The Shelf Life of Pure Vanilla

Vanilla Bean

• Cured vanilla beans resemble thin strips of leather or beef jerky and range in color from deep red to brown or black, depending on the variety, the curing process and the moisture content. A chocolate-brown bean with a moisture content between 18 and 25 percent is preferred for making vanilla extract. The seeds inside the bean pod give the bean its distinct flavor.

Storing Vanilla Beans

• Store vanilla beans in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard in a cool basement. The ideal temperature for storing vanilla is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity ranging from 60 to 65 percent. Keep the beans wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and inside an airtight glass container. If stored properly, vanilla beans will last up to two years but should be used in the first year if possible.

Pure Vanilla Extract

• Vanilla beans soaked for long periods in alcohol produce pure vanilla extract. The finished vanilla extract averages about 35 to 37 percent alcohol in commercial production, but the alcohol content of homemade vanilla extract varies, depending on the type and proof of alcohol used. The alcohol helps give pure vanilla extract its long shelf life. Store vanilla extract in a cool, dry place away from heat, light and air at temperatures less than or equal to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If stored properly, pure vanilla extract will last up to two years.

Warning

• Because vanilla has a relatively long shelf life, you may be tempted to purchase those extra-large bottles of inexpensive vanilla you see at the market while on vacation outside the United States. However, check the label carefully before buying. These inexpensive extracts may be made from tonka beans, a member of the pea family. Tonka beans leach coumarin into the extract. Coumarin has been banned from the United States because of potentially toxic side effects, including liver and kidney damage. Choose pure vanilla extract only.