Instant Pot Vanilla Extract is a wonderful homemade vanilla. It is really easy to make, and makes fun gifts, especially for the Holidays!
Cut all of the vanilla beans in half crossways, then split lengthwise ¾ of the way, leaving attached (kind of like a banana peel).
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.
Pour the vodka into each jar, filling only to the bottom lid thread (that leaves about ¾ inch of space or more).
Put the lids on the jars finger-tight (that's just barely tightened, and not as tight as when you store them).
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.
Put the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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.
After the cooking cycle is finished, and the pot beeps, turn off the pot so it doesn't go to the Warm setting.
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.
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.
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.
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!