Is it cheaper to make or buy real vanilla essence?

[Smokering]

I read somewhere on MDC - I think in a thread about homemade Christmas gifts - that you can make your own vanilla essence using vanilla beans and vodka. I like the idea, but I was wondering if it's actually cheaper to get the beans and alcohol or just buy the essence? I do buy proper essence, not imitation. Anyone know how much vodka's going for these days? And if you've done this, can you tell me if it tastes as strong/nice/flavoursome as the bought stuff?

[kjbrown92]

You can use rum or vodka, I believe. And it probably depends how cheap a spirit you use, how cheap your extract is. Though I don't know if "cheap" vodka would affect the flavor. I make my own extract with Ciroc Vodka, which is expensive vodka made out of grapes, but I make mine because my kids can't have corn, gluten, potatoes, cane sugar, etc so that was the only kind of spirit I could find that would be safe. It tastes FANTASTIC. It's just as good, if not better than the Vanilla from Tahiti that I was buying (corn free and about $12 for the small bottle). It takes about a month for it to get good and tasty though so it's not a fast process.

[Magelet]

well the only real difference between good vodka and cheap vodka is how much its been filtered, so if you have a brita filter or something..... buy cheap vodka, run it through the filter a few times, then make your vanilla essence. in fact, I think I'm going to try this perhaps...

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Magelet

well the only real difference between good vodka and cheap vodka is how much its been filtered, so if you have a brita filter or something..... buy cheap vodka, run it through the filter a few times, then make your vanilla essence. in fact, I think I'm going to try this perhaps...

Mythbusters did this actually. And it's not true.

But the fact is that if you can get a good deal on the beans, it's probably cheaper to make your own... assuming you're buying vanilla in small 1-2 oz bottles. Not like they use expensive alcohol for that stuff.

But, I buy vanilla at the local restaurant supply store - it's a quart of real vanilla for about $15 (the imitation is cheaper, of course). I can't make it for that price, with the price of beans being what it is.

I do have a 750 of vodka that's been steeping 2 beans for about 2 years now. It's nowhere near strong enough to replace extract... I'd need at least another 4 beans in there for that, I think. Which would bring the 750 to about $40 ($15 for the vodka, and beans are usually about $4-5 each). And that's assuming that 6 beans are enough for a 750. Instead I'll probably wind up using the vodka for Kahlua - since I know the price of buying that is far more than making it.

But, if I were stuck buying vanilla for $3 (or more)/2 oz bottle, it would definitely be worth it to make it myself.

[apple_juice]

I got a deal on vanilla beans 20 or $20!! So I have 10 in a bottle of rum right now. Hoping it works.

[Liquesce]

When we did it I think we used good brandy, and it was fantastic ... I really don't know if it's cheaper or not, but it was definitely worthwhile.