Vanilla & Extracts 1×
Vanilla Extract Batch Calculator
Plan a batch of homemade vanilla extract around the bottles you want to fill: how many beans by weight and count, how much spirit to buy, what goes in each bottle and the date it will be ready.
How to use it
- Add the bottles you want to fill: sizes and how many.
- Choose the strength, your beans, how you'll infuse and the spirit's proof.
- Start the batch, shake weekly and bottle on the ready date.
How it works
US single-fold vanilla extract holds 13.35 oz of vanilla beans per gallon (100 g per liter) and at least 35% alcohol, counting the beans at 25% moisture. Plump Grade A beans are wetter, so it takes a little more of them by weight.
Infusing in one big jar loses about 1 mL of extract per gram of beans, which soak it up; infusing right in the bottles means the beans take up some of each bottle's space. The ready date counts from your start date.
Assumptions and limits
- Bean weights are typical for each grade; weigh your beans for accuracy.
- 80-proof (40%) spirit keeps the finished extract above 35% alcohol.
Tips
- Split each bean lengthwise to expose the seeds.
- Store in a dark cupboard and shake once a week.
- Label each bottle with the start date and the beans you used.
Recipes to try it with
Questions
How many vanilla beans per cup of vodka?
For single-fold extract, about 24 g of beans per cup: roughly 8 Grade B beans or 5 Grade A.
How long does homemade vanilla extract take?
At least 2 months; 6 to 12 months gives a much richer flavor.
What alcohol is best for vanilla extract?
Plain 80-proof vodka for pure vanilla flavor; bourbon or rum add their own notes.
Should I use Grade A or Grade B beans for extract?
Grade B (extract grade) beans are drier and less expensive, and they're made for extract.