What is it?

The most potent, albeit the most expensive, way to add vanilla flavor is with the whole bean. Inside each long, leathery, dark-brown pod you’ll find thousands of tiny black specks bursting with vanilla flavor. The seeds not only add intense flavor but also a visual element. Vanilla beans are especially handy for infusing liquids with vanilla flavor, such as when making custards.

Kitchen math:

One 2-inch piece vanilla bean = 1 tsp. extract

Don’t have it?

Pure vanilla extract can be used in place of vanilla beans, but in cases where the beans are being steeped in a boiling liquid, such as cream, add the extract off the heat; otherwise its flavor dissipates.

How to choose:

The perfect bean is 5 to 7 inches long, plump, and has very dark brown skin; it should feel moist and supple (not dry and brittle) when rolled between your fingers. And be sure it passes the sniff test: Even through heavy plastic, the aroma should be close to intoxicating. The flavor of the vanilla beans is affected by where they’re grown. In general, Madagascar, which is what you’re most likely to find, is sweet and creamy. Tahitian vanilla is known for its tropical fruit and floral aromas; and Mexican vanilla tastes nuttier, with hints of spice. The rarer Indonesian vanilla is smoked during the curing process, lending the beans a smoky flavor, but that dissipates with cooking.

How to prep:

If you’re making a custard or otherwise infusing a liquid with vanilla, throw both the seeds and the pod in the pot. If you’re adding vanilla seeds to a batter and you want to be sure they’re distributed evenly, take a small bit of the batter, smush the seeds into it until they’re thoroughly mixed in, and then fold this concentrated vanilla portion into the rest of the batter. To remove the seeds: Hold the bean down on either end. With the tip of a paring knife, poke a hole in the top and slide it down the bean, splitting it in half lengthwise. Open it with the knife tip and scrape down, collecting the seeds on the blade.

How to store:

Vanilla beans will dry out and become brittle if left out in the air, so wrap them in foil, seal them in a zip-top bag, and store them in a cool, dark area. They’ll last this way for at least several months. If they begin to dry out, add them to your vanilla extract or a jar of vodka. And once you’ve scraped the seeds from a pod, don’t discard it: The pod still has tons of flavor. Add it to your sugar container, coffee beans, or favorite liqueur.

Cross Reference

vanilla extract; vanilla paste

Click here to purchase

Recipes

• 
  Recipe

  French Vanilla Ice Cream

  This luscious ice cream has a base enriched with egg yolks and flavored with a vanilla bean. Dry and reserve the bean after you make the custard, then pop it…

• 
  Recipe

  Gluten-Free Vanilla-Bean Cutout Cookies with Cream Cheese Glaze

  Thin, crisp, and melt-in-your mouth buttery, these scrumptious gluten-free cookies are every bit as delightful as their traditional counterparts. This dough keeps very well in the refrigerator or freezer, so…

• 
  Recipe

  St-Germain Custard and Roasted Grape Parfaits

  The floral notes of St-Germain are carried in the custard and pair perfectly with the grapes. Try the custard on its own, too, as a topping for fresh fruit or…

• 
  Recipe

  Peach Sheet Pan Pie

  Bourbon, vanilla, and thyme mingle with peaches in this summer crowd pleaser. No need to peel the peaches: Their delicate skin becomes tender during baking.

• 
  Recipe

  Creamy Cassis Cocktails

  For those too full from dinner to eat a sticky pudding, this drink, reminiscent of a white Russian but with a subtle fruit flavor, makes a nice sweet alternative. For…

• 
  Recipe

  Honey-Vanilla Greek Yogurt Mousse with Sticky Balsamic Berries

  A quick balsamic and black pepper glaze underpins the season’s most colorful fruits in this cool dessert. You’ll need a few hours to strain the yogurt and a few more…

• 
  Recipe

  Marmalade Cakes

  These buttery, tangy corn cakes are pretty enough for a party but not so sweet that you couldn’t enjoy one for breakfast. While a traditional marmalade rarely includes vanilla beans,…

• 
  Recipe

  Poached Pear & Pistachio Tart

  This recipe adds an exotic note to the classic poached pear tart, with pistachios in the crust and topping and cardamom in the filling. For best results, chill the filled…

• 
  Recipe

  Chocolate & Caramelized Banana Tart

  Yes, you can even make fresh fruit tarts in deepest winter. A cocoa crust, chocolate-cream filling and shards of dark chocolate play off the bananas’ creamy sweetness. For best results,…

• 
  Recipe

  Apple Rosette Tart with Maple Cream

  Twisting thin apple slices into tiny rosettes creates a beautiful, abstract design on this tart. Maple syrup in the pastry-cream filling makes the dessert a true celebration of fall.