Best Vanilla Bean For Extract?

Question

Hiya! So I have decided to make my own vanilla extract.
I have heard many good reviews of the ebay seller "Vanillaproducts" and he has very good prices to boot! 

My only thoughts is, I have no idea about the different types of vanilla beans. What grade do I need? Do I want Madagascar Bourbon or Tahitenis? Does length matter when I'm buying buy weight?

Also, while you are here, let me ask about Vodka. (I'm 18, so no drinking for me yet, but my parents are fine with using it for cooking/baking) We live in Oregon, so grocery stores are not allowed to sell anything except wine/beer/guiness. What is a good inexpensive brand of vodka? (My family doesn't drink) Can I get away with an inexpensive bottle or do I need midgrade?

Thank you very much :)
Emm

Answer

I prefer to use dark rum. Right now I have about 3 dozen pods in a glass jar standing in 2 inches of dark rum in the pantry. The rum will be flavored by the pods in about a month or longer and the pods will remain fresh and plump for any number of uses. Ideally your vanilla beans should stand in alcohol for at least 2 months. And if you want to speed up the process snip a tiny bit off from each end of the vanilla pod. The pods will act like a straw and suck up a small amt. of rum infusing the seeds and the liquid extract will become even more intense in flavor.

Answer

If you can get B Grade Beans they are cheaper and are fine for extract. They tend too be dryer and not as pretty but the flavor is fine.
As stated above most Vodkas( as long as they are not flavored) are fine as well as Rum.

Answer

I have done mine in vodka and in rum. I preferred the rum extract but it does make it a little less "pure" of a flavor since the rum has more taste than vodka (I use Bacardi white rum). When I have done it with Vodka I have used Absolute but you could easily do it with a Smirnoff which is a little less expensive. I don't know if I would do it with a really cheap jug vodka since some of those can actually have a really harsh taste to them I find and you would still have that background flavor in your vanilla.

As far as beans. The type of bean is totally up to you. I like Tahitian but it has a bitt of a more floral aroma/taste to it than Madagascar beans. The difference is very subtle so you would be happy and easily recognize either as vanilla.

The larger and plumper beans are the more expensive beans. You don't need either of those qualities for vanilla extract. So go with the least expensive beans you can. The vodka will "re-hydrate" a dry bean and if the bean is too long you may have to cut it anyway to fit in the bottle you are using. So no point there.

I use WAY more beans than most extract recipes call for when I make mine but I'm not patient when it comes to the waiting part and I like a really strong vanilla flavor. I was also fortunate enough to buy my beans in bulk while I was in Tahiti so they were very reasonably priced. I haven't bought commercially produced extract in probably 5 years now.

Its fun to do. Enjoy!

Answer

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/783618
We found this topic some time back helpful.

Answer

I have been making my own vanilla for about 10 years now and use the cheapest vodka I can find. I have found out the more vanilla beans you use the better the flavor and I do use madagascar beans that I have purchased through ebay. The tahitian beans seem more subtle to me. I have wanted to try the rum but does the rum flavor come out in the food? I cut the beans into 1" pieces and then split them and put them into the vodka, date the bottle, and put it away in a dark cabinet and from time to time take out the bottle and give it a shake. All the good bits come out and infuse the liquid and it smells heavenly. I usually wait about a year before I use it and always have a few bottles "brewing" in the cabinet.

Answer

For what it's worth, Cook's just did a taste test and declared that the McCormick Madagascar beans in Supermarkets are the best, and that you only need one bean per 3/4 cup of vodka to make the extract. They used Smirnoff and say an expensive vodka is not necessary, and tell you to heat the vodka (obviously not too hot or you will drive off the alcohol) first and pour it over the cut, split and scraped bean. They tell you to shake daily and the extract will be ready in about a week.

Have not tried any of this myself.

Answer

I use to buy the cheapest vodka, but decided to go up a couple of dollars to SKY. I have been making vanilla for 25 years. I also pour it out in the dark colored bottles 2 ounce and put a vanilla bean (half) in it. The caramel coloring is absolutely beautiful. I also use Madagascar beans. I am saving to buy some Hawaiian Vanilla beans, I heard, like the coffee, it is richer in taste. Good luch

Answer

LOVE this answer!

Answer

Definitely Skyy - you want a vodka with very little taste of it's own. The type of bean doesn't matter as much as how many you use - don't skimp on the beans. 

Cut the beans lengthwise using clean scissors, if they're large beans cut them into 4 strips. Scrape whatever is on the scissors into the vodka. Put the strips into a glass jar that you can get a small pair of tongs into. 

Put the strips in the jar, cover with vodka, cap tightly and shake. Put the jar where you can see it, but it doesn't get any sun or sit under lights too much. Shake it once a day for at least a week. Check a strip to see if it's softening. 

When the strips have become saturated and soft this is when you scrape the bean. Use a bamboo skewer and the seeds will scrape out easily. Leave everything in the jar after scraping, keep shaking it every day. After another week check it - is it fragrant? Taste it - does it have an intense vanilla taste? When you feel it's ready (I always let mine steep for a month) it's up to you if you want it strained - if you decide not to strain it put it in the fridge or it will get a little murky sitting at room temp. The difference in baked goods, vanilla comes, etc., was amazing using my own vanilla!

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