It’s such a simple tip that it barely warrants a post, but it’s a secret worth sharing!
Instead of discarding your used vanilla pods, give them a quick rinse under the tap, lay them on kitchen paper and let them dry thoroughly over a few days. Then pop them into your sugar container – I put them into my caster sugar (fine granulated sugar) – where they will set about imparting their glorious aroma. The waft of pure, sweet vanilla when you open the sugar jar is a joy in itself, while your baking will benefit enormously from that added depth of flavor.