Instant Pot Vanilla Extract is a wonderful homemade vanilla that is so easy to make from vanilla beans! Pressure cooker vanilla extract is delicious, and makes great gifts!
Homemade vanilla extract is such a nice gift to give!
Originally published 8/29/18
Instant Pot Vanilla Extract
Raise your hand if you enjoy giving homemade gifts! I sure do! I'm actually not that creative when it comes to crafting, so I tend to make edible gifts. Then I do what I can minimally to make them look nice enough to gift to my family and friends.
Pressure Cooker Vanilla Extract is just one of my favorites because it is easy to make, and can be used by almost anybody, and has a very long shelf life, so I can make it far in advance of the Holidays!
Just a few simple ingredients are needed to make Instant Pot Vanilla Extract!
The steps to make homemade Instant Pot Vanilla Extract are simple:
After pressure cooking, let the jars cool in the pressure cooker undisturbed.
Give the jars a good shake a few times a week after you first make this pressure cooker Vanilla Extract. Agitation helps with the extraction process.
Some simple baker's twine and pre cut tags made these bottles of Instant Pot Vanilla Extract gifts easy to decorate. Get as creative as you want!
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Questions I Have Been Getting About Instant Pot Vanilla Extract
Where do you get the vanilla beans?
I get mine on Amazon. I like both the Tahitian and Madagascar varieties. Be sure to get grade 'B' as those are less expensive and are made for making extract.
I did purchase these Grade A Vanilla Beans as the price has finally gone down, and I LOVE THEM!
How long does vanilla keep?
It keeps indefinitely, as the alcohol keeps it shelf stable. Keeping the beans in the jar or bottle, just top it off with vodka when it starts to get low enough for the beans to poke up out of the alcohol. Then shake it every week or so to agitate it. I have one right now that is 2 years old. My friend has one that is 7 years old! He just tops it off once in a while!
What if the jars seal while pressure cooking? I thought you can't can in the Instant Pot.
If the jars seal, I wait until they are cooled and just pop the lid open. Then close it. This isn't canning, and the alcohol will keep the vanilla shelf stable.
What if I don't want to use alcohol?
I haven't tried it, but some people make their vanilla with vegetable glycerin (also called food grade glycerin).
Which Gift Bottles do you use?
Either the 4 oz size bottles (affiliate), or the 5 oz hot sauce bottles (pictured above). (affiliate)
Why Use a pressure cooker to make Vanilla Extract?
The main reason is the pressure cooking accelerates the extraction process so you can have dark, rich vanilla much sooner. Not everyone plans ahead, or can. So this method is very good for making vanilla when you want to.
Is It Safe to Make Vanilla in the Instant Pot?
With some simple precautions, it is pretty safe.
• Use good quality canning jars.
• Don't have any open flames anywhere near the pot.
• Let it do a full natural release.
• Use caution when handling hot jars (I let them cool in the pot).
• Don't try to move a pressurized pot (no matter what you're making).
I can't guarantee anything, but please use common sense and be careful, no matter the recipe you are making in your pressure cooker.
A few of my other favorite homemade gifts is Hot Sauce (recipe below), jam, cookies, Dulce de Leche (recipe below), and a few others. I try to make as many as I can during the summer and fall, that way when I'm in my busy Holiday season, all of those gifts are done!
Instant Pot Lemon Curd
Instant Pot Dulce de Leche Caramel
Instant Pot Hot Sauce
Instant Pot Maple Candied Pecans
If you make this wonderful pressure cooker vanilla extract recipe, please leave me a comment below with a star rating. I'd love to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Vanilla Extract is a wonderful homemade vanilla. It is really easy to make, and makes fun gifts, especially for the Holidays!
- 24 Vanilla Beans (extract grade "B" or Grade "A")
- 4 cups Vodka (cheapest kind) or use Vegetable Glycerin
- 1 ½ cups Water (2 ½ cups for the 8 qt pot)
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Cut all of the vanilla beans in half crossways, then split lengthwise ¾ of the way, leaving attached (kind of like a banana peel).
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Put 12 vanilla beans into each pint jar (that's 24 halves in each jar). If you are using smaller or larger jars, adjust accordingly.
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Pour the vodka into each jar, filling only to the bottom lid thread (that leaves about ¾ inch of space or more).
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Put the lids on the jars finger-tight (that's just barely tightened, and not as tight as when you store them).
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Pour the water into the stainless inner pot of the pressure cooker. Then put the metal trivet/rack in. Set the jars on the metal rack, not touching each other of the side of the pot.
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Put the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial and then the +/- button or dial to select 30 minutes. Low Pressure. It will take a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
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After the cooking cycle is finished, and the pot beeps, turn off the pot so it doesn't go to the Warm setting.
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Let the pot do a FULL NATURAL RELEASE of the pressure. You can let it sit after that as long as you want. I let the jars cool down quite a bit in the pot before I move them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
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You can let the vanilla stay in the jars and keep extracting, which it will do indefinitely, or transfer to the smaller jars as you like. Don't strain it or discard the beans! They will keep flavoring the vanilla for years! Just top off with vodka when the bottle runs low.
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Since vanilla makes a nice gift, I use the 4-ounce or 5-ounce glass bottles, and add 2 or 3 of the beans to each jar as that will look nice, and it keeps extracting.
- Be Safe! Don't make vanilla near open flames.
- Always let the pot Naturally Release FULLY, then let the jars cool.
- Cheap vodka is what you want to use. Don't bother wasting the good stuff!
- I think the vanilla is best left in the jars and only transferred to the gift bottles just before gifting as it will be stronger from sitting longer.
- Shake the jars a few times a week after you first make the vanilla. This will help with the extraction, and get those little seeds moving.
Pressure cooking accelerates the extraction process so you can have dark, rich vanilla much sooner. It will darken as it sits in a dark pantry.
KEEP THE BEANS AND SEEDS IN THE VANILLA!
Use common sense and caution. Don't allow children near the pot while making this recipe. Just be careful!
Resources to Make Pressure Cooker Vanilla Extract Recipe
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barbarann adamo
we have a couple of people that are going to go in on making it how many bottles do you get so as not to add so many people
Sandy
I usually buy 6 to 12 bottles, depending on how much I want to make. I use 5 oz size, but many people buy the 3 oz or 4 oz size bottles.
barbarann adamo
I guess what I was aksing is if I have the beans and a bottle of vodka how many bottles will that fill and could you tell me which beans you get that are on amazon grade b? It shows a usual of 5 beans is that enough ?
Sandy
Hi Barbara, I have linked to the beans I use, from Amazon, in the section below the recipe card. If you look at the "Tools Needed" portion on the recipe card, you will see the amount and size of the jars needed. Also, the amount of beans. I buy 20 to 25 beans.
Kathleen Marks
"1 1/2 cups Water (for the pressure cooker. 3 cups for 8 qt)"
Could you clarify this...do you mean 1 1/2 cups water for the 6 quart pot?
Thanks!
Sandy
Yes. You will put water in the bottom of the pot's inner liner to create the steam that builds up and pressurizes the pot. The 8 qt pot is a larger size, so it needs a little more water.
SHARON S.
Can I use flavored vodka or is it not recommended?
Sandy
I suppose you could. I would test it with just one jar first so you know if you like it before using all of your beans.
Felicia
Would using the Instant Pot for making vanilla cook the alcohol out??
Sandy
I think it does a little, but there is definitely alcohol left in there, hence all of the precautions!
Marianne
Hi! My beans say not to split,they are grade B. Should I do it anyway?
Sandy
You can just cut them in half.
Marianne
Thanks for the quick response?
Angie
Do you ever need to replace the vanilla beans?
Sandy
I don't think so. As long as you are topping off as it gets low you should be okay. I have had mine a few years and it is going strong! If you want to add in a few new beans to richen it up, just cut them in half first.
Amesha
Anyone have a jar break off the bottom of it while pressure cooking? Trying to figure out what I did wrong.
Sandy
Hi Amesha, no, never had that happen. Did you use good canning jars? I have heard that even in canning this can happen if there was a weak spot in the jar, or the jar was bumped while still hot (which is why I say don't move them until cooled). Sorry to hear that happened.
Sandy
Did you remember to put the jars on a rack in your pot liner? Being directly against the bottom might cause the jars to break.
Christina Stalboerger
3 of my 4 jars broke during the process. The only thing I can think is it happened between beep and heading into warming cycle while waiting for the natural release. I got it 10 min in, but maybe too late?
Sandy
Sometimes jars break in canning, too. Be sure to use good canning jars, and let it cool gradually. You can also try low pressure next time. Sorry that happened.
Christina
Thanks for ideas and recipes