Do bay leaves actually do anything?

[TruffleSpark]

I'm starting to think that home cooks are being scammed by the bay leaf lobby.

 

[Poppavalyim Andropoff]

not in your cup of microwave ramen but for the rest of us adults yes they do.
so do cloves & sprigs of rosemary .

 

[Just A Fat Round Bird]

not in your cup of microwave ramen but for the rest of us adults yes they do.
so do cloves & sprigs of rosemary .

Adding thyme, marjoram, chervil and savory to that list, though bay leaf, rosemary and cloves cover quite a lot of ground alone.

 

[Character from a movie]

I'm pretty sure there was a thread in the Food subforum about the same topic.
How long do you let the bay leaves simmer in the pot while cooking? The longer you let them the stronger the flavor gets.
That's why they're called bay leaves because you "leave" them in the food lol

 

[Beastie]

Aren't you supposed to eat them like chips?

 

[Daddy's Angry Juice]

I'm pretty sure there was a thread in the Food subforum about the same topic.
How long do you let the bay leaves simmer in the pot while cooking? The longer you let them the stronger the flavor gets.
That's why they're called bay leaves because you "leave" them in the food lol

CARLOS!

 

[1500ping&aDream]

A bay leaf in cooking is like making tea. One or two of them floating around in a deep frying pan with some beef allows the juices to seep the flavor into the meat. Afterwards, some cooks put the leaf on the meal as a decorative garnish to tell the consumer that it was used as part of the preparation of their meal.

 

[parsnip]

According to some people if you write a wish on one and then burn it your wish will come true

 

[Aiōn]

I use the dried ones from the store but as with many other herbs, I'm sure that freshly picked would be much better.

 

[CallmeCicada]

I'm starting to think that home cooks are being scammed by the bay leaf lobby.

Yours have probably gotten old. Use more than usual with what you have left and get a better brand, or better get fresh bay leaves if you can find them. If you get some dried ones you like keep them in a cool, dark, dry place in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in your pantry.

 

[OrionBalls]

Ground bay leaves are essential to Creole cooking. You don't need a lot, though. It's like saffron. A little goes a long, long way.