At the Food Fête party this week after the Fancy Foods Show, a representative from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas handed me a kit sealed with a vanilla bean. She suggested that if I didn't want to cook with it, I could take advantage of its pleasant fragrance.
"Oh, don't worry — I'll cook with it," I reassured her. Although they're rather expensive — pods cost around $5 each — cooking with vanilla pods, in my opinion, imparts a more natural flavor than using vanilla extract. I like to use them in everything from cakes to vanilla-flavored hot chocolate. What about you?
Havaianas
...why are your beans frozen?
1otaku: I don't think they are frozen, I think they are coated in sugar. That being said, I love to use real vanilla bean for homemade ice cream.
2I use them for flan and dulce de leche, but otherwise I stick with the extract because of the expense.
3I use the real stuff for special, special occasions. The real vanilla beans are very hard to find here. And when you can find them, they are really expensive!
4I bought a bunch of vanilla beans on eBay a year and a half ago and they're great! I poured some bourbon into a jar with six or so and have the best homemade vanilla extract. Another few went into a jar for vanilla sugar. I highly recommend checking out eBay before shelling out major bucks for beans!
5Of course and I'm using them in the buttermilk, sour cherry scones I'm making right now
6oh... sugar... i feel like an idiot. haha XD
7I use them in applications where it's going to really make a difference that I am using high quality beans and not extract - i.e., custards, ice cream, etc. If I'm doing a cookie with 3 different add-ins, I'll definitely use the extract instead. Or, when I'm doing a special gift or occasion, I'll pull out the real deal.
8Hell no! It was like $12 for 3 beans! No no no nooooo!
9well, for Vanilla Bean ice cream, there is nothing else!
10I bought a pound of vanilla beans in bulk for less than $30, including shipping. I use them in everything... homemade frosting just looks so much more declicious with vanilla bean flecks
11$5/bean is insane- I order from Saffron.com which is local to San Francisco and delivers great quality beans. $20 yields > 120 beans.
Check it out at http://www.theposter.com/vanilla2.html
They keep for a long time in a jar of sugar (and you end up with great vanilla sugar as well). There's no comparison between beans and extract.
12i agree that saffron.com is a great site, but i still don't use vanilla beans often. when i make things like cakes and cupcakes, i use extract in the mix, because none of my friends or relatives would notice a difference. for frostings and more custard-like desserts, though, i'll use them for the enhanced flavour.
13ebay has some fantastic deals on vanilla beans. Ive used them and they are great.
14ebay has some fantastic deals on vanilla beans. Ive used them and they are great.
15no - i've always been of the extract generation. i know that there's value behind using the bean, but it's expensive and it takes more time to use and sometimes i'm just trying to bake something rather quickly.
16I love vanilla bean, but it's so expensive.
17I don't normally cook with them but I make my own vanilla extract and vanilla sugar.
18Costco sells a pack of 10 vanilla beans for around 11 dollars.
19not yet...
20@articamy you read my mind. I get organic fresh vanilla beans on ebay they are super cheap I think last time I got 25 beans for 10 bucks! I have used the same co a few times and am always happy so if you want to try using real beans at least you are not out a fortune!(no,I don't sell them online I swear!)
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