TheDaharMaster
2178
55
10
Dec 23, 2025 8:07 AM
TheDaharMaster
2178
55
10
Aerdrian
So from all that I have seen, bay leaves do round out flavor.
wobblecopterrrr
they add to the aroma and flavour, a rue, some broth, a bay leaf, mustard, cracked pepper, browned meat, onions, carrot, etc.. that's a nice stew, you cam trade some around, and add random stuff, but leave any out, and it diminishes the whole thing.
Cpthornswoggler
Their flavour comes across best if there's some fat or oil in your dish. Seems they're not very water soluble.
manixaist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaf
b00guy
I never seem to see these in food I'm eating and end up with a whole leaf in my mouth.
Slugsie
That's because you take them out before serving.
sometimesarobot
"If eaten whole, bay leaves are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste. When the leaf is dried, the aroma is herbal, slightly floral, and somewhat similar to oregano and thyme."
Now you know. They add 'depth' to flavor.
BeckyLookAtHerButt
Keep the evil spirits at bay.
Cosmicfisherman
To make a lucky dinner guest gag when they stuff it in their piehole
medimr
They class up the joint.
rotodisc
Flavor.
3rdoption
They give soup that soupy flavor.
swedeonamoose
Kats8652
totallynotatimetraveler
they add flavor. if yours dont then they are too old
CouldntCakeLess
Exactly. You just leaf it there.
henryvk
Yeah, I used to think bay was kitchen superstition until we got some fresh bay leaves from a friend’s grandma’s tree straight from India. Wow, they were pungent. Now we buy high quality ones from this online retailer that specializes in dry goods.
picselator
Or too cheap (because old, dry, dull, crumbly, stale etc.)Once you get a good bay leaf you will forever know the difference.
DeadeicPrints
No they fucking dont lol. The only thing they do is keep weevils from hatching in your flour.
randomthoth
All I know is they keep your pickles crisp
b00guy
Ageist! 😉
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mijolnirmk4
Whoever gets it in their portion has to do the dishes. It’s the law.
BlindGardener
I never bother taking them out, because it seems earnestly insane to bother to do so.
They’re not very large, and nobody cares if there’s a bayleaf in the portion of soup ladled out to them.