Ever notice how vanilla extract tastes like it’s gone bad? It certainly can seem that way, but if you think about it for a while you’ll realize just why the overpowering flavor is so off-putting. Vanilla extract is made from vanilla beans and alcohol, and while the alcohol might not be all that appealing on its own, when you add in flavorings such as sugar and vanillin (among others), the concoction becomes far more palatable. When it doesn’t have these other flavorings to add balance or contrast, however, it’s not hard to see why someone’s palate would find the concoction unpleasant.
It’s because of the taste of those other vanilla-bean-based additives that vanilla extract is such a polarizing flavor. It’s not for the person who loves desserts, after all, but instead for the person who loves coffee, tea, and more savory dishes like pasta sauce. What’s more is that people seem to have an emotional connection to it. It should be so appealing because of its simple flavor profile and sweetness—but it’s not.
It turns out that there’s a scientific reason for its off-putting flavor…and it has nothing to do with the fact that alcohol is involved! it’s probably best to let your palate decide how much you like vanilla extract. The first thing to understand is that the flavor of vanilla extract is much more complex than your typical “vanilla” flavor.
The vanillin and alcohol are very strong in the flavor—which is why it’s not common for food companies to use vanilla extract in their products and instead only use real vanilla beans. Since you can’t taste the alcohol in vanilla extract (it’s added later), let’s focus on how you really taste the sugar, glycerin, and other flavors that go into it. In order to explain how, let’s take a look at what exactly goes into making it.
What happens to make the vanilla extract taste so sour and bitter?
The reason is referred to as pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is what occurs when molecules are heated above their means of decomposition without the aid of an oxidizing agent (such as oxygen). It’s an entirely different process from combustion, which takes place in the presence of an oxidizing agent.
When molecules decompose, they break down into simpler compounds via a myriad chemical reaction. When you heat them up in a pyrolysis process, however, the reactions can produce compounds that are less pleasant than their originals. Take carbohydrates for example The breakdown of carbohydrates produces carbon dioxide, water, and energy.
But, if you heat a carbohydrate in the absence of an oxidizing agent (such as oxygen), the process of pyrolysis will produce alcohol and pyruvic acid. The breakdown of proteins produces nitrogen and a wide variety of sulfur-containing acids, both of which are toxic to humans. And so on with other compounds of interest to cooks…
There’s no reason that vanilla extract would be any different.
When vanilla beans are heated in the absence of an oxidizing agent such as oxygen, they undergo pyrolysis, which produces distinct compounds including vanillic acid, oxalic acid, and furfural. These and other compounds combine to produce a flavor for which many find vanilla extract entirely unsuitable: vanillin . It’s not just vanillin, however; the furfural compound has woody and dry flavors that many find unfavorable as well.
But there’s another problem too: Alcohol tends to be a solvent of sorts for other compounds found in foods, which is why a glass of wine usually tastes very different from its raw ingredients (i.e. grapes) — and why vanilla extract is quite tasty on top of a chocolate cake but much less so when eaten by itself.
In this sense, it’s very much like the way salt tastes good on pretzels but awful on ice cream (not to mention why you shouldn’t drink lemon juice straight). So while you might think of the flavor of vanilla extract as being quite appealing, it can be pretty awful on its own. Yet, there’s a pleasant fix for this issue. Add some sugar, milk or cream, and other flavorings to your personal taste and voilà! You’ll find that your homemade vanilla extract is much more palatable to the palate… just don’t drink it straight!
Vanilla is a fairly strong flavor, so it can be a bit overwhelming when concentrated. But you’re mostly tasting the alcohol. You can make your own extract by soaking vanilla in vodka, in case that gives you an idea.
That alcohol is vastly diluted in the recipes you normally use vanilla in. A percentage of it (but not all) might also cook-off. (It’s a myth that all alcohol cooks out of recipes.) There’s also usually sugar in those recipes and other masking flavors. That’s why many recipes call for vanilla extract. It works (usually) well.
However, the real question should be: Why does most commercial vanillas taste so awful?
Good vanilla also has a slight bitter note in some recipes that is often lost in a concentrate. A few manufacturers are trying to fix this by adding more vanillin to their extracts. They add it at the molecular level, so it doesn’t make the harsh chemical taste of pure vanillin, but you might still want to try your own handmade extract if you’re really concerned about it not tasting entirely artificial-tasting.
Pricing is also very different for homemade versus commercial. Commercial vanilla (extract plus beans) is about $50 for 4 ounces, or about $1.25 an ounce. Homemade vanilla extract is anywhere from $0 to $8 a pint, but you can get pricey beans and make your own for even less as well. It’s very much worth considering making your own if price is a factor.
Vanilla extract is generally much more convenient than using the beans, and that convenience comes with a bit of a price premium. If you don’t consider it worth the price premium, then making your own is the answer.
And it really isn’t hard to make at all. You can make it in your kitchen, or you could use a small portable extractor like the one from The Vanilla Bean Company, which I reviewed here. In comparison to commercial extracts, this one is super easy to use (this video shows you), and I think it smells much better than commercial extracts do.
Does vanilla extract have a taste?
The way you describe the commercial vanilla tastes is how I feel about the real stuff. It’s like a sickly sweet goo, almost like cough syrup.
Factors influencing the taste of vanilla extract are:
Which type of vanilla beans are used (Mexican or Indonesian),
How long they’re left to ripen/cure, and
How they’re processed after harvesting, including where they are stored and whether or not they’ve been dried, heat treated, waxed or immersed in alcohol before being packaged.
Vanilla extract can be used as a flavoring ingredient in many recipes but it is also often consumed directly by adding drops of it to milk or water through a dropper.
To be used as a flavoring ingredient, vanilla extract is added in small amounts to recipes. It is most commonly used in its concentrated form, but it can also be diluted with water or milk before being used. Unlike vanilla beans, which are commonly used in cooking and baking, vanilla extract is more commonly added to recipes that don’t involve cooking or baking. Vanilla extract is a popular flavoring ingredient for alcoholic beverages including cocktails and desserts. Because of the high cost of vanilla beans, liquor stores often sell only small bottles of pure vanilla extract.
What does vanilla taste like?
Vanilla extract has a very distinct taste, which is why it is so commonly used in food. In the same way that a new car smells new, the vanilla scent in vanilla extract has the same qualities as the actual flavors of vanilla beans. Vanilla extract, however, is not actually made of actual vanilla flavoring; it is made from actual vanilla beans that have been processed to make a concentrated substance called vanillin. Because vanillin is so strong and complex in flavor, there are many different types of pure vanilla extracts that vary slightly in flavor depending on where they are harvested, how they’re treated after harvesting and what type of alcohol they are steeped in before being bottled.
How much vanilla extract should I use in my recipe?
Vanilla extract is used very commonly in cooking and baking recipes because it has such a strong flavor. It can be used in anything that calls for vanilla, such as cakes and other desserts. Because of the amount of vanilla extract needed by most recipes, it is important to consider how much you need to use when making your own vanilla extract to ensure that it can be used in the amounts needed for a recipe. The amount of vanillin added will depend on the size and dryness of the bean before processing.
What are some good uses for homemade vanilla extract?
Homemade extracts are frequently used in baking and cooking recipes because they are so concentrated and flavorful. However, making homemade vanilla extract also leaves you with a large amount of vanilla beans that can be used to make other recipes.
Vanilla extract can be added to ice cream recipes to add flavor and a deep brown color. It can also be added to alcoholic beverages like vodka, bourbon or rum. It is frequently used in cocktails, desserts and other foods that don’t require cooking. In addition to being included in modern cooking recipes, homemade vanilla extract is often added directly to foods like milk or water for drinking purposes due to its strong flavor and pleasant scent.
What flavor does vanilla extract add?
Vanilla extract adds a very strong, very complex flavor to food. It can be difficult to detect the actual flavor in vanilla extract, but that isn’t a bad thing: it’s a sign that the extract is high-quality and strong. Because of this, it may be hard to detect the flavor in vanilla extract when tasting directly: however, some people say they can taste it after adding drops of the extract to food or beverages like milk or water.
Some people don’t like the taste of store-bought vanilla extracts because they have such a distinct and artificial note in them due to how expensive and high-quality vanillin is. Because homemade vanilla extract is made from actual vanilla beans, it is much stronger and more true to the original flavor of vanilla. Because of this, you may detect a much stronger and more complex flavor than you would in commercial extracts.
Commercial vanilla extracts tend to be made with vanillin rather than actual extracted beans, which means they are not as flavorful as homemade or fresh vanilla extract. Vanillin is derived from wood pulp in the paper industry, but it can also be derived from a chemical called guaiacol. This process creates a chemical that is similar to vanillin but doesn’t have the unique flavors that real vanilla does.
Can vanilla extract get you drunk?
No, vanilla extract will not get you drunk. Vanilla beans are used to create real vanilla extract that is used in cooking and baking. While the concentration of vanillin in commercial extracts is much higher than it is in homemade extracts, the flavor of vanilla extract is from the actual beans rather than vanillin. The extraction process of vanillin makes it so that it can be added to almost anything without affecting flavor, but homemade extracts tend to be more flavorful due to the removal of other compounds that also make up a bean’s taste and smell.
Can vanilla extract get you high?
No, vanilla extract is not psychoactive. It can, however, get you drunk: vanilla beans contain a variety of different chemicals that may be toxic if ingested in large quantities. Most vanillin that is used in commercial extracts is derived from guaiacol: it is extracted from wood pulp and various oils. A side effect of ingesting high-quality vanilla extract is usually a sedative effect with minor cognitive impairment and hallucinations. Because of this, it cannot be legally sold as a drug or become part of any other substance banned by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
To sum up, homemade vanilla extract can be used in many different ways in the kitchen because it is so strong and flavorful. It can be added to foods like ice cream and other desserts or infused into alcoholic beverages. One of its most popular uses, however, is as a key ingredient in homemade creme brûlée. It also often finds its way into drinks like cold milk and water. Vanilla extract can be used when making flavored ice creams or simmered with a variety of other ingredients to create deliciously unique concoctions. It’s important that you use pure vanilla extract for flavoring purposes as it will not only add a very complex flavor to your recipes but also give them an appealing look.
0 responses to “Why Does Vanilla Extract Taste So Bad By Itself?”