299000 Thu Oct 28 16:18:42 -0700 2004 8 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1654876 Is it a good idea to buy pure vanilla extract in bulk, like say from Costco? A big bottle of McKormic pure vanilla extract is about $7.5 while a much smaller bottle in Safeway costs about $11. Thu Oct 28 16:18:42 -0700 2004 0 Wendy Lai 1 1654881 How big is big? A gallon of IMITATION extract should cost you about $7.50. A few oz of pure vanilla could be $11. Maybe the big one is imitation? Vanillla is extremely dear right now, I love real vanilla but imitation isn't the worst thing in the world. Thu Oct 28 16:35:54 -0700 2004 1654876 0 coll 2 1654886 Plus, as with many things bought in bulk, it will go stale way before you use it all. Unless you bake a LOT, in which case you probably aren't using imitation anyway. Thu Oct 28 16:51:58 -0700 2004 1654881 0 Adrian 3 1654938 The McCormick is fine, and lasts pretty much forever. I've had one of those Costco bottles for about a year. I use it in recipes where vanilla isn't the dominant flavor. I save my Penzey's vanilla for recipes where it really matters. Thu Oct 28 21:07:18 -0700 2004 1654886 0 Princess Bakesalot 2 1654934 The Costco stuff is labeled Real, not imitation. I ususally use the McKormic brand from the supermarket anyways. I prefer to spurlge my money are good Scharfenbeger chocolate or I'll use real vanilla pods for real special occuassion. But for everyday chocolate chip cookies, I don't think I need fancy extract... Thu Oct 28 20:32:08 -0700 2004 1654881 0 Wendy Lai 3 1654939 I think fancy extract makes all the difference. Honestly. Thu Oct 28 21:07:21 -0700 2004 1654934 0 Adrian 2 1654961 Interestingly Cook's Illustrated (or America's Test Kitchen) reported a little while ago on a taste test between imitation and real vanilla. Couldn't tell the difference in baked goods. Not that I really want to switch over to the fake stuff, but .... A chef showed me a batch of rum flavored extract she had made by soaking a vanilla bean in rum for a week or two. Smelled great. Of course you could always use a very good triple distilled vodka if you don't want a rummy flavor. Fri Oct 29 01:08:55 -0700 2004 1654881 0 Food Tyrant 1 1654889 It's fine to buy in bulk. Vanilla extract is so alcoholic it won't go bad. As far as the quality of McCormick to begin with, I don't know. Thu Oct 28 16:59:42 -0700 2004 1654876 0 Jujubee 1 1654890 I buy the big bottle at Sam's. It's a bargain, but it has gone up substantially lately. I use about 2 bottles a year. I can't see a downside. Thu Oct 28 17:07:39 -0700 2004 1654876 0 danna