Bay Leaves - what's the use
By Mavic123456
@Mavic123456 (21893)
Thailand
August 30, 2021 11:06am CST
How's everybody? @TheSojourner and I were discussing about the use of Bay leaves in the food. We both can't answer why we put bay leaves and why we usually put two leaves (not three or four or just a leaf)
Do you have any idea what can bay leaves do in the dish?
P.S. to those who replied to my previous discussion thank you. Sorry I have to delete it. My apologies if it is a bit insensitive.
8 people like this
8 responses
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
30 Aug 21
I use bay leaves for several sauces. They are very aromatic, specially as I have my own bay tree and go to get them fresh when I need them. I put them specially in homemade tomato sauces. I use one or more depending on the size of them. I wish I could have known what Coral ( @TheSojourner ) said about them. We are best friends and often think alike.
3 people like this
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
30 Aug 21
@TheSojourner Bay leaves are very aromatic. Fresh ones are muh better than dry ones although I put some to dry to smuggle when I go abroad. I know mine don´t have pesticides.
2 people like this
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
30 Aug 21
@TheSojourner I have even brought vegetable seeds from Europe. But I guess those have to be with no dangerous pests. Or at least the weren´t.
@allknowing (136369)
• India
31 Aug 21
We only use it for adding its aroma to our pork dishes.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
@allknowing You are the guru of cooking here, at least I know. Now why it is usally 2 leaves only?
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
31 Aug 21
I know that I can rely on mylot members. This is a site with lots of experiences.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35574)
• Philippines
30 Aug 21
I think we call this leaf a Laurel leaf. We use bay leaves on some dishes to smell. We like it because of the aroma.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
31 Aug 21
Yeah. I just don't know what particular smell or aroma it extract. Maybe I will just boil water to know exactly how it smells.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
@jobelbojel I don't know but I really don't know how it should smell. argh!!! I will look for fresh ones and smell them.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35574)
• Philippines
31 Aug 21
@Mavic123456 I think it is the same smell even if you don't boil it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44524)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Aug 21
I use it when I boil Russian dumplings, when I boil tongue, or make a stew.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
@lovebuglena How much do you put? How many leaves do you use?
@lovebuglena (44524)
• Staten Island, New York
31 Aug 21
@Mavic123456 For flavor.
1 person likes this
@asianlady (2697)
• Ireland
30 Aug 21
Oh! I can't cook my Pork Adobo (marinated pork) if there's no bay leaves.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
@asianlady haha.. why only for yourself? Your husband doesn't like it?
1 person likes this
@asianlady (2697)
• Ireland
31 Aug 21
@Mavic123456 Yes for myself only or sometimes with my daughter.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
30 Aug 21
I don`t know too. All I know is that it brings good aroma to your food and it makes your sauce a little bit tasty 
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
1 Sep 21
@Mavic123456 That`s enough to get the aroma. I can put more than 2 if I want.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
@m_audrey6788 See this is what I noticed, always 2 leaves ... or a teaspoon if already crushed and dried.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
31 Aug 21
I sued bay leaves also to put dry leaves in the rice to store it to keep pests away
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
1 Sep 21
ohh seriously.. and they say if you burn it, it smells like Mariejuana. I wonder if that's true.
