Vanilla Bean Pods - How to Properly Cook Them

When a recipe requires vanilla extract, why grab a bottle when you can make that recipe bust out with real vanilla beans?  Vanilla beans are actually beans incased inside of pods and can be bought in many stores or health food markets.  Always use one pod for each teaspoon of vanilla extract when cooking.  We are going to give you 5 easy steps to prepare vanilla beans in your kitchen. 

1.  Buy Only Whole Vanilla Bean Pods

Make sure that you buy only whole vanilla bean pods when shopping at your local store or health food market.  The label will say, “vanilla bean” and is usually sold in the spice aisle in jars.  Buying the whole vanilla bean is expensive, but you will use the whole vanilla bean pod when your cooking.

2. Learn to Cut the Vanilla Bean Pods Correctly

Lay out the vanilla pod flat on a cutting board and unfold it.  Then take the tip of a sharp knife and cut off the hard dried up tip of the vanilla bean pod and save for later.  Take that sharp knife and cut a slip down the entire length of the vanilla bean pod.

3.  Getting to the Vanilla Bean Pods

After you have cut the vanilla bean pod down the entire length, you need to fold the edges back and there you will find the vanilla beans.  The vanilla beans will be about the size of small grains of sand.

4.  Scrap the Pod for the Vanilla Beans

Using the back of the knife or a spoon, you can scrap the entire length of the pod to capture the tasty vanilla beans in a blob.  With that blob you can add it to cake batter or pie crusts to enhance anything that requires vanilla.  Make sure that you mix it in well and that the vanilla beans are well distributed.

5.  Using the Husks of the Vanilla Bean Pod

Tossing out the husks of the vanilla bean pod would be a mistake.  You can chop up the husks into small pieces and them to a container of granulated sugar.  The sugar will have a vanilla flavor to it in a few days.  You can also add it to your favorite vodka to give it a special kick as well.  Let it sit for several days and you will have your own vanilla extract.