What's up with the Bay Leaf?

[babybear]

the recipe I put together in the slow cooker calls for a bay leaf and I forgot to pick them up when I was at the grocery store. Is this an essential flavor?
I know I have had food with bay leaf many times prior but I've never used them in a recipe myself and I can't really say what flavor I recall from them

Is it worth going into the grocery store again on my way home after work?

there's not much info out there about what it adds to the flavoring aside from "leafy-ness"

[digitaldeath]

just get dried bay leaf sprinkle

[babybear]

isn't it usually one big leaf and then you take it out at the end? this is a confusing spice

[digitaldeath]

ya but you can get crushed bay leaves too

[that dude who did that thing]

According to a chef I once asked, it does add a bit of flavor, but it's pretty subtle, and in most recipes that flavor gets overwhelmed by other, stronger flavors. So if you've got it, use it, if you don't, don't worry about it.

[digitaldeath]

According to a chef I once asked, it does add a bit of flavor, but it's pretty subtle, and in most recipes that flavor gets overwhelmed by other, stronger flavors. So if you've got it, use it, if you don't, don't worry about it.

you think you're better than me because you know a chef!

outrageous

[babybear]

yea that seems to be what I can find online- it's very subtle
I detest going into the grocery store but I also didn't want to have bay leaf fomo

the crushed bay leaf sounds intriguing. I'll report back later on whether I went whole or crushed
This is also my first time doing a crock pot meal. wish me luck

[jackattack]

whole bay leaf, not "crushed" or more precisely, ground.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/03/a...ay-leaves.html

[that dude who did that thing]

Yeah, fuck that crushed leaf stuff. That's like buying keef when you wanted nugs.

[Benny Profane]

Where's it come from, anyway? A Bay tree? What the fuck is a bay tree?

[Viva]

A tree down by the bay.

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[babybear]

where the watermelons grow?

[GimpToo]

Also learned from chef friends - if you don't have,don't worry!!! Then you don't have to remember to remove. Good luck with the crock pot meal!!

[GeezerSteve]

Yeah, if the recipe has other seasonings, you'll likely get by without the bay leaf. But pick up some for next time. Bay leaf is a nice seasoning for some dishes.

[Viva]

Eastern European will toss a hand full of bayleafs into the pot.

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[PB]

Wow. Little or no impact from bay leaf?? You guys need to rotate your spice stocks a lot quicker. Maybe find a new source, as well.

[TurxSki]

Yeah, I have heard NOT to use the crushed. Too much bleurgh!
Lots of peeps grow it. Popular shrub.
(Bay or Sweet Bay - Laurus nobilis).
Get some of the dried whole leaf.

[dunfree]

If you are curious what it tastes like - next time you bake a potato, slice it and push in a whole bay leaf before you bake. Works best if you rub the skin of the potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

More a complimentary flavor than a primary flavor I think.

[TahoeJ]

where the watermelons grow?

That's what my mom says anyway...

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Yeah, fuck that crushed leaf stuff. That's like buying keef when you wanted nugs.

This is a horrible analogy.

Buy whole bay leaves, if you are at the grocery store the Spice Islands bay leaves are light years better than the cheaper alternatives. When you open the bottle you will understand, it's a very heady, strong smell.

[nickwm21]

Lies. All lies.

It's a ruse. The Bay Tree Council has been lobbying recipe book editors to add bay leaf to all braises, stews, and soups for decades. It adds no benefit to your meal other than to provide the Bay Tree growers some income.

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[mall walker]

This is also my first time doing a crock pot meal. wish me luck

oh man you are gonna love it... so easy. mornings before going skiing just put in a couple chicken breasts and a bottle of bbq sauce and onions, leave it on low, come back hours later to delicious food. awesome winter kitchen quiver item

[GimpToo]

^^^Agree - makes it easy to invite peeps over last minute too!!

[Harry]

Agree, crock pot meals are awesome. 5 minutes absolute max throwing stuff in there, then go ski/hike/ride whatever, when you walk back in the door dinner is ready. I use mine all the time.

[highangle]

Where's it come from, anyway? A Bay tree? What the fuck is a bay tree?

A bay tree is related to the laurel & olive. You can grow your own "Bay laurel" tree for your bay leaves indoors or out.
Off the top of my head, and dealing old memory, there's a bunch of different species of bay trees and bushes indigenous to the Eastern US. "Bull bay", "Sweet bay", "Magnolia", "Cowcumber"...