Bickford Flavors Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve got questions and we’re eager to answer them. Whether you’re already a customer or interested in becoming one, we’ve designed this page to help answer the most frequently asked questions we receive from current and prospective customers.

 

FAQs: Logistics

As a U.S.-based flavor and extract manufacturer/supplier, we work exceedingly hard to get your orders in your hands as soon as possible.

How long will it take to receive my order?

Orders are processed and shipped the same business day if the order is received before 12:00 p.m. EST, otherwise they will be shipped the following day. The arrival date depends on the selected method of shipping.

 

FAQs: About Bickford’s All-Natural, Certified Kosher Flavors and Extracts

We’re proud to be a long-standing, certified Kosher flavor and extract manufacturer/supplier, and we want to ensure all your questions about our flavorings are thoroughly answered. If you have additional questions to the ones listed below, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. We’re more than happy to help.

How should I store my flavors and extracts?

To maintain freshness, store your flavors in a cool dry place.

 

What is a flavor?

Flavors are Bickford Flavors’ concentrated version of a water or oil soluble flavor (we recommend using 1/2 of what a typical recipe calls for). Instead of the flavor being diluted in alcohol, Bickford flavorings are suspended in either a water-soluble (propylene glycol) or oil-soluble base (soy oil).

Bickford flavorings and extracts are always a delicious resource for individuals on a low-protein, low-carbohydrate, gluten-free or other health-related diet. Our concentrated flavors infuse boring dishes with a flavor blast and they help make cooking and baking a culinary experiment extra-ordinaire.

 

How much should flavor should I use in my recipe?

We recommend using 1/2 of what a typical recipe calls for. Start with 1/4% to 1/2% of your total volume, titrating up or down depending on desired strength.

 

 What is the shelf life of the flavors?

All flavors have a shelf life of 18 months from date of purchase.  If used after the recommended shelf life, flavors may lose their potency.

 

Should I use an oil-soluble or water-soluble flavor?

When to use oil-soluble or water-soluble flavoring will depend on what you are cooking up.

  • Water-soluble flavors are ideal for baking, beverages and flavor frosting. They are not appropriate for flavoring chocolate due to their water content.
  • Oil-soluble flavors are ideal for salad dressings, roasting nuts, baking, and flavoring frostings, chocolate and olive oils.

Both water-soluble and oil-soluble flavors can be used to flavor candy cream centers.

Keep in mind that Bickford products do not have any added alcohol, sugar, or salt – with the exception on our pure vanilla, which contains 35% alcohol by volume.

Not sure which flavor or extract you should use? Contact us today. We’d be more than happy to help you find the appropriate flavoring or extract for your application.

 

What is the difference between a flavor and an extract?

Extracts are formulated to be eight or more times concentrated than our flavors.

Extracts are ideal for hard tack candy, lollipops, and mints and are available in both a water-soluble and oil-soluble base.

 

What is the difference between light, dark and pure vanilla? 

Both light and dark vanilla are imitation flavors, whereas pure vanilla is made from Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla beans and contains 35% alcohol by volume.

 

Why don’t Bickford Flavors suspend flavorings and extracts in alcohol?

The short answer is: Water-soluble and oil-soluble base suspensions are superior to alcohol. Here’s why: Water and oil are more neutral carriers than alcohol; they impart no added flavor and do not evaporate as rapidly when exposed to heat. This allows the flavor to taste better, smell better, and not "bake-out," as traditional alcohol-based extracts and flavorings do.

 

FAQs: About Bickford's Vegan Flavors and Extracts

Vegan can be made easy and delicious with our line of all-natural vegan flavors and extracts.

What does vegan natural flavors mean?

Vegan natural flavors are flavors that are derived from all-natural sources and 100% free of animal origin.

 

How to get vegan food to taste incredible?

Whether you’re cooking a meal at home or you’re a large manufacturer looking to stand out from the competition and create renowned vegan products, it all comes down to natural food flavoring. Be intentional with your flavor building and always prioritize natural vegan food flavoring.

 

Is Bickford’s vanilla extract vegan friendly?

Yes. Shop our pure vanilla extract and pure vanilla oil.

 

Are all Bickford flavors vegan?

All Bickford Flavors are vegan with the exception of Bacon, Maple Bacon, Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Cherry Cheesecake. Should you have a question about any flavor, please contact us.

 

FAQs: Industries Served

Whether you’re joining us from the food, beverage, baking, or ice cream realm, we’ve got your flavor bases covered.

Does Bickford Flavors create all-natural, kosher flavors and extracts in bulk for cooking?

Absolutely. For any end product you desire to make, there is no shortage of Bickford Flavors to choose from. Additionally, our flavor chemists continue to create one-of-a-kind flavors that allow for more unique products and flavor combinations. For bulk quantities and custom flavors, we offer a wholesale program that delivers preferred pricing and other benefits.

 

Where can I find the best kosher flavors and extracts in bulk for bakeries?

For the last 101 years, we have been providing bakers with large and small quantities of our all-natural, certified Kosher, carefully curated flavors. As experienced wholesale partners, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best flavorings, personal service, and value.

Need a custom baking flavor? We can create one on a quick turnaround time.

 

Where can I find the best kosher flavors and extracts in bulk for ice cream production?

Good tasting ice cream satisfies the craving, while great tasting ice cream leaves a lasting impression on the taste buds and turns customers into fans. Great tasting ice cream must include standout flavorings and extracts.

Bickford Flavors offers a large selection of premium, certified Kosher flavorings and extracts for large and small ice cream production. Whatever your needs, we’ve got them covered – even custom ice cream flavorings and extracts.

 

Does Bickford Flavors create all-natural, kosher flavors and extracts in bulk for beverage manufacturing?

Yes! We love partnering with beverage manufacturers on any drink product – whether carbonated, alcoholic, a sports drink, a drink mix, or any other beverage application.

Understanding that some drinks need a clear flavoring or extract, while others can be colored, we not only have an extensive product line to choose from – with more than 200 premium flavorings and extracts – but we also have the expertise to help you decide on the exact type of flavoring you need or create a brand-new flavor. Need bulk quantities? No problem!

 

FAQs: Flavoring and Extract Wholesale Programs

Does Bickford Flavors sell wholesale?

Yes. We make a wide-variety of all-natural bulk/wholesale flavors and extracts, and we proudly work with manufacturers, retailers, distributors, caterers, and other food service professionals.

Please visit our Wholesale Program page for more information, or contact us at orders@bickfordflavors.com with any questions.

 

How much flavor will I need?

Our recommended usage is 1/4% to 1/2% of your total volume, titrating up or down depending on desired strength.

 

FAQs: Flavors and Extracts for Specialty Diets

Bickford Flavors can create flavors for current market demands and your specific labeling needs.

We also develop flavors that fit certain diets and lifestyles, such as:

PKU (Phenylketonuria)-Low Protein:

This rare genetic disorder prevents a part of protein in food, called Phenylalanine or PHE, from being metabolized. Without treatment, PHE levels in the blood are markedly increased and can result in impaired brain development and function.

Ketogenics Diet-Low Carbs:

This diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. This is for people who need diets with low carbohydrates or none at all.

GSA Diet:

Grey Sheeters Anonymous is a group of men and women who share a twelve-step program to solve their common problem and help others recover from compulsive overeating. The primary purpose of this program is to stay abstinent and help other compulsive overeaters achieve abstinence.

Celiac (Gluten-Free Diet):

Gluten is part of wheat, rye barley and other grains. There are many people on gluten-free diets that use our products for their special needs.As you can see, Bickford Flavors have a wide variety of uses, care about our customers' health, and are limited only by your imagination. Go ahead. Go crazy! Make your diet delicious and fun!

 

Have additional questions? We’re just a phone call away and look forward to connecting with you.

Call us at 440-494-7777, or toll free at 800-283-8322. Rather fill out our online form? Send us a note and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.