Extracts are flavourings used for cooking. The flavour is extracted from an item, such as a vanilla pod or a nut, by soaking the item in alcohol and then distilling the alcohol. Some extracts can also be made by evaporation.Extracts can also now be made artificially. Foodies love to poo-poo these, but ignore them. Use what you can afford. Besides, if everyone wanted only real vanilla extract, the price would go so sky-high that foodies wouldn’t be able to afford it, either.