Can I use my bay leaves fresh?

[Rayna37]

I have two large bay trees in pots unoriginally outside my front door. I'm out of dried bay. Can't find anything conclusive online about using these fresh or even picking and drying! Do I really have to check the variety? I'd say I have two slightly different ones but it could just be one is older.

If I use leaves fresh, should I keep them in for less time? It's for curries today.

Thanks!

I use mine straight off the tree

I do, but I find they disintegrate in a way that the dried ones don’t.

I've always used them straight off my bay tree! They don't disintegrate in my experience.

I have always just left them for whatever time I'd leave dried.

This. I have never had my fresh leaves disintegrate. Ever.

Bay is one of the things that can be left out and used all year round, I use the fresh leaves in my Christmas Day dauphinoise

That's reminded me to harvest my sage

I use them fresh. My bay is in a pot and goes inside in the winter as in NE Scotland. All my tender herbs are in pots in winter in the greenhouse.

Are you sure you're not using privet ?

Yep, use fresh off the tree. They freeze well, too, for those of us who don't have a tree but can pinch from a neighbour. Use straight from frozen.

I've never had dried bay leaves disintegrate?! Just fish them out whole at the end

Mine’s definitely bay! TBF it has only happened once so maybe was just that recipe.

Excellent news thanks all!

😂