Bay Leaves

[Ramone45]

My wife said that we have to buy more Bay Leaves, and I asked her, "Why?". I have never noticed the impact of a Bay Leaf in any food I've ever eaten. I think we usually purchase a good quality product. I think it's the "Simply Organics" brand. To me, they have no smell, taste or impact. What do you think?

 

[Sean]

I like a couple in a beef stew. I used to get a whole branch of the fuckers from a girl at work every few months.

 

[Champakian]

They are only efficacious when fresh.

What you buy in the store is a scam.
And that goes for several other spices too...

 

[Ramone45]

They are only efficacious when fresh.

What you buy in the store is a scam.
And that goes for several other spices too...

This must be true. They're dried up and crunchy. They're useless in a jar.

 

[jaF0]

As it was once told to me, they're said to help reduce the acid in tomato based sauces.

 

[Adre]

Popularized by a guy who had a bunch of bay laurel trees in his backyard.

 

[jaF0]

Popularized by a guy who had a bunch of bay laurel trees in his backyard.

Manu?

 

[oneblueye]

hey ...

My wife said that we have to buy more Bay Leaves, and I asked her, "Why?". I have never noticed the impact of a Bay Leaf in any food I've ever eaten. I think we usually purchase a good quality product. I think it's the "Simply Organics" brand. To me, they have no smell, taste or impact. What do you think?

A "MUST HAVE" in my kitchen. It is one reason that my refried frijoles are the best tasting Pinto's in the fuckn world.

 

[Saint_Ann]

I bought the 'big box' at Sams. Im good for a while.

 

[islandman]

$5.00 for 1.5 oz container isn't much of a conspiracy. I assume that's the point of this thread.

 

[juttjaw]

They are only efficacious when fresh.

What you buy in the store is a scam.
And that goes for several other spices too...

Not true. Treated right and dried right, bay can be just as good dried as they are fresh. However, the dried may take longer to release their full flavor. Most importantly, it's about where and when they came from and how the leaves where treated when dried and packed. Like any other dried spice, you get what you pay for. Not saying a Sam's club bulk brand can't be good. It all depends on the details from farm to consumer.

Personally, I trust everything Morton and Bassett. I find the care and the quality of their spices and herbs are the best. That's just my taste and opinion, but I'm not alone in my view point. I've also bought the branches of Turkish leaves and found they were exceptionally good! I just can't find them in a pinch.

 

[Saint_Ann]

I bought some Columbian leaves but they made me feel weird.

 

[Aglaopheme]

Don’t think they are adding much, even the dried ones, grab one out of your red sauce that has been simmering for hours, put it in your mouth and slide it through your lips to get the sauce off of it.

 

[stickygirl]

Don’t think they are adding much, even the dried ones, grab one out of your red sauce that has been simmering for hours, put it in your mouth and slide it through your lips to get the sauce off of it.

We're still talking about herbs, right?

I have a bay bush and have to keep trimming it because it wants to be a tree. I've never used the leaves so I'm reading this with interest

 

[Aglaopheme]

We're still talking about herbs, right?

I have a bay bush and have to keep trimming it because it wants to be a tree. I've never used the leaves so I'm reading this with interest

Yes, but don’t actually do it because the taste is quite strong. They are great in anything that simmers for hours. As others have said, essential in red sauce, stews and soups.

Now, I want to make soup and or stew. We had a blizzard blow through on Wednesday which gave us a white Christmas and colder temps just perfect for having the stove going all day.

 

[Conager]

My wife said that we have to buy more Bay Leaves, and I asked her, "Why?". I have never noticed the impact of a Bay Leaf in any food I've ever eaten. I think we usually purchase a good quality product. I think it's the "Simply Organics" brand. To me, they have no smell, taste or impact. What do you think?

It's like the addition Laurel to the forum.

Get it?

 

[butters]

Yes, but don’t actually do it because the taste is quite strong. They are great in anything that simmers for hours. As others have said, essential in red sauce, stews and soups.

Now, I want to make soup and or stew. We had a blizzard blow through on Wednesday which gave us a white Christmas and colder temps just perfect for having the stove going all day.

this *nods*

they're one of those components that, if omitted, i really notice. they're an herb i always use to make pizza sauces/stews/when cooking chicken in liquid

 

[stickygirl]

Cool. I can see it would be good in a big pot/stew. Maybe next time I do chicken pot I'll try a couple of leaves - I divide it up and freeze for later servings. Same with Rosemary I think.

My go-to herb is oregano for anything vaguely Italian.

 

[butters]

Cool. I can see it would be good in a big pot/stew. Maybe next time I do chicken pot I'll try a couple of leaves - I divide it up and freeze for later servings. Same with Rosemary I think.

My go-to herb is oregano for anything vaguely Italian.

as i tend to cook quite big pots of stuff then freeze some for later, i tend to use more leaves, minimum 3 even if just cooking the one-off meal

oregano is great

 

[Saint_Ann]

 

[juttjaw]

Yes, but don’t actually do it because the taste is quite strong. They are great in anything that simmers for hours. As others have said, essential in red sauce, stews and soups.

Now, I want to make soup and or stew. We had a blizzard blow through on Wednesday which gave us a white Christmas and colder temps just perfect for having the stove going all day.

I hate that blizzard.