How to use a vanilla pod effectively


How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Vanilla pods are used in many recipes, but they need to treated in a particular way to be effective, detailed here.
394 K 3.6/5 (80 reviews)
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Last modified on: February 21th 2011
For 1 pod, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 9 min.
Resting: 15 min.
Cooking: 10 min.
All in all: 35 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Cut vanilla pod in two, then split each part in two lengthways.

Stage 2 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
With the back, not the sharp edge, of a knife blade, scrape out all the small black seeds which contain the essence of the vanilla flavour.

Stage 3 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Add these small black seeds to the liquid of your recipe, here milk for custard sauce (crème anglaise).

Stage 4 - 10 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Add pod too, to get the whole flavour.

Bring to the boil, then remove from heat, cover and leave to stand for about 15 minutes, so that the milk absorbes the taste.

Stage 5 - 15 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
It's important to strain the milk afterwards to remove all the bits, especially the small brown fibres of vanilla pod.

To do this, pour the milk throught a strainer...

Stage 6 - 3 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
... to remove them, but use a strainer that is not too fine to allow the small black seeds to pass through.

See in this photo what's left after filtering: skins and brown fibres which would spoil your dish.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe0001 RDI=0 %7 RDI: 0 %
Per 100 g010 RDI=1 %050 RDI=3 %220 RDI: 3 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman Change to a man
How much will it cost?
  • For 1 pod : 2.65 €

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Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
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