Do bay leaves have to be dried to use them in cooking?
- Thread starter trashpony
- Start date
felixthecat
are we there yet?
Or can I just pick some straight off the tree? Or could I dry them myself?
I shove 'em in stews straight off the bush. Never considered whether I ought to or not
trashpony
Hag
I shove 'em in stews straight off the bush. Never considered whether I ought to or not
I just wondered if there was some reason why you couldn't but you're obviously not dead yet
trashpony
Hag
I use them straight of the tree as well apart from a quick rinse.
I thought drying is just a way to store them if they aren't to hand.
dunno. I just thought I'd ask because you never hear of people suggesting you plant a bay for fresh herbs like you do with rosemary or whatever. I don't have a bay - I'm going to steal some leaves off my sister's tree
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wobbly
bay is about the only herb where the flavour of it dried is better than the flavour fresh. cut a few 2 foot branches and tie them together at the base with string and hang them anywhere out of the way. they will go slowly browner.
you can use them fresh, but IMO, they give more flavour to a dish after they have been dried for a few weeks.
YOu can also chuck the twigs onto a BBQ, to give the smoke a lovely scent.
And I'm really looking foward to having a conversation with my neighbour about her bay tree which is starting to overgrow my garden, 2 sodding huge trees in one small garden and that's half my sunlight gone.
you can use them fresh, but IMO, they give more flavour to a dish after they have been dried for a few weeks.
YOu can also chuck the twigs onto a BBQ, to give the smoke a lovely scent.
And I'm really looking foward to having a conversation with my neighbour about her bay tree which is starting to overgrow my garden, 2 sodding huge trees in one small garden and that's half my sunlight gone.
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wobbly
I've not heard tht one before.
Or can I just pick some straight off the tree? Or could I dry them myself?
Just use them straight from the tree. No probs.
story
Changing the facts
Oh yeah - they are toxic.
trashpony
Hag
I have a diploma in horticulture so I can tell the difference
(just shit at the cooking bit
)
dunno, i've never seen a non-dried-out bay leaf
I have a diploma in horticulture so I can tell the difference
ah that's cool
I think bay leaves are best used dried and whole in cooking, because they give a better flavour. Also my nan used to warn me not to leave them cook for too long, and to always pick them out when cooking is finished or they leave a bitter taste -- maybe that's why they need to be whole. Well at least that's how my nan did things.
trashpony
Hag
ah that's cool
I think bay leaves are best used dried and whole in cooking, because they give a better flavour. Also my nan used to warn me not to leave them cook for too long, and to always pick them out when cooking is finished or they leave a bitter taste -- maybe that's why they need to be whole. Well at least that's how my nan did things.
Really
Shit. I better fish them out of my tomato sauce that's in the fridge since yesterday 
My mum always made me fish the dry bay leaf out of stwes too!ah that's cool
I think bay leaves are best used dried and whole in cooking, because they give a better flavour. Also my nan used to warn me not to leave them cook for too long, and to always pick them out when cooking is finished or they leave a bitter taste -- maybe that's why they need to be whole. Well at least that's how my nan did things.
However tonight, Mr Oliver chopped up the fresh ones very finely for his marinades. Maybe because the fresh flavour is more delicate?
trashpony
Hag
My mum always made me fish the dry bay leaf out of stwes too!
However tonight, Mr Oliver chopped up the fresh ones very finely for his marinades. Maybe because the fresh flavour is more delicate?
Oh well I can't be arsed to fish them out tonight so if they've ruined my tomato sauce, they've ruined it. But I will be cross because it's about a litre and it tasted yummy yesterday. Bugger. I should have just bought some ready made pizzas but I was trying to save money
blossie33
trailer trash
If you're using them straight from the bush make sure they don't have scale insect (tiny white flat things) on the back of the leaf near the vein! They won't have just come off in washing - you literally have to scape them off!
Bay trees and bushes (along witth Oleander) often have a problem with them.
Bay trees and bushes (along witth Oleander) often have a problem with them.
story
Changing the facts
Really
Nah, I always leave the bay leaves in. If any end up on the plate, I fish 'em out and put them back into the pot. No-one has ever complained about my leftovers.
I've even frozen leftovers with the bay leaves in there.
Charlie Whetter
New Member
Was having this discussion only last night. Glad safe to use.I use them straight of the tree as well apart from a quick rinse.
I thought drying is just a way to store them if they aren't to hand.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Wow, this thread is nearly 8 years old
I didn't see it at the time, or I'd have replied then, they are perfectly OK to use fresh - I used to live somewhere with a sunny balcony and kept a small bay tree in a pot out there (it was all the rage in the '90s) and used the fresh leaves all the time, but they have a better flavour (IMO) if dried.
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wayward bob
i ate all your bees
i prefer fresh.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Aye same here. Next door has a mahoosive bay tree and a curry one within scrumping reach. It's the only thing I like about them
