Vanilla pods are an essential ingredient in various desserts. The problem is they can be pricey. If you’ve managed to get ahold of a batch, what’s the best way to store them?
Can You Freeze Vanilla Pods?
Yes, you can freeze vanilla pods for up to 12 months. Place them into an airtight freezer bag, and remove as much of the air from the bag as possible. Seal the bag very tightly, and freeze it at the centre of the freezer.
Do Do Vanilla Pods freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Vanilla Pods? Yes
How to Freeze Vanilla Pods
Freezing vanilla pods is a simple process, but we recommend following our steps to ensure you don’t waste any of these pricey ingredients.
- Pack Into a Bag: Packing the pods into a freezer bag as tightly as possible is the best way to ensure you can eliminate excess air. More items in the bag will displace air, making the process easier.
- Remove Air: Press as much excess air as possible out of the bag – air is the enemy! Vanilla pods can dry out if they’re around too much air, and that should be avoided, as they’re not helpful once they’re dry. Therefore, press down on the bag and pods to squeeze out as much excess air as possible.
- Seal: Seal the freezer bag as tightly as possible, ensuring the seal forms and takes well. If you’re unsure about the firmness of the seal, it might be worth wrapping the bag in a layer of cling film to be sure that there is a seal, even if it’s outside of the bag itself.
- Freeze: Freeze the vanilla pods in the centre of the freezer, where they’ll be as far as possible from the frost front at the edge of the freezer. That should allow them to remain as far from freezer burn as possible, maintaining their flavour.
3 Tips for Freezing Vanilla Pods
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing vanilla pods to have the best results:
Keep Wrapping
Wrapping the vanilla pods in several layers of protective items will allow them to be better maintained than you might otherwise consider. This is because the layers will not be moving relative to one another. They will stay intact very well – a sealed layer of cling film or two will provide more insulation than you would expect.
Vacuum Seal If Possible
If you have a vacuum sealing machine in your home, it would be worth breaking it out for the vanilla pods. Air is the enemy when storing vanilla pods, so eliminating it as much as possible is a good way to preserve flavour.
Maybe Don’t Bother…
Freezing isn’t always the best option. If you’re unsure how well you’ll be able to preserve the pods, you might be better off putting the vanilla pods in a small jar with some vodka. When a recipe calls for vanilla extract, you can use the liquid from the jar.
How Long Can You Freeze Vanilla Pods?
Provided you made sure to follow our instructions on the best way to freeze vanilla pods, they can be frozen for around a year before they’ll begin to degrade noticeably.
At that point, you’ll typically notice a loss of flavour, followed by the pods becoming more brittle and dry.
When stored in a cool, dark cupboard you’ll find vanilla pods can last for up to 2 years. That begs the question: Why would you bother freezing them?
How Do You Defrost Vanilla Pods?
You can defrost vanilla pods by keeping them sealed and placing them on the countertop overnight.
This should be enough time for the pods to thaw without attracting excess moisture by being open to the air.
If you’re infusing syrups, sauces or creams with vanilla then you can use the pods directly from the freezer.
Can You Refreeze Vanilla Pods?
Yes, you can refreeze vanilla pods.
However, repeated freezing and thawing might start to dry out the pods, leading to a lack of flavour and texture in them later.
Do Vanilla Pods Freeze Well?
Yes, vanilla pods do freeze well – provided you keep them away from the elements, the pods will retain their flavour, and the oxidation process can be quite intensely slowed through freezing.
Of course, you have to question whether there’s actually any point to freezing them.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing vanilla pods or vanilla in general, then these may help:
Although it is safe to freeze it, vanilla extract is at risk of losing its flavour and/or absorbing other flavours from the freezer. It will keep for months and months in the cupboard instead.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
