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What's in your 'pure' almond extract?

15 years ago

I knew I was getting low on almond extract when I was shopping in an Amish bulk food store. I picked up a bottle of pure almond extract. When I got home I compared ingredients. The one I had at home is water, alcohol, and bitter almond oil. The one I just bought is propylene glycol, oil of bitter almonds, sodium benzoate, and gum karaya. They both say pure almond extract. Hmmmm.

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Comments (14)

lindac
15 years ago
And do you know what "oil of bitter almonds" is?
countrygal_905
Original Author
15 years ago
Of course, I do:

oil of bitter almond

volatile oil from the dried ripe kernels of bitter almonds or from other kernels containing amygdalin, such as apricots, peaches, plums and cherries; obtained by steam distillation subsequent to maceration of the source with water. Formerly used as an antipruritic; poisonous-releases hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide). Only the oil free of hydrogen cyanide may be used to flavor liquors and foods.

Yes, I can copy and paste and no, I didn't know this before.
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I've made Sarsaparilla tea that tasted like root beer but never made root beer. Like Bumblebeez, I tend to use liqueurs rather than extracts, and my favorites are Frangelico, Amaretto, Cointreau, Godiva Chocolate liqueur, and several versions of Kahlua, including Mocha (my favorite) and hazelnut. I really like Mocha Kahlua on ice cream but am almost out and am having trouble finding it again. I think they may make it only at Christmas and New Year's. The liqueurs are not as strong as extracts and work in a lot of drinks as well as recipes. I use them a lot with ice cream but also in other creme anglaise recipes such as Bavarian Cream. For extracts, I only have vanilla (Cook's brand, which is okay) and almond (brand unknown). I seldom use the almond extract since I generally substitute Amaretto instead. I've noticed that Indian markets sell a lot of extracts, but I have not used many of them yet, including several that I have in my pantry. Lars
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caliloo
15 years ago
I have the one that has " water, alcohol, and bitter almond oil"... which is the same brand I have used for ages.

The other stuff sounds like preservatives of some sort...

Alexa
annie1992
15 years ago
Mine's from Penzey's. The label says "water, alcohol and natural almond oil". It smells heavenly, I sniff the stuff every time I go to Penzey's!

Annie
countrygal_905
Original Author
15 years ago
I really feel unsure about using the one with propylene glycol. It will probably get pitched.
lindac
15 years ago
Bitter almonds? Cyanide? Hmmmm!
I would also pitch the propolene glycol one and complain to the vendor!
skeip
15 years ago
Propylene glycol is the stuff in antifreeze that kills your cats and dogs if they get into it!!
bob_cville
15 years ago
Ethylene Glycol is the stuff in automotive anti-freeze that kills your dogs and cats. Propylene Glycol is what is often refered to as RV antifreeze, and is used to add to drain lines in RVs and cabins and boats and pools to prevent freezing and bursting of lines, specifically because it is not poisonous.
User
15 years ago
Mine, from McCormick, has water, 36% alcohol and oil of bitter almond and instructions not to pour near a flame!

When I was at the Pennsylvania Dutch market last weekend one of the Amish vendors was pouring spices from a huge can (giant commercial size) into their little plastic tubs. Whatever it was wasn't a color that occurs in nature. I would imagine they do the same with their extracts. Their pie fillings come from huge bags of prepared pie fillings, and their filled donuts are the same. Grandma isn't in the back making this stuff by hand.
caliloo
15 years ago
"When I was at the Pennsylvania Dutch market last weekend one of the Amish vendors was pouring spices from a huge can (giant commercial size) into their little plastic tubs. Whatever it was wasn't a color that occurs in nature."

I've noticed that here too. Whatever the local Amish vendors are peddling, it sure isn;t some sort of wholesome natural stuff that Amos and Sarah cultivated on the farm last summer. Some of the smaller individually packaged stuff is even from China.......
Lars
15 years ago
I use Amaretto instead, which isn't as strong, and so I just use more of it.

Lars
Jasdip
15 years ago
Well, I think, thanks to Lars, I'm going to buy some Amaretto.

My Club House brand which I've been using for a while now has propylene gycol, water and oil of almond.

Nothing is sacred anymore.
rosecoloredglasses
15 years ago
Oh I never check the ingredients in mine... However extract is only used in very small doses so does it matter that much? 1/4 of teaspoon couldn't be that bad for you....
rosewitch
15 years ago
Like Annie, I get all my extracts from Penzeys. And I just got a new supply for holiday baking. I was running out of almond and a few other things. I hadn't put the order away yet so I checked the bottle and the only difference in the new bottle from the old one is the % of alcohol. My almost empty 4 oz bottle was 30% and the new Penzeys bottle is 38%! Everything else is the same; water, alcohol and natural almond oil. Gee, hope my cookies don't give anyone a buzz! ;o)
Kat

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