# Bay leafs - what are they good for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016 "2011-03-25T22:44:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/1 "2011-03-25T22:44:30Z")
What exactly does adding a bay leaf do for the flavour of a dish? I can’t tell by smelling them, and you can’t dip the tip of your finger in and sample the flavour, like you can with powdered herbs. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/2 "2011-03-25T22:55:36Z")
**Bay leafs - what are they good for?** Absolutely Nothing. 😃 Actually, they are vital for savory soups and stews. They add subtle spicy, aromatic flavor. Not strong, but noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/3 "2011-03-25T23:00:25Z")
Say it again. Bay adds a grace note to stews and sauces. Is the leaf essential? No. Is it a positive addition? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/4 "2011-03-25T23:00:34Z")
Absolutely nothing. I realize beowulff already posted this but I felt like I should say it again. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/5 "2011-03-25T23:03:48Z")
I’ve made pot roast without bay leaf (I didn’t have any and didn’t want to make a special trip.) and been disappointed. It was bland without it. The gravy especially just wasn’t as good. bay leaf adds a bit of spice. hard to describe. But, you’ll notice if it’s left out. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/6 "2011-03-25T23:04:11Z")
Good god, y’all. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/7 "2011-03-25T23:10:04Z")
Ohhh, bay leaves, I despise Because it means destruction Of innocent lives Bay leaves mean tears To thousands of mothers eyes When their sons go to fight And lose their lives I was scared of the things as a kid. All the talk of having to pull them out before serving the meal my little kid head thought that if you accidently ate one it was instant death. Now, I know that they are instrumental in a good spaghetti sauce. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/8 "2011-03-25T23:13:52Z")
If you can’t smell the bay leaf on its own, it may be stale. I have a potted bay tree, and when I pick a leaf from it, it definitely has a strong aromatic smell. Try rubbing the leaf a little and see if that doesn’t release some of the scent for you. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/9 "2011-03-25T23:20:24Z")
> [@Stuart McLean](#): > > Anyway, I popped one in my mouth, and… Bay leaves are, it turns out, flavourful in their dry Mediterranean way, and if you give them little nips with your teeth every so often, they release bursts of sappy flavour, not as strong as _pine_ sap, more a memory of sap, with a tingling pineyness and hints of menthol. My leaf put me into a sort of Mediterranean ennui. (quote from “The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks.”) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/10 "2011-03-25T23:28:14Z")
Any good with roasted/baked chick breasts or pot roasts? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/11 "2011-03-25T23:32:17Z")
Definitely add to pot roast. I never do with chicken, because I use too many other flavor combinations there. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/12 "2011-03-25T23:48:00Z")
I wouldn’t make chicken stock without it. It adds a pleasant, sweet herbal note that is definitely missed if it’s not there. I’d like a real bay tree in my yard, as I hear fresh bay is much more aromatic and nice than dried. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/13 "2011-03-26T00:02:42Z")
they are for ending up in your mouth when you least suspect it. a dinner surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/14 "2011-03-26T00:15:17Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I wouldn’t make chicken stock without it. It adds a pleasant, sweet herbal note that is definitely missed if it’s not there. Definitely important for good stock. Bay is one of the classic herbs in bouquet garni. > [@](#): > > I’d like a real bay tree in my yard, as I hear fresh bay is much more aromatic and nice than dried. Fresh bay is good - my neighbour has a big bay tree that partly hangs over the boundary fence, so I canpull fresh leaves off it whenever I like. They’re easy enough to dry too - just cut a branch and hang it up - and freshly-dried leaves are still vastly superior to the dried ones in packets in the shops. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/15 "2011-03-26T00:39:01Z")
Toast them with cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon and then ground 'em fine with cardamom, and no one will guess if you are lazy and pad out the rest of your seasoning with a generic curry powder. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/16 "2011-03-26T00:50:38Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Stuart McLean > > Anyway, I popped one in my mouth, and… Bay leaves are, it turns out, flavourful in their dry Mediterranean way, and if you give them little nips with your teeth every so often, they release bursts of sappy flavour, not as strong as pine sap, more a memory of sap, with a tingling pineyness and hints of menthol. My leaf put me into a sort of Mediterranean ennui. > > (quote from “The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks.”) But … but bay leaves are poisonous! You can’t suggest people try them without any warning! Maybe I should post a quick, friendly note. Maybe work in an “only good for the undertaker” reference. Wait … _Are_ they poisonous? Is that one of those things “everyone” knows, but isn’t really true? How about a quick check of Wiki? Why, lo! Look at that! They’re _not_ poisonous! Wait … It’s a _Wiki_ page. Not exactly the most credulous source. Lemme check their cite… OMG! FULL CIRCLE!!! It links to a [2007 SD column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2695/what-is-the-origin-of-the-song-theres-a-place-in-france-where-the-naked-ladies-dance)! Yay! Bay leaves for all!!! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/17 "2011-03-26T00:56:11Z")
They are good with black beans. They add a nice subtle note. And of course, they’re good for the undertaker… whoaaa…whoaaa… ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/18 "2011-03-26T07:07:09Z")
I once read (many years ago, so I don’t have a cite) that the Oracle at Delphi would smoke bay leaves in order to have visions. I tried this, no visions were induced. Copious amounts of vomiting, however… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/19 "2011-03-26T07:41:54Z")
You can’t make a real kosher dill pickle without bay leaves. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016/20 "2011-03-26T20:42:34Z")
I have a jar of ground bay leaf. I sprinkle it into foods. It makes them taste yummy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bay-leafs-what-are-they-good-for/576016.md?page=2)