Substituting Dried Bay Leaves for Fresh Whole Leaves

Can you substitute dried bay leaves for fresh whole leaves in stews, soups and other dishes? Absolutely! Dried bay leaves, which are readily available in grocery stores, are a very good substitute for fresh bay leaves which you may have trouble finding at your local grocer. However, you should be aware that bay leaves, also known as laurel leaves, lose some of their aroma during the drying process, which is why you will need to use more bay leaves if you are using dried leaves.

Replacing fresh bay leaves with dried leaves in your recipe is extremely easy; all you need to do is to make sure you use the correct conversion ratio. Most chefs recommend doubling the number of bay leaves your recipe calls for if you are using dried leaves instead of fresh ones. In other words, 1 fresh leaf would equal 2 dried leaves.

About Bay Leaves

Bay leaves, also called laurel leaves, are a staple in many European cuisines, but they are also commonly used in North America. These aromatic leaves are commonly used to flavor soups, stews, sauces, meat and seafood. Whether fresh or dried, bay leaves are usually used whole. The whole leaves are added to the dish during the cooking process and removed before the dish is served.