Tasting Expert Reveals Which Vanilla Extract is the Best



Tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Julia to a tasting of vanilla.

Buy our winning imitation vanilla:
Buy our winning pure vanilla extract:
Read the full vanilla taste test:

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44 Comments

  1. I found Simply Organic about 5 years ago, and could taste the difference when baking & in vanilla syrups. It became my go-to brand. My daughter picked up on it right away. She's REALLY picky with spices & can tell the differences right off – think she inherited it from me…🥺 Now she always makes sure it's in my cupboard before baking.

  2. I wish you'd talked about recommendations for baked goods versus pudding or whatever you tested. It would be good to have your professional advice on when you can skate by with the cheap stuff, like chocolate chip cookies for the kids? And when it's worth splashing out for the real deal

  3. I absolutely love this show.I speeded through because I needed to buy some vanilla flavor and the inexpensive one was what I was curious about and shocked it was even considered on test kitchen because I highly respect the opinions of the great people on this show.

  4. Buy a bottle of imitation. And buy some good vanilla beans.

    Pour some vodka or unspiced rum into a jar, and drop the vanilla beans in a tightly sealed jar.

    Every couple of days, shake the jar. Use the imitation bottle in the meantime.

    Don't get me wrong, the beans are still expensive….but in about 3-9 months you'll have a TON of vanilla extract that is arguably just as good as any of the extracts you buy.

  5. The Simply Organic is the best vanilla extract from a grocery store I’ve tasted. It tastes good in baked goods, puddings, frostings, etc. The McCormick organic vanilla is great too, and tastes so much better than the original McCormick vanilla, as it’s less harsh tasting, and has more of a smooth clean vanilla flavor.

  6. After seeing this segment I bought Baker's Imitation vanilla. I was very excited because at heart I am a tightwad. Boy was I disappointed. I used it in a cookie recipe where the vanilla wasn't the star of the show, just an enhancer. I taste soap when I used the imitation. I've always noticed that certain less expensive vanilla ice creams over the years have a soapy background note and if I had read the label I am sure I would have found vanillin instead of vanilla. I wish it weren't true. I loved the price of Baker's.

  7. Can someone tell me how long a bottle of vanilla extract remains edible? I found a bottle of Watkins Original Double Strength in my cabinet that is at least 15 years old and want to know if I can still use it.

  8. Fact. To be called pure, FDA requires 1oz of vanilla beans to 8oz of alcohol. It is the only standard out there. But beware, they can add things to it and still call it pure. You cannot substitute the real deal with additives. Yes, it is very expensive, but then again, so are diamonds. 🤷‍♂️

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