Step 5: The Long Wait For Extracts to Age

Step 5: The Long Wait For Extracts to Age

This may be the most difficult step for making extracts at home - waiting. It tries your patience but the reason millions of people make their own extracts is because of the sweetness that can only be derived from delicate, slow aging. Some people say wait for 90 days, others a year, others over 2 years. Which is best for you? 

The tips below come from thousands of trial-and-error DIY extracts and will help you decide how long is long enough. 

The Long Wait

  1. Does it really take 1 full year to make vanilla extract? 
  2. Is condensation in my extract jar a bad sign? 
  3. What is the white "stuff" growing on my beans in the jar?
  4. How long does it take for the extract to turn dark? 
  5. How do I know when my extract is ready? How do I taste test?
  6. Should I shake my extracts for better & faster results?

Proceed to Step 6: Vanilla Use & Troubleshooting

Go Back to Step 4: Vanilla Bean Arrival & Preparing Extracts

Visit our comprehensive extract making guide center for more free extract making tools designed from real trial-and-error by real people making spectacular extracts at home. 

— VanillaPura Pro
Taggué: aging process artisanal extract making premium vanilla quality vanilla beans vanilla extract
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Commentaires

There is some very good information for people just starting and good reminders for the rest of us. Thank you.

— Donna Labella

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from 1161 reviews

The scent and the size of the beans is quite inpressive, along with the major plumpiness. The oils are amazing-vanilla sugar is on tap for those bags!

J.R.
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My all time favorite.

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Mary Williams
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Syrupy and delicious!

I did a double fold using these beans and Bacardi superior and after 18 months, the vanilla is sweet and syrupy with lots of caviar, perfect for that special recipe! I’m pleased to be gifting it to a special friend.

Robin Barr
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It’s here!!!

It’s here!!! It arrived very fast for a group buy! It smells AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to bake with it!

Eva Simpson
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Smells amazing

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Deborah Bennett
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That lovely oil!

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PAULA J
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Love the Madagascar vanilla beans. Late starting thisyears Christmas gifts but I’ll be early next year!!!

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Elegant

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BJ
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Loved the fragrance of this spice blend

Loved the fragrance of this spice blend. Can't wait till it is finished. Now I wish I had purchased more of it.

Anonymous
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I have ordered these from VP before & loved loved loved the extract. So I had to get more.

Phyllis Hone
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