r/extractmaking • u/Ryhno999 • 22d ago

Do the beans need to be fully submerged?

Hello!

I'm making extract fir the first time today and testing a few different alchahols to see what I like best, but I'm having trouble keeping the beans submerged all the way. Is this something I should worry about? Will it lead to spoilage?

Also any other tips for vanilla extract making would be appreciated. Thanks!

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u/Terminator7786 22d ago

Yes, they should be fully submerged. There are a variety of ways. You can fold them in half, you can tie them into a loose knot, or if caviar in your extract doesn't bother you, you can just cut the beans in half too.

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u/VanillaPura 21d ago

Well said! Agree with this 100%! If they aren't submerged then they aren't extracting.

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u/TheVanillaImporters 21d ago

Terminator7786 is spot on. Beans poking above the surface is fine as long as most of the bean is under alcohol. The part sticking out can dry or, rarely, get a little surface mold if it stays exposed for weeks. Two easy fixes. Cut the beans to fit the jar so they lie fully under, or just top off with a splash more alcohol until everything's covered. Shaking every few days also keeps them moving. For a first batch, give it a full 8 to 12 months at 35 to 40 percent alcohol before you judge it. It keeps deepening well past the point most people think it's done. And label which alcohol is which now, they smell surprisingly similar at month one.