How long you wait for glicerine extract to complete process and what is a shelf life since you put water in? And what type of water is it? Anything with water gets mouldy pretty much straight away no?
Thank you for this question because I totally forgot to include this! The shelf life of glycerin-based vanilla extract is about 1.5-2.5 years, depending on a couple factors: 1. Water Quality: Using distilled or boiled (and then cooled) water helps extend the shelf life, while tap water may reduce it to the lower end of that range. 2. Glycerin to Water Ratio: Always use at least 2.5-3 oz of glycerin per 1 oz of water. Glycerin acts as a preservative, so the water won’t cause spoilage as quickly when the ratio is high. Let the extract sit for at least 3 months, but for the best flavor, wait 9 months to a year and use it before the 2-year mark.
You’re right-if we were selling this, we’d need more vanilla beans per 6 oz of vodka to meet FDA standards. However, this is for home use, and to save $ we utilize longer steeping times (which enhances flavor with fewer beans), an age old hack that the FDA requirements doesn’t take into account. That’s why we emphasize long steep times in the video. We’ve made this recipe many times, and it tastes great! Better than store versions IMO. Others have even used fewer beans with great results. It’s all about steep time. Thanks for your comment!
Just imagine if you used more beans in your extract how much better it would taste. I understand why you are using less beans because you want more for your money. Vanilla beans are no where near as expensive as they were a few years ago. You have the time frame correct so why not add the proper amount of beans per fluid oz of alcohol. When I first started making vanilla extract 5 years ago I made a recipe similar to yours and the flavor was just ok. But once I learned to make it better my extract with more beans was awesome, so much better than my first extract. It was a single fold extract. Now that I know better I do better. As you stated you are not selling it so you have no need/desire to follow FDA guidelines for making vanilla extract. Selling it or not I want the best extract possible, especially since so much time is invested in making the extract.
Hi Pamela! We appreciate the feedback and sharing your experience! One thing I love about our recipe is that it tastes great but also will of stand the test of time, especially with the volatility of the vanilla bean market. While prices are currently much lower than they were a few years ago, factors like weather events in major growing regions like Madagascar, increased global demand for vanilla, or production challenges could cause prices to rise again someday. By keeping this recipe flexible, we hope to make homemade vanilla extract an option for everyone, even during times when vanilla bean prices fluctuate. Of course, for those who want a stronger flavor, adding more beans is always the way to go for better extract, especially while they’re cheaper right now. Thank you again for your insight! 😊
How long you wait for glicerine extract to complete process and what is a shelf life since you put water in? And what type of water is it? Anything with water gets mouldy pretty much straight away no?
Thank you for this question because I totally forgot to include this!
The shelf life of glycerin-based vanilla extract is about 1.5-2.5 years, depending on a couple factors:
1. Water Quality: Using distilled or boiled (and then cooled) water helps extend the shelf life, while tap water may reduce it to the lower end of that range.
2. Glycerin to Water Ratio: Always use at least 2.5-3 oz of glycerin per 1 oz of water. Glycerin acts as a preservative, so the water won’t cause spoilage as quickly when the ratio is high.
Let the extract sit for at least 3 months, but for the best flavor, wait 9 months to a year and use it before the 2-year mark.
Your bean to alcohol ratio doesn't meet FDA requirements. Your "vanilla extract" won't have much flavor.
You’re right-if we were selling this, we’d need more vanilla beans per 6 oz of vodka to meet FDA standards. However, this is for home use, and to save $ we utilize longer steeping times (which enhances flavor with fewer beans), an age old hack that the FDA requirements doesn’t take into account. That’s why we emphasize long steep times in the video. We’ve made this recipe many times, and it tastes great! Better than store versions IMO. Others have even used fewer beans with great results. It’s all about steep time. Thanks for your comment!
Just imagine if you used more beans in your extract how much better it would taste. I understand why you are using less beans because you want more for your money. Vanilla beans are no where near as expensive as they were a few years ago. You have the time frame correct so why not add the proper amount of beans per fluid oz of alcohol. When I first started making vanilla extract 5 years ago I made a recipe similar to yours and the flavor was just ok. But once I learned to make it better my extract with more beans was awesome, so much better than my first extract. It was a single fold extract. Now that I know better I do better.
As you stated you are not selling it so you have no need/desire to follow FDA guidelines for making vanilla extract. Selling it or not I want the best extract possible, especially since so much time is invested in making the extract.
Hi Pamela! We appreciate the feedback and sharing your experience!
One thing I love about our recipe is that it tastes great but also will of stand the test of time, especially with the volatility of the vanilla bean market. While prices are currently much lower than they were a few years ago, factors like weather events in major growing regions like Madagascar, increased global demand for vanilla, or production challenges could cause prices to rise again someday.
By keeping this recipe flexible, we hope to make homemade vanilla extract an option for everyone, even during times when vanilla bean prices fluctuate. Of course, for those who want a stronger flavor, adding more beans is always the way to go for better extract, especially while they’re cheaper right now.
Thank you again for your insight! 😊