Can vanilla beans be frozen? - Freezing Guide

Vanilla beans are a great item to have on hand. Many sweet recipes call for them, but you can also use them to make your own vanilla at home. You will be surprised to know all the uses that a vanilla pod has.

How are vanilla pods preserved? Can vanilla beans be frozen? How would you use the vanilla beans once frozen?

These are all great questions and we will answer each of them throughout this article. In short, you can freeze vanilla beans, but it’s not ideal. If you decide to freeze your vanilla beans, it’s important to be very precise and aware of the possible results.

Can vanilla beans be frozen?

Vanilla beans are a unique instrument. You don’t necessarily use them for your everyday cooking needs, but they have many uses, often unrelated to food.

When you buy vanilla beans, you usually buy a bulk amount that you won’t need to use all at once.

Whatever your reason for buying vanilla beans, you should know what you can do with them and how best to store them for future use. We will tell you a little secret. The freezer is a great storage tool!

Read on to find out everything you need to know about freezing vanilla beans.

Vanilla Bean Freezing Guide

If you haven’t done anything with vanilla beans, now is a good time to try some DIY projects, especially since you’ll have all the pertinent information for storing vanilla beans.

There are some great ways to use vanilla beans that you may not have a clue about. Also, if you’re familiar with vanilla beans, maybe you’ve tried all of them, but you never know, maybe we can offer you a new idea!

Vanilla Bean Uses

Let’s talk in more detail about some of the optimal uses for vanilla beans.

• Homemade Vanilla Extract – You can make your own vanilla extract by soaking the pod in vodka. The recommended ratio is 3-4 vanilla beans per cup of vodka. Shake them together in a glass container and store in a dark, remotely cool place. You will need to store it for 2-3 months for it to produce vanilla extract.
• Potpourri – You can use the vanilla beans to make your own potpourri combination. Combine the pods with other scent items of your choice.
• Soaps and Bath Products – Soaps and bath products can be made from the pod. It brings a delicate vanilla aroma that is quite calming and always smells good. Vanilla is one of the most popular scented items.
• Flavored coffees and drinks: You can grind vanilla beans or the pods with your coffee beans to add a delicious vanilla flavor. You can also use the pods to stir tea or other drinks and this will also add vanilla flavor.

About the vanilla bean

The vanilla bean is produced from the orchid plant. It grows like a bean pod would. The orchids that produce vanilla are grown primarily in tropical locations such as Tahiti, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Mexico.

Vanilla beans do not go directly from the plant to distribution. They must be soaked, dried and fermented to produce the flavor and aroma that we all love.

Freeze vanilla beans

Now that we’ve covered some of the basic information about vanilla beans, let’s move on to the topic at hand: storing and freezing vanilla beans.

Although you can freeze vanilla beans, there are some very specific things to keep in mind when freezing them.  There are some potential issues you may run into, so we want you to be aware of them.

We’ll also cover alternative storage options for your vanilla beans, so you can determine which method will work best for your needs, and so you can be fully aware of your options and the pros and cons that come with them.

The Advantages of Freezing Vanilla Beans

• A storage method to preserve the life of your vanilla beans
• The freezer preserves the natural smell and aroma of vanilla beans
• Store your pods for about a year in the freezer

The Cons of Freezing Vanilla Beans

• Requires specific procedures
• They must be sealed completely airtight
• It should be removed from the container immediately upon removal from the freezer.
• Leaves the vanilla bean more susceptible to mold
• May lose its useful life due to risks

As you can see from the list above, freezing vanilla beans isn’t really an ideal option, but it is doable. We’ll guide you through the steps to freeze them, so if you decide to do so, you’ll be as prepared as possible to avoid the potential inconvenience that comes with it.

If you think freezing your vanilla beans is still your best option, don’t worry. We’ve got the steps to get you started and the tips to make your freezing mission as successful as possible.

How to freeze vanilla beans

If you want to try freezing your beans, here are the optimal steps for freezing your vanilla beans.

1. Use a vacuum sealer or 2 freezer bags.
2. Seal the vanilla beans until they are 100% airtight. A vacuum sealer is the most effective, but you can also use freezer bags and seal them tightly in one freezer bag and then seal them tightly in a second freezer bag.
3. Label and date your vanilla beans. If they are well sealed, you can store them for up to 12 months.
4. When you take them out of the freezer, immediately remove them from the packaging and roll them up in kitchen towels or kitchen paper to prevent moisture buildup.
5. Let them rest on the towel for 4-5 hours.*
6. Remove them from the towel and place them in a glass jar.
7. Store them in a cool, dark place (we recommend the back corner of your cupboards or pantry)
8. Don’t freeze again

*The goal of the 4-5 hour rest is to prevent your vanilla beans from getting moldy.  Any moisture that remains in the vanilla bean can lead to mold, which will ultimately lead to the loss of your vanilla beans.

Alternative storage methods

The purchase of vanilla beans is relatively expensive. Of course, you don’t want to risk the pods going moldy or losing their flavor and aroma due to improper storage media.

If you doubt your willingness to freeze vanilla beans, we have solutions for you!  These solutions are highly recommended over the option of freezing the vanilla beans. Due to the nature of the bean, freezing is not ultimately necessary to preserve vanilla beans.

Mason jar storage

1. Place the vanilla beans (and pods) in a mason jar. Make sure the jar is clean and dry.
2. Place the jar in a cool, dark place. We recommend a place like the back corner of your cabinets or pantry.
3. Store your vanilla beans for up to 3 years.

Storage bag or container

1. Place the vanilla beans (and pods) in a tightly closed plastic bag or airtight container. Make sure the jar is clean and dry.
2. Place the sealed vanilla beans in a cool, dark place. We recommend a place like the back corner of your cabinets or pantry.
3. Store your vanilla beans for up to 3 years.
4. You can take out your vanilla beans, stir them, and air them out for about 10 minutes every 30-60 days to keep them fresh.

Related questions

We hope you found this guide informative and provided you with details not only about freezing vanilla beans, but also alternative methods that you can consider.

We invite you to review our questions and answers section for additional information available.

What makes vanilla beans such an expensive product?

Vanilla beans may seem like something that shouldn’t cost much. You will realize that even vanilla extract can be quite expensive. The reason the costs are so high is how much it costs to grow the vanilla beans.

Vanilla beans must undergo a specific pollination process in order to grow properly . This requires that the orchid flower on which the pods grow be pollinated at a specific time of day that the flower is blooming. Pollination is done by hand and is extremely time specific.

Do vanilla beans go bad?

Basically, the answer to this question is no.  The shelf life of vanilla beans when stored in the freezer is much shorter than when stored by other means.  However, vanilla beans can typically be expected to last 3-5 years if stored properly.

The pods do not spoil, but they can lose some of their flavor and aroma potency the longer they are stored. Remember that if you decide to store the vanilla beans in the freezer, you must take into account the possibility of mold formation.