Vanilla & Extracts 5 g
Vanilla Bean Count-to-Weight Estimator
How many vanilla beans are in a 4 oz bag, or how much do 10 beans weigh? Estimate counts and weights by origin, grade and length, for Madagascar, Uganda, Tahitian, Mexican and other beans.
How to use it
- Choose whether you have a weight or a number of beans.
- Pick the origin, grade and length.
- Read the estimate and the counts for common package sizes.
How it works
Bean weight depends mostly on grade (moisture) and length. Plump Grade A beans at 30 to 35% moisture weigh about 5 g at 6½ inches; drier Grade B beans about 3 g at 5½ inches. Tahitian beans are plumper and heavier.
Weight is scaled with length from those typical sizes, and shown with a range because beans vary from lot to lot.
Assumptions and limits
- Estimates use typical sizes; your lot can differ by 15% or more.
- Moisture falls as beans age, so older beans weigh less.
Tips
- For extract, buy and measure beans by weight, not count.
- Store beans airtight in a cool, dark place, not the fridge.
- Plump, oily beans that bend without cracking are freshest.
Recipes to try it with
Questions
How many vanilla beans in an ounce?
About 5 to 6 Grade A beans or 9 to 10 Grade B beans.
How many vanilla beans in a pound?
Roughly 90 Grade A Madagascar beans or about 150 Grade B.
How much does one vanilla bean weigh?
About 4 to 6 g for Grade A and 2.5 to 3.5 g for Grade B.
Why are Tahitian beans heavier?
They're plumper and hold more moisture than Madagascar Bourbon beans.