Chef Delves Into the World of Vanilla and How to Make the Most of Each Type

Vanilla is indisputably one of the most essential ingredients for baking. Depending on the recipe, we can select extract, paste, or beans. However, as you may already know, having all three in your pantry can be costly, especially if you don’t use them regularly.

This may have left you wondering if they can be used interchangeably. Check out this video shared on May 30 to see this chef’s answer.

Chef Dean Sheremet (@ deansheremet ) has provided us with some terrific information. Although I have extract and beans in my kitchen, I’ve often wondered about the purpose of the paste, and now, I won’t have to wonder anymore.

Related: Beloved Celebrity Chef Shares Trick To Making Homemade Vanilla and It’s Easier Than Expected

The Different Uses for Vanilla Beans, Extract, and Paste

1. Vanilla Beans. He tells us these are the raw, unprocessed pods that come from the vanilla orchid. “They are long and thin, and they provide a rich and complex flavor profile that can absolutely not be duplicated by extract or paste.” The downside, he reveals, is that they are about $150 a pound! Unless you have an unlimited grocery budget, this may make them too expensive for everyday baked goods. Instead, he advises us to save them for crème brûlée , cocktail syrups, and homemade ice cream -wherever we want to see those seeds.
   
   
2. Vanilla Extract . It's produced by soaking vanilla beans in a mixture of alcohol and water, extracting the flavor compounds. While it is less complex in flavor than the raw beans, it still provides a flavor suitable for most baking, he reports.
   
   
3. Vanilla Bean Paste . He describes this as a thick, concentrated paste containing vanilla extract, bean seeds, and sometimes a sweetener and thickening agent, such as gum. This, he reveals, “Provides the flavor of the extract with the visual appeal of the bean seeds.” He advises us to use it like a bean when we want that burst of flavor without the hefty price tag.

Where Do Vanilla Beans Grow?

Vanilla beans can be grown in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, in the United States. However, most vanilla we find in stores is grown in Madagascar and Indonesia. Last year, when visiting a farmers’ market, I purchased my first vanilla orchid. Until then, I wasn’t sure what these exotic beans grew on. I was astonished when I learned this orchid would take 3 to 5 years to produce even one bean. To complicate matters, their blooms only last for a single day, and they must be pollinated within a 12-hour window for a pod to be produced. Then, it takes 6 to 9 months to mature before they can be harvested and cured. With understanding, I now have a much better appreciation for their price.

I’m happy this chef has taught us how to use these three types of vanilla best. It will help ensure our baked goods taste better than ever.

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