When learning how to use a vanilla bean, start with plump, soft beans that bend easily. After carefully splitting the bean ...

I bake a lot, which means I go through a lot of vanilla beans. For some preparations, I use only the seeds – I split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the tiny seeds with the dull ...

Vanilla bean paste offers a richer, more complex flavor with visible specks that elevate both taste and presentation, while pure vanilla extract provides a subtler note that enhances other ingredients ...