Do Vanilla beans go bad, and how can you tell?

[Dewflop]

I just found this site and I need an answer. I have some vanilla beans that I have had for a long while. They have never been opened. Do vanilla beans go bad? Will they make you sick or just loose flavor? And if they do go bad, how do you tell?
THanks for any information.

 

[Andy M.]

Vanilla beans should be pliable and leathery. As they age, they dry up and get hard/brittle. I don't think they go bad.

 

[Dewflop]

Thanks! This is my first thing I have posted. I found a recipe for a vanilla bean cheesecake and it sounds so delicious I just can't wait to try it. Vanilla beans where I live are over $9.00 for two, and that is why I asked.
Thank you for the answer. This place is awesome!

 

[Andy M.]

You're welcome. Stick around and enjoy the company.

Let us know how the cheesecake comes out.