Techniques
How to choose a ripe pepper: look for smooth and firm skin
Pick peppers that are smooth and firm with no wrinkles.
Check the pepper’s surface and feel: it should be smooth, firm, and wrinkle-free for best quality.
The short version
- Smooth + firm + no wrinkles
Why it works
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Shopping
Tip
How to choose vodka for homemade extracts
Use a mid-range vodka—avoid the cheapest and the most expensive—when making extracts.
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homemade extracts
vodka
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Beginner< 1mBigger Bolder Baking with Gemma Stafford
Shopping
Tip
How to choose fresh vanilla pods (look for bendy, malleable pods)
Pick vanilla pods that are flexible and not crispy to get better flavour.
vanilla pod
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vanilla-pods
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Guide
Avoid vanilla essence when you want natural vanilla flavour
Vanilla essence is often synthetic and weak, so prefer real vanilla extract (or pods/paste) for everyday baking.
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vanilla extract
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Guide
Choose CO2-extracted vanilla for a purer, stronger vanilla flavour
CO2-extracted vanilla can taste purer and more intense than standard alcohol extracts, so use it when you want maximum vanilla impact.
vanilla extract
co2-extracted vanilla
vanilla
co2-extraction
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