Do Bay Leaves Do Anything???? Yes!!!

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Do Bay Leaves Do Anything???? Yes!!!

Рет қаралды 29,439

2 жыл бұрын

Do Bay Leaves do anything? All About Bay Leaves - What are Bay Leaves? Where are Bay Leaves from? Are Bay Leaves Poisonous? Why do you remove the bay leaf after cooking? We'll answer these questions and more about this misunderstood Herb / Spice.
This Short is a cutdown from a longer format video: • Do Bay Leaves Do Anyth...
AKA: Bay laurel, Roman laurel, Sweet bay, Poet’s laurel
Botanical Name: Laurelus nobilis
Plant Family: Laurel (Lauraceae)
Origin: Asia
- Mostly grown in Turkey
- Other leaves from the Laurel family can sometimes be found, but they have a different flavour
- Not Poisonous…. Despite popular belief, supermarket / spice trader leaves can be eaten. Recipes ask you to remove them before serving, because no-one wants to get a tough and sharp leaf in their mouth during a meal.
- Bitter component, on which to build other flavours
- Simmering for at least twenty minutes, preferably longer, will release all the savoury character into your stock.
- Used in: soups, stews, rice dishes. court bouillon, Bouquet Garni, crab boil, brining meat
- Old leaves… If you can’t remember when you bought the bay leaves in your cupboard - they probably have no flavour.
Not to be confused with:
California Bay Leaf
AKA: Californian laurel
Botanical Name: Umbellularia californica
Plant Family: Laurel (Lauraceae)
Origin: California
Californian bay laurel, is not closely related to genuine culinary bay leaves as the common name might imply. It has a longer leaf and a stronger Flavour than other bay species. The Colour is a deeper green and the long pointed leaves have a menthol aroma on top of the more traditional bay aroma. The problem with this leaf is that the enticing aroma cooks away rather quickly, leaving behind an overpowering, medicinal taste.
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Пікірлер: 86

@c.garison3770 2 жыл бұрын

Bay leaves in stews and sauces is the same concept as "oaking" a beer or wine. You don't know what the flavor is that makes it delicious, but you know when you don't do it.

@stephendoherty1275 2 жыл бұрын

A trick my Granny thought me was to: When pulling out the Bay Leaf from your dish, taste it. As long as it has a rich, bitter-green taste, it is good. If the leaf is tasteless, throw it all out and buy a new batch. You are Awesome sir.

@adelechicken6356 Жыл бұрын

Yes, all you have to do is lick off the food and you will know. Yum! My mom always used them in soups, stews, and the roasted meat and I love the flavor but my older sister hates it.

@oTHEBIGBOSSo 2 жыл бұрын

It goes all the way to the top! So the Bay Leaves Mafia got to you too.

@georgH 2 жыл бұрын

What convinced me was having bay leaf tea and tasting it! It's a quite definitive proof... And ol course, trying a dish with or without is also noticable.

@damirzlatkic8134 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you mentioned this. I grew up with the bay leaf aroma with my mothers cooking and recently I've been obsessed with the flavour profile. Not having bay leaves in paprika based stews or curries seems like a crime to me 🤣

@Nicoya 2 жыл бұрын

So you're saying that package of bay leaves from 1955 that I inherited from granny is no good?!? In all seriousness I actually planted a bay laurel tree in my yard recently, and if you pick a leaf off of it and crush it up in your hands, it will leave you with no doubts in your mind as to what kind and how much flavor it can add to a dish.

@Nicoya 2 жыл бұрын

@@minuteman4199 Nope, I sure don't. Bay Laurel is generally good in USDA zones 8 to 10.

@sporkintheeye 2 жыл бұрын

@@minuteman4199 I'm in the south but have had a few very hard freezes (a week below 0F). When this happens, our bay laurel dies to the ground. But it always comes back in the spring. Further north ... it may not.

@BlackFrostQueen 2 жыл бұрын

I always make sure I add bay leaves to my soups, stocks, and broths. It adds depth to the flavors that are already present. It's definitely noticed when missing.

@carinanderson8239 2 жыл бұрын

You are right about bay leaves needing to be fresh! I grow my own bay leaves. Fresh definitely makes a difference. I also grow native California bay, which is so strong I only need a half or a quarter of a leaf for a stew. I don’t find the flavor bitter and I prefer my roast gravy and stew with bay leaves. I love my bay.

@maddyf8398 2 жыл бұрын

I made my French Canadian heritage father’s Split Pea Soup without Bay Leaf once. I’ll never make that mistake again. Blah. I find it to add a bit of sweet tone.

@bdavis7801 2 жыл бұрын

I like it in split pea too!

@hungrymichigander 2 жыл бұрын

Use three bay leaves for every beef roast -- never question it :)

@cathyfield4765 2 жыл бұрын

I love the flavor of bay leaves. They are an essential in Polish recipes for soups and stews. If you don't know what to put bay leaves in, check out Polish Your Kitchen You tube channel.

@anthonymccarthy4164 2 жыл бұрын

Put them in the freezer, they keep longer.

@Tala_Masca 2 жыл бұрын

I love bay leaves! I made tomato soup tonight. With bay leaves and a little ketjap. ( Sweet soy sauce) Funny story, my daughters bf ate with us. I had made stew. He had one of the bay leaves on his plate, came across it and said totally flabbergasted 'a leave????' That bf is long gone but we still say it whenever someone ends up with a bayleave on their plate. 🤣

@TechBearSeattle 2 жыл бұрын

Bay laurel can be planted in ag zones 8-10, and can be grown in containers elsewhere when they can be brought in from cold temperatures. The fresh leaves aren't much, but they can be dried easily at home, which concentrates their flavor. They are a really nice evergreen that can be kept clipped into a shrub, and worth cultivating if you want a steady supply.

@vanderfleet-martin 2 жыл бұрын

I read somewhere that if you want to know what bay leaves bring to the table, make a tea with them.

@virginiaf.5764 2 жыл бұрын

My jar of bay leaves gets a lot of use. A great way to ensure your herb and spices are fresh is to buy in bulk in small amounts, usually at health food stores. And if you pay attention to price, you'll be amazed at how much cheaper it is.

@RSidneyB 2 жыл бұрын

Almost always use a bay leaf or two when cooking beans and making so many different kinds of sauces and soups. They’re also not hard to grow in pots. They grow slowly but there’s nothing better than a freshly dried bay leaf. Mmmmm

@cremebrulee4759 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip about growing them in pots.

@LadyElaineLovegood 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this! I've never not added bay leaves when they're called for but always wondered what they brought to the party.

@little_forest 2 жыл бұрын

Fascinating… I did an internet search in German, cause I never heard of people suggesting, that it doesn’t do anything and all this conspiracy. Nothing about that in German… the opposite almost, discussions whether the essential oils in it are maybe even toxic if you eat too much. I guess this is a cultural thing.

@thomasfrederiksendk 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome timing - I just couldn't figure out what I'd forgotten to put in the pot.

@neiltheblaze 2 жыл бұрын

I use bay leaves so often, mine don't have time to get stale. If you aren't sure how they are, just use your nose. If you can smell it, you will taste it. I've become a fan of Morton & Bassett out of San Francisco for spices and herbs. They store everything in little glass containers - so everything stays pretty fresh for quite some time. Pricey, but very good.

@AquaBilliam 2 жыл бұрын

Fortunately, I have harvesting rights to what's on our side of the fence from the neighbor's bay laurel tree. The great thing about using fresh leaves is you can choose between new and mature leaves (since it's an evergreen). The older leaves are stronger and give more of that evergreen bitter flavor, great for hearty stews, beef soups, and beans. The young leaves are milder and a little sweet and works well with lighter dishes like chicken and fish soups.

@wendolienkrulmuziek 2 жыл бұрын

We have fresh bay leaves from our garden. We cut them all year round. It's even winter hardy up to -5 Celsius. A lovely addition to lots of meals.

@melissahoward5383 2 жыл бұрын

How do I grow the plant? And where do I get the seeds/plants? Gets a lot colder, here, but I have a huge pot I can use, and bring it inside in the winter. Thank you for any help you can give!

@wendolienkrulmuziek 2 жыл бұрын

@@melissahoward5383 I got a small tree/bush in a pot as a gift from a family member once. I don't know where he got it. I think you can best look for a local grower (a business that grows plants and trees; I'm uncertain of the English word), as I think growing it from seeds would takes years, if at all.

@lydiamashcka4362 2 жыл бұрын

It is one of those hotly contested herbs. Some people say it does nothing while others say, yes, it is a bitter, almost woody, resinous background flavor. Part of the problem is that most people have probably never picked fresh bay leaves right off of the tree, I have so I am familiar with that green, bitter smell. When I put them into foods I am cooking, that same aroma comes right back again. Some people can smell and taste them while others can't. Some people say that cilantro leaves taste like soap and other people love the flavor of cilantro leaves. I have easy access to fresh bay leaves so every couple of months I get a fresh supply and throw out the old ones.

@aiden3627 2 жыл бұрын

That makes sense idk about the flavor flavor but it seems to add a bit of aromatics which I think convinced me that the flavor is rounded out more

@bdavis7801 2 жыл бұрын

Yes they must be fresh. You should be able to smell it really well when you open the package. I like Morton and Bassett. Also breaking them in half/crushing them slightly in your hand helps.

@matthewthiesen6098 2 жыл бұрын

Freshness is key. Try to find fresh and then dry

@veronicaevans7723 2 жыл бұрын

Love you’ve expanded to doing short vids

@hollish196 2 жыл бұрын

I very much enjoy these short entries about spices.

@mom24boybarians 2 жыл бұрын

I love having our own Bay Laurel tree. It was a happy surprise when we bought this house.

@longtomjr22 2 жыл бұрын

The smell of bay leaf is one of those homely smells for me. Chickpeas boiling with bay leaves make my apartment smell like my grandmother's kitchen.

@gabriellakadar 2 жыл бұрын

I keep bay leaves in an all metal cannister with a tight lid. In the cupboard. This keeps it much better than a plastic bag.

@shessassy 2 жыл бұрын

I love Bay leaves - they make such a difference in a tomato soup!

@DakilangAtsoy 9 ай бұрын

If bay leaves are dried under the sun it will lose its flavor those are not should be kept in dark place like your pantry. Before adding any you should crush one in the batch, if it does not have a smell, discard and buy a new batch. Even the one in the market you need to do the crush test. If you cook a lot I suggest you plant this. It’s not a sensitive plant.

@sporkintheeye 2 жыл бұрын

We actually have a bay laurel just 50 steps out the back door. We use them fresh.

@rachelk4805 2 жыл бұрын

Bay leaves add a lot, if you know how to use them. Drop a single peppercorn in your stew and you'll tell me pepper doesn't do anything.

@nadogrl 2 жыл бұрын

Use the bagged ones to deter insects in the pantry.

@leapingkitties 2 жыл бұрын

My mother use to add so many to her soups I could not stand them and eschewed them for years. I finally started to add one or two to soups or stews, but mostly for aroma, much later in life.

@lindafletcher1628 2 жыл бұрын

it adds a wonderful flavour to new potatoes if a bay leave is added to the boiling water

@Carol-mh9ok 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip

@bill4913 2 жыл бұрын

I never knew that Glen so what happens when a dry or old Bay Leaf is used? Thanks for the video and info.

@georgH 2 жыл бұрын

Well, nothing. Just take a leaf, infuse in boiling water and try it ;)

@Mrdirt22 2 жыл бұрын

How can you NOT notice Bay Leaf!???

@Jacob-Vivimord 2 жыл бұрын

If you still doubt, just make a cup of tea with a bay leaf, and then you'll know the flavour. :0)

@dandane3819 2 жыл бұрын

I find in infinitely odd that North Americans don't use fresh bay leaves. I've never used a dried one because you just by a plant once and they basically live forever. If you see bay leaf in a European recipe they mean fresh and it has an overwhelming flavour.

@Afrinaturality 11 ай бұрын

That's where I've gone wrong. I need to chuck out my 5 year old bay leaves. 😩

@patrickcallahan2210 2 жыл бұрын

How fresh is fresh?

@ChristianJull 2 жыл бұрын

You can only get them in sealed bags of dry leaves here in Finland. There is no way of know how 'fresh' they were when packaged. Do you define fresh as within the use-by date, or less?

@BigTex8319 6 ай бұрын

I have bay leaves that are 20 years old, and I've kept them in a jar with a rubber seal that locks tight, my 20-year-old bay leaves taste better than the brand-new bay leaves my aunt just bought.

@bigbruce7 6 ай бұрын

How often should I replace my bag of dried bay leaves. 1 year, 2years?

@SyBernot 2 жыл бұрын

Fresh bay leaves work well in a gruit.

@Crytical8494 6 ай бұрын

If I think the ones I have are old, I just use more.... lol

@moniquemosley2122 2 жыл бұрын

Yes!!!! I have always felt that bay leaves add zero flavor. What does bay even taste like??

@Herbalifacialspa 5 ай бұрын

Fun fact bay leaves are a holistic remedy for sore throats and colds.

@rosejarman6920 2 жыл бұрын

Or like me plant a tree and pick and dry or use them fresh.

@vincentfeletti740 2 жыл бұрын

don't forget to avoid overcooking !

@rabidsamfan 2 жыл бұрын

Nice. That worked well in the shorts format. More spices, please! Do you grate all the way through a nutmeg?

@mom24boybarians 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. I use the whole thing until the nub is so small I can't hold it to grate any longer.

@Drukendru 2 жыл бұрын

Will there be a full video for this?

@GlenAndFriendsCooking 2 жыл бұрын

There is a full video, from 2018: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/apiaotd8qcfcdnU.html

@brockreynolds870 2 жыл бұрын

I make a stew in which the primary spice in it is bay leaves.... I should send you the recipe

@scvnthorpe__ Жыл бұрын

I wonder if they'd add to a coffee...

@blitzphantom9488 2 жыл бұрын

If you don’t believe Bay Leaves work then make some Spadini and you’ll see..

@universeofopulence 2 жыл бұрын

I thought they were used for their aroma

@pschroeter1 2 жыл бұрын

Parsley on the other hand... I have a saying that while parsley doesn't do anything for the flavor, it does make what you put it in look tastier.

@MrWalksindarkness 2 жыл бұрын

has youtube algorithm changed so everyone is now making shorts?

@GlenAndFriendsCooking 2 жыл бұрын

Yes - YT now promotes Shorts and it has become the #1 way to channel growth. I've resisted, but I can't ignore it any longer so I'm trying out different strategies.

@rabidsamfan 2 жыл бұрын

@@GlenAndFriendsCooking This one worked well. I would like more elements of cookery, or some of your best explanations or debunkings like “what size is a teacup” as shorts.

@theburlywizard 2 жыл бұрын

People have nevr bought Morton & Bassett bay leaves and it shows

@cremebrulee4759 2 жыл бұрын

Conspiracy theories about bay leaves? Good heavens! You can't eat these, right? I've always read they are supposed to be taken out of the food before you serve it because they can't be eaten.

@johannakoo1657 7 ай бұрын

They're not toxic, but they don't soften with cooking . The leaf bits are really stiff & sharp and the stems are woody. They can be a choking hazard or harm your digestive tract.