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Step-by-step instructions: how to prepare vanilla extract at home
Vanilla is considered a popular culinary spice. It is added to baked goods, creams, fillings, desserts. The extract of this spice is used most often – it is easier to dose, add to dishes and store. It is not difficult to buy such a product in stores, but production tincture in 90% of cases contains sugar, flavors and other unnecessary additives. Knowing how to make vanilla extract at home can give you a quality product that you can’t find in any store. Moreover, it is easy to make, and has been stored for decades.
Knowing how to make vanilla extract at home, you can significantly save on the purchase of expensive spices.
DIY vanilla extract – step by step instructions
To prepare the spice, two ingredients are enough:
· Alcohol 35%;
· Vanilla pods.
The concentration of the tincture depends on the proportion of these components. To obtain a “strong” aromatic product, 250-8 pods (9 g) are taken for 25 ml of alcohol. The less vanilla is used in a recipe, the weaker the extract.
Cooking method.
1. Prepare ingredients and a dark glass bottle with a tight cap.
2. Cut the vanilla pods into small pieces and remove the seeds.
3. Pour food into a container, add alcohol, close tightly.
4. Remove the tincture in a dark and cool place, shake 3-4 times a week.
5. The extract is ready for use in a month, but it will continue to “ripen” further.
6. Before use, the tincture is filtered into a clean container.
The final result depends on the initial products, therefore, to prepare a good tincture, it is important to choose the best vanilla and high-quality alcohol (or vodka). The components are expensive, but the cost is worth it.
The product has been loved by all admirers of delicious and aromatic pastries since antiquity: even in the days of kings, it was considered outlandish and priceless. For modern chefs, the spice has become more accessible, but it is difficult to get a truly high-quality extract. This is due to the fact that manufacturers add preservatives and flavorings to it that enhance the aroma, but reduce the value of the product.
Experienced housewives believe that it is better to cook it yourself, because it turns out to be cheaper and healthier. In this case, the pods should be used only of the highest grade. Vanilla connoisseurs note that if properly prepared and stored, the spice retains its aroma for decades.
Culinary experts love the product not only for its taste, but also for its beneficial properties. Vanilla tincture improves skin condition, soothes, awakens good mood and creative imagination.
See also: things for the sea