Simple Homemade Extract Recipes for Common Flavors
Using extracts can brighten up any survival stockpile and allow you to create tasty comfort foods that can lift moods during difficult times. However, store-bought products often contain additives and preservatives, and many only have artificial flavors as well. Making your own extracts is not difficult if you follow some basic steps. Let’s take a look at a few recipes that can be the perfect addition to your pantry now and during a crisis.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is used in so many recipes that it’s found in almost every kitchen. It’s also very easy to make. All you need is about five stalks of fresh vanilla beans along with a couple of cups of alcohol. You can use anything from vodka to rum or bourbon depending on your preferences, and each will produce a unique flavor, so feel free to experiment.
Slice the vanilla beans down the middle and place in a mason jar. Pour in the alcohol, cover and store on your counter. Shake up the jar every couple of days and repeat for about six weeks. You can either strain out the beans and put the extract in a separate bottle for long-term storage, or you can just keep everything together. Store in a cool and dark place.
Mint Extract
Take a handful of fresh mint leaves, remove the stems and rinse with some cool water. Pat the leaves dry and place them in a quart mason jar. Pour in about two cups of vodka and attach the lid. Let the mint soak for about a month and shake the jar periodically. All you need to do is strain the leaves and store the extract for future use. Again, store in a cool and dark place.
Almond Extract
Almond extract is another very popular pantry item, and you don’t need to go through a lot of trouble to make your own batch. Take at least 15 fresh, whole almonds and remove the skin. Place in the quart mason jar and add a cup of the alcohol of your choice. Give the jar a good shake every day for at least three weeks before straining and storing. Keep in mind that the potency of the extract will depend on the quantity and quality of the almonds, so feel free to experiment until you find the right combination for your tastes and preferences.
Orange and Lemon
All you need to make a delicious orange or lemon extract is some vodka, sugar and zest. Zest the peel of your fruit and place in a mason jar before adding the sugar and vodka. Give it a good shake every day for about three weeks. Strain the liquid when finished and store. The potency of the extract will also depend on the amount of zest you include, so experiment with this recipe as well.
For all of these recipes, consider using the cheapest and most potent alcohol you can find. You don’t need to use top-shelf products in order to create the extract, and the higher alcohol content will contribute to the potency of the finished product. This is particularly true when it comes to vodka. Just remember that each type of alcohol will give the extract a different flavor, so play around with different variations and see what you come up with.
Try this out for yourself, and you may end up with having a nice product that you can sell or barter in addition to enhancing your pantry. Nothing could be easier, and you will be glad that you avoided the synthetic and store-bought options once you’ve tasted your delicious concoctions.
