Eli5: Why are bay leaves used whole, when every other spice is chopped or ground up?
In: 4471
usability. you *can* buy ground bay, but it’s such a strong herb that even 1/4 tsp will utterly ruin a dish. the whole leaf has little surface area so it infuses more slowly.
bay comes from a laurel plant. it’s not particularly difficult to grow and the leaves are plentiful, so it’s also economical to just sell/use the whole leaf and not worry about the waste.
Latest Answers