
So, how exactly should you store your home made vanilla extract:
1) You can use a air-tight bottle, steep the beans into the recommended proportion of alcohol.
2) Put them in a dark cupboard which is, preferably cool and away from your heat, oven etc; or
3) Put it in the chiller of your fridge compartment;
4) Shake vigourously daily or weekly basis or as and when you have the desire to shake, so the beans can steep well.
5) How long to steep? There were alot of differing opinions on this: Some recommended 4 weeks, some recommended 4 - 6 months. I would say, it depends on what you like. They say the longer you steep, the better the flavour. It is like wine. But do steep it for at least 4 weeks.
Here is a concluding note:
It is to my surprise that most extracts in the market do not specify what goes into making the extracts. But well, hopefully you are now more discerning. Buy your own beans and start making your own extracts!
2. You can make Vanilla Powder quite easily:
First, microwave one bean, till it puffed up and feels dry. Then let it cool down. HOT! CAUTION!
Then pop it into a coffee bean grinder or a food grinder to turn it into powder form...there you have your powder. Store the powder in an air-tight bottle and you can use it anytime you want.
Or if it is too troublesome, wait for the beans to dried out on their own (takes a long time in Singapore's hot and humid weather). Then use these dry beans to make the powder as suggested. So, the next few videos will show you how yo prepare the vanilla in different ways to get the various forms of vanilla the natural way! Enjoy!
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