Am I the only one who, as a little girl, loved the smell of vanilla so much that she just had to take a little taste – and then she gagged? Surely I’m not the only one. I remember the moment clearly. It was oh-so disappointing. The taste of vanilla extract was nothing like the smell. Bleh. Show
So now here we are, a few decades and a few gallons of Homemade Vanilla Extract later. I know now what I didn’t know as a little girl: vanilla extract is made with alcohol. Well, no wonder. Still, one would think that after 4-6 months of sitting in vodka, the all-amazing vanilla beans would overpower the alcohol. Plus, how can something that tastes so terrible by itself be such a delicious flavoring in recipes? My well thought out answer is, of course, this: I dunno. All I know is that after you follow all the directions and make vanilla extract, you can take a little taste and think, “Oh no! I did something wrong. This tastes awful!” But you’ll be wrong. You did everything right and vanilla extract just smells good (in small whiffs) and tastes bad (by itself). See? Look.  It smells soooooo good. But it tastes soooooo bad. How about Cinnamon Extract? Mmmm, smells good. Wow. That tastes bad. And whoa – it also burns the tongue. I guess it is cinnamon, after all. So what about Mint Extract? Well, mine doesn’t even smell good at this point, so I didn’t dare taste it. In its defense, I only started it last week. Therefore, it still smells strongly of vodka. It’ll get better in a few weeks. Now, if you take a deep, long whiff of your homemade extracts, the smell of alcohol will overpower the vanilla bean/cinnamon stick/mint. So waft gently, my friends, waft gently. All these words and ridiculous selfies to say this: If your extracts smell strong (but good) and taste terrible, you have done a fine job. Well done. You’ve made delicious extracts. What extracts do you have in the works right now? How do they smell? Good? Strong? Nasty? Do feel free to send me a extract sniffing or tasting selfie. No matter if you are new to the baking world or an expert chef, sometimes in your life, you wonder about vanilla extract. It is the most common ingredient of most popular baking products, ice creams, and puddings. As a person who remains conscious about health and food safety, you often wonder “does Vanilla extract go bad?” Also, how a person can tell if an extract-in-hand is good to use or not? If that’s what you are wondering at the moment, then this post will give you a clear answer to the common questions about vanilla extract. Also, you will get an idea of how to store this product correctly. First thing, First.
What is a Vanilla Extract?It is a solution made by macerating and percolating vanilla pods in alcohol and water. When soaked in a mixture of alcohol and water, then over time, the vanilla flavor infuses complexities in this mixture and results in the extract. Difference Between Vanilla Extract and ImitationIt’s relatively easy to differentiate pure vanilla extract from its imitation. In the baking department, you can read labels. The real deal will always have “Pure” mentioned on the label. Another thing to check is the price because the pure extract is still pricey. #1. Flavor and ProcedureThe main difference between extract and its imitation is the way both products are produced. Vanilla beans are used to create a pure extract, which has a brown shade. This brown color comes from essential oils. The pure extract has hundreds of flavor compounds that make it very rich in taste; vanillin is one of the leading and primary compounds. Imitation only has one critical flavor compound- vanillin, and it doesn’t contain all other compounds that make pure extract a real deal. Therefore, flavor imitation isn’t that rich. Vanillin is a synthetic substance made in a lab, and thus imitation vanilla has a low-quality taste than the real one. #2. Price DifferenceVanilla beans are expensive because their plants are picky and not easy to grow; thereby, the real one is costly. Not everyone can afford the real deal for everyday baking. Therefore, imitation vanilla extract with the synthetic substance vanillin is commonly used. The price is the main difference, so if you buy an extract under $5, it’s an imitation because the real one comes with a hefty price tag. The answer is dependent on the type of extract you have. If you have a pure one, it has an indefinite shelf life as long as you store it correctly. The good thing about pure extract is that its flavor gets better with age. The older it is, the better its flavor will be. So, you can say that the real deal doesn’t go wrong. However, one thing you need to note at this point is that extract has alcohol- which evaporates once you open the bottle. Therefore, when you use this product for years, then its flavor would become more intense. Does vanilla extract go bad if you buy an imitation? The answer is yes, and it will go bad after some time. The quality of imitation will degrade over time. On average, an imitation shelf life is six months to one year, but some products come with a longer shelf life if you store them properly. For getting an exact idea, you need to check the best before date. Although many people use it after the expiration date, they shouldn’t forget that the longer you store an imitation, its taste will be the worst. How to Tell if Vanilla Extract has Gone Bad?People often ask, “Does vanilla extract go bad if we tightly seal the bottle?” The answer is it shouldn’t go bad when you are quite careful in keeping this product. Whether you have a pure or imitation, it generally doesn’t go bad when you store it properly. Smell and texture are two important things to consider here. #1. SmellHow to tell if the extract went bad? You need to look at this bottle carefully. Open the cap and sniff. If you notice no smell, then your product is not suitable for use. You can check the lid as well; if there is some growth inside the cap, then it’s a red signal you need to pay attention to. #2. TextureWhenever you need to use vanilla extract, check it before pouring its drops into any mixture. In case you notice that the solution is cloudy and something inside the solution, you shouldn’t use it at all. The pure extract might not go bad as quickly as an imitation one. The quality of faux vanilla extract deteriorates over time, and at some point, you need to throw it away because it won’t have any flavor. An easy test to perform is to open the bottle and smell it. How Long Vanilla Extract Lasts?Pure Vanilla extract comes with an indefinite shelf life. On the other hand, you can use an imitation for up to two to four years. You need to check best before the date because some products are suitable for only up to six to one year. Types of Vanilla ExtractWhen it comes to pure and expensive Vanilla extract types, a consumer can explore a wide variety of extracts. Let’s find out more about them. #1. Madagascar or BourbonWhen you want to make vanilla your main ingredient of cookies or cakes, this traditional flavor is something you can’t get over quickly. It offers the most pungent taste of vanilla. Therefore, you often taste it in classic vanilla ice creams. #2. MexicanWhen you want to make Mexican cookies, you should add this type of vanilla extract because it has a smooth flavor with a spice pinch. Every other recipe of snickerdoodle cookie has this extract as the main ingredient. #3. TahitianIf you plan to cook creamy custard with fruity and floral flavor, always buy Tahitian because it will be your custard somewhat more delicious and richer in vanilla flavor. How to Store Vanilla Extract?When it comes to storing vanilla extract, you need to choose a pantry far away from heat, moisture, and sunlight. It doesn’t mean you can keep it in a refrigerator or fridge because low temperatures will damage this product. You need to pick a cold and dark place in your pantry. Some people store vanilla extract in a cupboard close to the stove, fridge, and dishwasher. This is indeed a bad idea you need to avoid at any cost. Whether you have a pure or imitation version of extract, you can use it for a long time if you store it properly. In case vanilla extract comes in a plastic bottle, you should shift it in a glass bottle or jar- the best way to store this product. Once you use this product, make sure that the extract is sealed tightly. Also Read: How to Freeze Green Beans Does vanilla extract smell good?Fresh and natural, vanilla extract can be used to fill your home with a sweet smell without using harsh chemical air fresheners. Whether you are looking to freshen up a small space, the entire home, or even just the kitchen sink disposal, vanilla extract can do the job.
How can you tell pure vanilla extract?To be labeled Pure Vanilla Extract, a gallon measure must contain 13.35% vanilla bean extractives (10-ounces of moisture-free solids), 35% alcohol, and the balance in distilled water. What is not listed in the Standard of Identity is sugar, corn syrup, caramel color or any other additives pure vanilla may contain.
Can you tell the difference between real and fake vanilla?Pure vanilla extract tends to have more complex flavors, but those flavors can degrade at high temperatures. Meanwhile, imitation vanilla extract doesn't have as nuanced of a flavor profile as real vanilla, but its strong synthesized vanillin flavoring can hold up in baked goods like cookies and cakes.
Why does vanilla smell so good?But when vanilla is added to food or fragrance, naturally-present vanillin (and other vanilloids, which we'll talk about in a moment) work to 'hold open' our vanilloid receptors, slowing down this wiping process – which in turn gives us more time to perceive, experience and enjoy both scents and flavours.
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