Can vanilla beans go bad?
Vanilla beans can last for up to 12-14 months if stored properly. Sometimes due to prolonged exposure to moisture or if the beans were not stored properly, mold can grow on the skin of the vanilla beans. This is not to be mistaken for the prized vanillin crystals. To check for mold, look at the vanilla bean check under the sun. Vanillin crystals will shimmer under the sunlight while mold look dull. All is not loss if your vanilla beans are mouldy just clean it with a bit of alcohol and then store them tightly with saran wrap.
