Contents
Chestnut Basics
Nutritional Information: Chestnut
How to Buy Chestnuts
How to Store Chestnuts
How to Peel Chestnuts
How to Roast Chestnuts
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How to Peel Chestnuts
Before you can prepare chestnuts for eating, you first need to peel off the spiky husk that
surrounds and protects the chestnut, as well as the thin layer of brown skin found just beneath the husk. Chestnuts can be peeled in one of three ways: they can be peeled raw, or boiled or roasted in order to remove the peels. All three methods require a considerable amount of time, though peeling chestnuts raw is generally more difficult than the other methods.
How to Peel Raw Chestnuts
Peeling raw chestnuts requires the use of a small, very sharp knife.
- Slice open the shell of the chestnut with the point of a sharp knife or paring knife.
- Remove the shell, along with the thin layer of brown skin covering the chestnut.
- Prepare the peeled raw chestnuts as directed.
How to Peel Chestnuts by Boiling Them
Though usually just as time-consuming as peeling chestnuts raw, boiling chestnuts in their shells for a few minutes makes it much easier to peel them. To boil and peel chestnuts:
- Make an X-shaped incision in the husk of each chestnut with a sharp knife. This will prevent the chestnuts from bursting when they heat up in the boiling water.
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Make sure you’re boiling enough water to cover the chestnuts completely.
- Put the chestnuts in the water and boil them for 5–10 minutes. Remove the chestnuts from the boiling water once you see the husks begin to become tender and split apart.
- Peel the chestnuts while still warm. Be sure to peel away the husks and the thin brown skin that covers each chestnut.
You can then prepare the boiled chestnuts for eating however you’d like.
How to Peel Chestnuts by Roasting Them
You can also peel chestnuts by roasting them first and then peeling them. This method is limiting in the sense that it involves completely roasting the chestnuts—you can’t prepare them in some other way after roasting them. But it’s the best method to use if you plan to eat the chestnuts roasted, since it combines cooking and peeling the chestnuts into one process.
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