America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Keeping Vanilla Fresher Longer

Vanilla can last for years. Here's how to store it to make sure that yours will.

Shelf Life:

Long Lasting

Do keep vanilla in a tightly sealed container away from light and heat.

Don't get rid of old vanilla. Vanilla's high alcohol content makes it extremely shelf stable. In tests, we've found that even 10-year old vanilla is indistinguishable from fresh.

This kitchen staple is long lasting.

This is a members' feature.