The Best Way To Store Vanilla Beans To Keep Their Flavor And Scent Intact

Vanilla beans are one of the most expensive spices chefs can get their hands on, and they strive to keep this precious seasoning as fresh as possible. Thankfully, storing the beans is as easy as storing any other spice, but it does call for a few specifics. 

Vanilla beans are said to last up to two years when stored correctly. That is, if the delicious pods can even make it that long in your cupboard. The secret to keeping vanilla beans flavorful isn't a secret at all; in fact, it's rather simple. Tasting Table spoke to Chef Lior Lev Sercarz, the founder of NYC's La Boite, at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, where he explained that a good, airtight glass container is all it takes.

Vanilla can be incorporated into dishes in many forms. While no artificial vanilla "essence" will ever suffice for the real deal, there's vanilla paste and vanilla extract to choose from, or, of course, vanilla beans straight from the source. While they are the freshest option, beans are the most finicky. Other factors can help the beans live their longest, most aromatic life, like being kept out of the fridge and in a cool, dark place, but the container is one of the most important things to keep in mind.

Lior Lev Sercarz is a master of all things spices and seasonings, and vanilla beans are no exception. "The one thing you don't want to have is air or humidity coming in. Not so much for spoilage, but losing the quality," Sercarz advises. Vanilla beans already contain their own natural moisture, generally around 25%-30%, and toying with that balance can lead to mold or brittle, cracking beans. The wrong level of humidity will only cause harm to vanilla beans, but the potency is more likely to degrade before any spoilage.

If you can't easily bend vanilla beans, they've likely lost their flavor. Dry, hardened beans won't bring much vanilla aroma to the plate. The airtight container will also help to preserve the potent scent, which is a huge part of the vanilla experience, but some experts recommend taking an extra step. Wrapping the beans in wax or parchment paper helps maintain the ideal moisture levels and keeps them from clumping together. 

Since they're often saved for something special, it's easy to forget vanilla beans in the back of the pantry. That's another reason Sercarz advocates for glass jars — they'll always catch your eye when you look into the pantry. As he says, "If you see them, you'll use them. If tucked into a cupboard somewhere, you'll never use it." Vanilla beans can make any recipe feel special, like our vanilla mug cake recipe that takes a boxed cake mix up a handful of notches, or a vanilla-forward cocktail.