Bay Leaves in Cooking

[JanetRose]

Does anyone cook with it?

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I often put one in my chili and sometimes in soup.

 

[minniecarousel]

yup - take it out just before serving.

 

[SpecialK]

I use them in stews and soups, anything that slow cooks in liquid.

 

[JR6ooo4]

DW does. I'm not sure when I shoudl use them, hehehehehe

MIkeeee

 

[NMAmy]

yup - take it out just before serving.

I leave it in. Whoever gets in on their plate has to do the dishes.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I use powdered bay leaves....

 

[Aimeedyan]

I do on occasion

 

[DVCLiz]

I use bay leaves in vegetable beef soup and spaghetti sauce. My rule is "always use 4 whole leaves." That way I know how many to fish around for!! And I never crumble them up - ick. Too much chance of biting into a crunchy little stem - I use them whole while the food is simmering and remove them before serving.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Chili and spaghetti sauce. Also sometimes in stews/roasts.

My mother used to tell me they're poisonous to eat -- never thought about challenging it. I just googled and found out they can be dangerous because of sharp edges. Go figure.

 

[Nancy]

I had also heard they were poisonous and then started to wonder how they could be poisonous whole, but not if they were simmered and removed from the food, I mean wouldn't the poison come out while simmering?

Anyhow back to the question, yes, I use the whole leaf but only in my sauce, then remove it before serving. (although I do like the whoever gets it on the plate rule posted above)

 

[ElizK]

I leave it in. Whoever gets in on their plate has to do the dishes.

Hey, that was the rule in my house growing up, too!!! How funny.

I use them in spaghetti sauce and vegetable beef soup.

 

[scrump]

I leave it in. Whoever gets in on their plate has to do the dishes.

Funny! Maybe I will try this next time!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

They aren't poisonous. They can cause a person to choke if they are chewed at the center stem can fray, and catch in the throat.

I prefer fresh bay to dried, but use both in any number of dishes.

 

[Kathi OD]

I use it in soups, stew, spaghetti sauce, and pot roast. Like others, I leave them whole and scoop them out before serving. They really add to the flavor of the dish.

 

[blowinbubbles]

I use bay leaves when I make Veg Soup and Stew. My husband *hates* them, because he always get them in his bowl! LOL . . . I guess the good, wifely-thing to do would be to fish them out first. . .

 

[merekc]

I use it when I make Chicken Noodle Soup or Chicken and Dumplings. Leave it whole and scoop it out before serving.

I never thought of leaving it in. Might have to try that when my kids are older to get some help in the kitchen.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Always, in my soups. I usually add about 4 whole leaves, and make sure to fish them out when the soup is finished.

 

[JodyLynC]

I use Bay Leaves. I get Turkish bay leaves from Penzey's. I use only 1 large or 2 smaller leaves. I use them in most soups, stews, pork, or turkey dishes. I always leave them whole and I leave them in the soup pot until the soup is gone. When I make a pork roast, I put a couple of leaves under the roast. When I make a turkey breast, again I put a couple under the breast. For a whole turkey I put a couple in the cavity.

 

[mumto3girls]

Wow! I had no idea of all the things you could do with bay leaves. I make chili and soup all the time, but had only ever used them in split pea soup. Thanks for the post.