<p>Rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) methods for the preparation of aerogel materials have advantages over other methods of aerogel fabrication, including significantly shorter timescales from mixing chemicals to obtaining aerogels and lower chemical waste; however, they are not employed widely. In this retrospective article, three RSCE methods that have been used for preparation of monolithic silica aerogel are described. Each involves placing a gel precursor mixture into a contained mold and bringing the temperature and pressure inside the mold above the critical point of the solvent in the pores of the wet gel. The RSCE method that uses a contained mold and a hydraulic hot press has also been employed for preparation of a variety of types of aerogel. Its use in development of aerogel-based windows, in applications in which dopants are readily incorporated into aerogels, and in preparation of aerogels with curvilinear shapes are emphasized. Advantages as well as limitations of RSCE methods are discussed.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>