How to properly store bay leaves and bay branches

Spicy foliage has two shelf life: from the moment of collection until it is put into packages, the spice can be used in cooking - up to 9 months, and after packaging - a year. The duration of storage of laurel leaves will directly depend on the quality of the product. Therefore, in no case should you opt for brown, pale brown with a hint of rust, easily broken specimens.

Shelf life of bay leaf

The spice is usually stored dried. You can add bay leaves to dishes in suitable condition for quite a long period, but provided that all aspects of proper storage are observed.

The shelf life of the seasoning depends on the type of container:

• if the leaves are stored in fabric bags or boxes, they can be consumed for up to 9 months;
• if in paper or cellophane bags, then up to 12 months (the packaging must be tightly sealed).

We must not forget that from the moment of cutting from the bushes to packaging the leaves, they were stored for some time in a warehouse.Therefore, it is good if the dates for collecting spices and packaging are as close to each other as possible (this point is indicated on the labeling).

In order not to miss a few important points, you should watch the video “How to preserve bay leaves in winter”:

Cases of poisoning from expired bay leaves are not mentioned anywhere, but the taste of such a spice is too bitter, and their aroma is far from pleasant.

Under what conditions should bay leaves be stored correctly?

It must be remembered that any product requires special attention in terms of storage, that is, failure to comply with the correct conditions will lead to spoilage of the product ahead of schedule.

The most important thing is the temperature; the optimal values ​​are considered to be from 10 to 15 °C and humidity no more than 75%. It is also important that other spices and products that have a pronounced aroma are not stored near the package with bay leaves, since they easily absorb foreign odors when dry. It is necessary to protect the container with bay leaves from light. It is best when the spice is stored away from a heat source. The best place is considered to be a refrigerator shelf or a closed cabinet (here it is easier to “keep” the temperature and humidity within the same limits).

Suitable container for storing bay leaves

The container for storing spices must be hermetically sealed. This will mainly help ensure correct storage conditions. Suitable for product safety regular canning jar with plastic cover. Also a good choice would be Vacuum package, which has a special sealed clasp.

Even bags made of natural fabric for saving bay leaves are not the best option. They are able to transmit moisture, heat, foreign odors, and also accelerate evaporation.To better preserve the aroma of the leaves, they must be loosely pressed when packaging.

Bay spice can be dried directly on a plucked branch. After drying, they must be folded in bunches, placing the long ones in the center and the short ones at the edges. The resulting bundle should be loosely tied with a bandage or gauze, and then sent to an opaque bag. You can store the bags in a cabinet or in the refrigerator.

Some housewives, in order to extend the shelf life of bay leaves, freeze the spice and store it in plastic bags or food containers in the freezer. Do not remove dry leaves from the container with wet hands. This will lead to rapid spoilage of the product.

You can learn more about how to prepare bay leaves from the video “Bay Leaf // Preparing for Winter”:

In no case should you neglect each of the rules. Otherwise, it will not be possible to preserve bay leaves and branches for a long time.