Eli5: Why are bay leaves used whole, when every other spice is chopped or ground up?

Question

Eli5: Why are bay leaves used whole, when every other spice is chopped or ground up?

In: 4471

Answer 1

Because Bay Leaves are very potent. If you chopped it up, they would imbue too much of their flavor into what you were cooking and it would be impossible to remove it. So you use a whole leave that gives a little flavor and is easier to remove.