There is a secret to roasting chestnuts that many of you may not know. The first rule to remember is that not all chestnuts are created equal. It's important when buying your chestnuts to get them from your local greengrocer and ask them to supply you with good easy peel chestnuts for roasting. There are many varieties and some are great for boiling, whilst other are suited for roasting, imparting a sweet, delicious nutty flavour to die for.
Many supermarkets only sell the boiling variety which is great if you're making stuffings, mashed chestnuts, salads or soups. Updating cart Need help finding the right product for you? Search Shop. Organic Superfood Everyday Greens. Drinking Chocolat. Books and App. Wellness Collections. The traditional way to roast chestnuts is by using a chestnut roasting pan affiliate link or a rimmed baking pan, and cook them for about 30 minutes on the open fire, shaking the pan occasionally.
This works if you have gas hobs. This is actually the best way to roast chestnuts at home , as you don't need any special equipment to do that. Place them on a single layer over a baking tray covered with aluminium foil, and gather up the edges to form a parcel slightly open on top. When buying chestnuts, look for even-sized nuts with undamaged shells and no pinholes which indicate there're worms inside.
They should also feel quite heavy in your hand. Use a sharp knife a serrated knife or a pairing knife will do the trick to score a cross through the skin on each chestnut. You can also simply score a line, it works too. Do not skip this step! When you score the shells you help the steam to escape and prevent the explosion of the fruit due to expansion. They're easy to peel whilst they're still hot, as the shells become hard to peel when they're cold.
Some people recommend soaking the chestnuts for 30 minutes before roasting them. Some others say it doesn't make much difference. I tend to compromise and soak them for a minute, just to make them easier to steam.
Once you have scored the outer shell, place the chestnuts in a bowl of hot water for 1 minute then drain and pat dry. This will help speed the cooking process and avoid burnt chestnuts. You can enjoy chestnuts right away or store them in an airtight container in the coldest part of your refrigerator. They should last approximately weeks. Back to Recipes Quick and healthy Quick vegetarian See more. Back to Recipes Vegetable soups Healthy soups See more. Back to Recipes Chicken curry Pasta See more.
Back to Recipes Smoothies Autumn drinks See more. Back to Recipes Whole foods recipes Healthy dinners See more. Back to Recipes Vegetarian dinners Quick vegetarian See more. Back to Recipes Vegan storecupboard Vegan baking See more. Back to How to Roast timer Conversion guides. My first batch of tiny chestnuts took about 9 minutes to cook, but my second batch took only 4 minutes. These were extra small though — about the size of a hazelnut.
Once cooked, remove the chestnuts from the heat or they will burn. Peel and enjoy while they are still warm. The hotter they are, the easier they will be to peel. Unfortunately, as chestnuts cool the membrane begins to stick to the flesh of the nut. Once the chestnuts have cooled completely, you may find that the membrane is down right impossible to get off.
My trick for handling hot chestnuts is to use an old kitchen towel. I take one end of the towel and cover my left hand, and place the chestnut in that hand. Then, I use the other end of the towel in my right hand to peel off the shell. This is because not all chestnuts are the same. They come in different sizes, some have membranes that go through the flesh or the nut, and it can be difficult to figure out how old your chestnuts are.
If you have any tips or tricks on roasting chestnuts, leave them in the comments below. If you cannot see the video, please turn off your adblocker.
Please note that these nutritional values are only an estimate, and have been generated from a database using generic products. This recipe card contains affiliate links that support this website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. This was a really fascinating post, Shareba. I have never cooked them at all. Years ago we tried to roast whole chestnuts in our fireplace.
After cleaning up the mess that ensued we forgot about making them. Thanks Shareba! I kind of want my own chestnut tree now….. I have always had a fascination with chestnuts. In fact, growing up Italian meant my whole family was obsessed with chestnuts! We would use them in baking, cooking and for snacking.
In fact, i just roasted a few pounds in order to make one of my favorite Christmas desserts. I always see these at the grocery store but am always too intimidated to cook them. Thanks for the tips for roasting them!
Wow this is really unique! Thank you for the detailed recipe! That is the most amazing, informative post. Thanks so much! Hi and thanks for the beautiful page. I soak almonds, then drive off the water in a very low temperature oven. This with the understanding that letting the nuts seeds do their initial step, absorbing water, enhances their nutritional value. They come out softer and crunchier too. Do you know anything about this?
Jane in Vermont, usa. Hi Jane, thanks for your comment. I have soaked shelled almonds and roasted them, and that works really well. I have soaked the chestnuts with the shell on before baking, which can sometimes make them easier to peel.
I would be interested to know how soaking the peeled chestnuts worked out for you. Please let me know! Hi, I will let you know. Thanks for your post and best wishes for the lovely season of candles and bright colors, if not the great Christian drama.
I love all of your ideas. Great information. I am getting my family an Air Fryer for Christmas. After doing a little research, it looks like it is possible to roast them using this appliance. Going to try it so we will see. Wish us luck! Hi , I washed my chestnuts then roasted in oven 18 min just like the instructions.
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