Vanilla Bean Question

Is there a special technique to scraping a vanilla bean? What's the best tool to use as a scraper?

Jon, Hi....

I may be somewhat retarded but what I use is nothing more than the serrated knife pictured below that I picked up once in Mexico. I would imagine that any coarsely serrated knife will do.

Best
Rogov

knives18.jpg

Hi, again, Rogov.
That's quite a knife by the looks of it. Do you just scrap it up and down the length of the bean?

Jon, Hi....

Only one direction (down) because going in both directions tends to cut slivers instead of merely scraping.

Best
Rogov

Jon -

I just use a sharp paring knife to slice the bean down the middle and then use the tip of the same knife to scrape the seeds out. Probably not as efficient as what Rogov suggests but it works fine.

I just use a sharp paring knife to slice the bean down the middle and then use the tip of the same knife to scrape the seeds out.

Yes, that's what I do too.

Mike and Cynthia, Hi


The method you advocate is perfect for removing the beans from the pod. On the other hand, many will use the scrapings of the pod itself as flavoring, the pod giving a somewhat less sweet but still distinctly "vanilla flavor" to sauces, ice cream and in baking.

Best
Rogov

Chef's knife. I'm done. Doesn't matter what it is - opening a coconut, filleting a 160 pound halibut, paring something, slicing zucchini, peeling a tomato. Chef's knife. 10 ".