If they appear shiny and crystalline, they are vanillin, an organic compound naturally developed on high quality vanilla beans. But if they are fluffy and cottony, they are molds and the beans can no longer be used.
The answer is yes! You can easily rehydrate them by putting them in hot (not boiling) water or milk and let them sit about 10 minutes until soften. Or you can toss them in sugar to make an aromatic jar of homemade vanilla sugar.
Storing your organic vanilla beans in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight help keep them in optimum condition. NEVER put them in the fridge as refrigeration will dry them out, and excess moisture can make them moldy.
When put in an airtight container, organic vanilla beans can be stored for as long as 18 months. We recommend that you remove the beans from the container to circulate the air for 10 minutes every 2 months.