"The Cook" > wrote in message
news
> "Vox Humana" > wrote:
>
> >
> >"pete" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >> hi,
> >>
> >> i was wondering if Real Vanilla is worth the premium?
> >>
> >> will it make my chocolate chip cookies,
> >> or hot chocolate taste that much better?
> >> i've seen it in large bottles at Costco
> >
> >I know this is going to be completely horrifying to most people but I
will
> >say it none-the-less. The folks at Cooks Illustrated did a study of this
> >subject a few years back and came to the following conclusion. For
products
> >where the flavoring is added prior to baking/cooking/heating, there is no
> >distinguishable difference between imitation vanilla and real vanilla.
For
> >products where the flavoring is added and no cooking takes place (ice
cream,
> >frosting, etc.), real vanilla is the product of choice. Therefore, I
have
> >both on my shelf. As you point out, you can get about a pint of
artificial
> >vanilla at Costco for about a nickel (OK, I exaggerate a bit here). I
would
> >recommend that you get the large bottle of synthetic vanilla from Costco
and
> >a small bottle of real vanilla. Do a blind taste test and see what you
> >prefer. I suspect that you won't be able to tell the difference in the
> >cookies and you may be able to distinguish in the hot chocolate. If you
> >hate the artificial stuff, give it to someone. You will only be out a
> >nickel.
> >
>
> The pint bottle of vanilla from Costco (at least the one I bought
> about a year ago) is pure vanilla extract.
>
> I was just reading in Alton Brown's new book about vanilla and he
> agrees with you and Cook's Illustrated. Since I still have at least
> 1/2 pint of vanilla left, I will just use it.

Our Costco sells real vanilla in large and small bottles. The artificial
stuff is so cheap that they only carry it in large bottles.