When and How to Properly Add Bay Leaf 0 13

Many people add or, on the contrary, avoid using this spice, believing that bay leaf significantly affects the taste of the dish.

In fact, this spice only adds a subtle aroma to food, almost not changing its taste.

To give the dish new nuances, bay leaves, like any other herbs, should be added at the end of cooking.

If it is a soup, it is recommended to add the spice to the pot 5 minutes before it is ready or even later — just before turning off the heat.

Don’t forget to remove the tough leaves after a while, otherwise the soup may become too bitter.

Beginner cooks may think that this spice is suitable for all soups, but that is not the case.

Bay leaf should not be added to such first courses as:

Milk soup,
Cream soup,
Chicken broth,
Onion soup.

With its rich and unique aroma, this spice can overpower the delicate scent of the listed soups.