How to Substitute Vanilla Beans for Extract

Vanilla beans can often be used more than once.

When you are making a sauce, syrup or dessert that calls for vanilla extract, but do not have any on hand or prefer not to use it, you can substitute vanilla beans instead. While vanilla beans impart a stronger flavor to heated liquids than vanilla extract does, some flavor will evaporate during heating. Vanilla beans are often more expensive but you may be able to reuse the bean.

Things You'll Need

• Spoon
• Knife
• Running water

Instructions

Adding to Heated Liquid

1. Place one vanilla bean in the heated liquid for each tsp. of vanilla extract the recipe requires.

2. Remove the vanilla beans with a spoon once you have finished heating the liquid.

3. Rinse the vanilla beans under running water, air dry and store for future use if the beans still have the scent of vanilla.

Increase Flavor

1. Gather one vanilla bean for each tsp. of vanilla extract the recipe requires. Slit the vanilla beans lengthwise with a sharp knife. Scrape the seeds from the pods with the edge of the knife and add them to the liquid.

2. Add the bean pod to increase flavor if desired.

3. Remove the bean pod after heating or cooking the liquid and discard.

Tips & Warnings

• Add 1 tsp. of water or milk to your recipe for each bean you substitute if too much liquid evaporates.

References

• OChef: Substituting Vanilla Bean for Extract
• Arizona Vanilla: Vanilla Tutorials
• Arizona Vanilla: How to Use Vanilla