Safe to use some vanilla pods that have been fished out of another recipe?
I have used some vanilla pods that I bought on a farm in Mauritius to make crème anglaise. Because the pods are a bit special, I have fished them out of the cream and left them to dry. They smell as amazing as before, and they look fine.
Is it likely to be safe to use them in a second recipe? Any suggestions about what to cook?
(Obviously if someone says they're safe and they turn out not to be, it's my fault, not theirs!)
Best Answer
No, I wouldn't use something that had been in cream and then dried at room temperature. There is nothing to protect from bacteria growing. Used vanilla beans in sugar might not work since most of the flavor has been removed. It would have been ok in the fridge for a couple of days. One way to store vanilla is in brandy.
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What can I do with scraped vanilla pods?
After you've scraped the seeds out, there's still great use for the pods!Can you use old vanilla pods?
Vanilla beans can last for years if stored properly, but even then they still can dry out. But not to worry. You can easily rehydrate dried vanilla bean pods in hot (not boiling) water and other liquids to soften for use or reuse (more on this later).Can a vanilla bean be used twice?
Yes. Because a vanilla bean has a great deal of flavor, it can usually be reused several times before its aroma and taste are depleted. A great way to recycle a bean is to make vanilla sugar. Simply wash and dry the used bean thoroughly.Is vanilla pod poisonous?
The bean can be used to make flavoring very similar to vanilla. Sadly the concoction is dreadfully toxic and can cause liver damage and is a known carcinogen. Coumarin is used extensively in synthetic vanillas manufactured in Mexico. The U.S. banned imports of the coumarin laced products back in the 1950's.How To Use And Reuse Vanilla Pods | Georgia's Cakes Kitchen Hacks
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Answer 2
If they have been in cream, I'd be a bit worried about the cream going off. If you have washed them first they might be ok.
You could always try storing them in a jar of sugar, for nice vanilla sugar...
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