Vanilla ice cream. Vanilla yogurt. Vanilla latte. It isn’t difficult to find vanilla flavor added to many good and drink products. And what about foods and drinks with vanilla bean? What’s that all about?
Vanilla is the flavor and Vanilla Bean is the whole pod that contains the vanilla seeds. While you can buy vanilla in root form, you can also purchase cheaper vanilla extract and powder for cooking and drinks.
Here are some ways to use vanilla (preparation) along with food and drink ideas that incorporate vanilla into it. Plus we’ll also discuss choosing various forms of vanilla for your personal use.
How to prepare vanilla for use to food and drinks
Vanilla root, also known as vanilla rhizome, is a flavorful and aromatic ingredient that is often used in cooking and baking. It can be used in a variety of ways, including:
- Grating: The most common way to use vanilla root is to grate it using a fine grater or a microplane. This releases the flavorful oils and can be used to add vanilla flavor to dishes such as ice cream, custards, and baked goods.
- Infusing: Vanilla root can also be used to infuse liquids, such as milk or cream, to make vanilla-flavored custards or ice cream. To do this, split the vanilla root down the middle and scrape out the seeds. Place the seeds and the pod in the liquid and heat until just before boiling, then remove from heat and let it steep for at least 30 minutes.
- Whole: Some people prefer to use the whole vanilla root, which can be added directly to a dish. Whole vanilla root can be added to a pot of simmering milk or cream to infuse the liquid with vanilla flavor.
- Extract: Vanilla root can also be used to make homemade vanilla extract. To do this, split a few vanilla roots, scrape out the seeds and place them in a jar. Cover the seeds with a high-proof alcohol, such as vodka, and let it sit for several weeks or months to infuse the alcohol with vanilla flavor.
It’s always recommended to use high-quality vanilla root, as the flavor and aroma can vary greatly depending on the source.
What if you don’t want to use the root and would prefer to use a prepared product instead? Vanilla actually comes in several forms depending on your needs and budget, which we’ll discuss below.
What forms does vanilla come in for cooking and drinks?
Vanilla comes in a few different forms for cooking and drinks, including:
- Vanilla beans: Whole, dried pods from the vanilla plant that can be used to infuse flavor into a variety of dishes including ones with pork, chicken and fish.
- Vanilla extract: A liquid made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol and water. It is commonly used as a flavoring in baking and desserts like cakes, ice cream, custards and puddings.
- Vanilla paste: A thicker, more concentrated form of vanilla extract that contains vanilla seeds and can be used in place of vanilla extract or vanilla beans.
- Vanilla powder: A dry powder made from ground vanilla beans, it can be used in baking and desserts as well as some savory dishes
- Vanilla syrups: A sweet liquid form of vanilla flavor, often used as a sweetener and flavoring in drinks like coffee, ice coffee, tea and cocktails.
Depending on what you need vanilla flavor for, you can choose different forms which each come with a different price point to suit your budget.
Foods and drinks that incorporate vanilla
Vanilla root is a versatile ingredient that can be used to add flavor to a wide variety of foods and drinks. Some examples include:
- Baked goods: Vanilla root can be used to add flavor to cakes, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods. It can be grated and added to the batter or dough, or used to make a vanilla-flavored simple syrup that can be brushed onto baked goods.
- Ice cream and custards: Vanilla root can be used to infuse the cream or milk used to make ice cream and custards, giving them a rich vanilla flavor.
- Beverages: Vanilla root can be used to flavor coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other hot beverages. It can also be used to make homemade vanilla extract, which can be added to cocktails and other cold drinks.
- Puddings and other desserts: Vanilla root can be used to add flavor to puddings, creams, and other desserts. It can be grated and added to the mixture, or used to infuse the milk or cream.
- Sauces and marinades: Vanilla root can be used to add flavor to savory sauces and marinades. It can be grated and added to the mixture, or used to infuse the oil or vinegar.
- Meat dishes: Vanilla root can be used to add flavor to meat dishes such as pork, beef, and poultry. The vanilla root can be grated and added to the marinade, or used to infuse the cooking liquid.
These are just a few examples of how vanilla root can be used to add flavor to a wide variety of foods and drinks. Its unique flavor and aroma make it a popular ingredient in the culinary world.
What’s the difference between vanilla and vanilla bean?
In the past, we’d buy vanilla ice cream or French vanilla ice cream. But now you can find vanilla bean ice cream, vanilla bean latte and other products, too. What’s the difference?
Vanilla and vanilla bean are related terms that are often used interchangeably, but they do have slightly different meanings.
Vanilla refers to the flavor and aroma of the vanilla plant, which is derived from the seed pods (beans) of the orchid species Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla tahitensis. The plants are native to Central America and Mexico and have been used for thousands of years to add flavor and aroma to food and drink.
Vanilla bean on the other hand refers to the seed pods of the vanilla plant that are used as a spice. They are long, thin, and dark brown in color, and they have a distinctive, sweet aroma. The seeds inside the pods are also edible and are used to add flavor to food and drink. They are also known as vanilla pods or vanilla planifolia.
To sum up, Vanilla is the flavor and Vanilla Bean is the whole pod that contains the vanilla seeds. Vanilla extract is a liquid that is made by steeping vanilla beans in alcohol, and it’s commonly used in cooking and baking. Vanilla powder is made by drying vanilla beans and grinding them into a powder.