Is Real Vanilla actually worth it?

Summary by Krater

The creator tests vanilla extract, vanilla paste, vanilla powder, vanilla beans, and imitation vanilla across three blind taste tests (frosting, pancakes, and cookies) to see if real vanilla is worth the cost and how aroma molecules behave in cooking.

From the video

Answers: Is real vanilla actually worth it compared to imitation vanilla?

• vanilla extract vs imitation vanilla
• vanilla bean taste test
• food science of vanilla
• aroma molecules in vanilla
• vanilla in baking

Ingredients

• 1 g McCormick Vanilla Flavor Clear
• 1 g Zanilli Pure Mexican Vanilla Extract
• 1 g M&B Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 g The Casa Market Vanilla Paste
• 1 g Coop's Vanilla Bean
• 340 g Unsalted 65-degree butter
• 340 g powdered sugar
• 3 g salt
• 85 g heavy cream
• 500 g flour
• 100 g sugar
• 10 g salt
• 15 g baking powder
• 4 eggs
• 400 g water

What it concludes

• Imitation vanilla contains on average 15 times more vanillin concentration than real vanilla extract.
• Madagascar produces about 80% of the worldwide vanilla crop.
• Real vanilla extract provides noticeably better flavor in uncooked applications like frosting and pancakes compared to imitation vanilla.
• Vanilla bean paste and extract show very little flavor difference in baked goods like cookies because heat destroys the delicate aroma molecules.
• Buying a mid-priced real vanilla extract is worth the cost for home bakers, whereas whole vanilla beans are generally not cost-effective for everyday baking.