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Bay

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By Essex Girl 17 Jul 2012 18:06	Bay My neighbour has brought me a big bunch of bay leaves from his bush. I think he must have forgotten that he gave me a cutting a few years' ago too! Anyway, does anyone know how I can dry them? Do I hang them upside down somewhere......and are they OK to pick straight from the bush to put in casseroles, etc. For some reason I've never picked any and always bought them already dried. Reply Quote
By Gravy Queen 17 Jul 2012 19:48	Bay Yes I use mine both fresh and dried. To dry them I hang them upside down on a line in the shed. Reply Quote
By Essex Girl 18 Jul 2012 08:40	Bay Leaves Thank you Gravy. They're hanging upside down in the kitchen at the moment. Don't have a shed to put them in but could put them in the garage. Once they're dry would you just pluck one as needed or put them all in an airtight container? I wonder if they would be OK frozen. Reply Quote
By sam from worthing 18 Jul 2012 10:01	Bay I used to do as gravy has described. don;t freeze them. pop in air tight container and leave in your spice cupbaord. pop a dried leaf in your bags of flour (all kinds) to stop weevils. no it doesn;t flavour the flour either. yes you can use fresh from the tree into casseroles etc (just give the leaf a rinse and pat it dry). Reply Quote
By Essex Girl 18 Jul 2012 12:04	Bay Leaves Thanks for all the info Sam and Gravy. Will make the bush in the garden earn its keep now too. Reply Quote
By Welshcookie 18 Jul 2012 12:09	Bay The trouble with just hanging them up is they go brown and curled. And when too crisp they crumble. You can dry them between sheets of kitchen paper in, say, a telephone directory. They will be flat and still green. They also freeze fine. And you can use them fresh but they have a slightly different flavour. Reply Quote
By Essex Girl 18 Jul 2012 15:37	Bay Leaves Thanks. I think I'm going to have to do some experimenting. At least I have no shortage of leaves. Might look out for a flower press in a charity shop. Reply Quote
By Noreen, Board Moderator 18 Jul 2012 17:53	Bay leaves http://www.deliaonline.com/ingredients/ingredients-a-z/ingredients-a-c/Bay-leaves.html Reply Quote
By Essex Girl 19 Jul 2012 07:33	Drying Bay Leaves Thanks for the link Noreen. Didn't realise they would dry that quickly. Reply Quote