What Is the Easiest Way to Peel a Chestnut?
Chestnuts have been cultivated and eaten since at least 300 B.C., when the Greek philosopher Xenophon mentions the Persian's fondness for them. They are particularly prized for their aroma when roasted. The nuts themselves are large, pale, crumbly, and come encased in a leathery brown shell. The easiest way to peel a chestnut is after it has been cooked. You may then eat them out of hand or incorporate them into other dishes, such as poultry stuffing. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bowl of water
- Small, sharp knife such as a paring knife
- Cast-iron skillet or other oven-safe dish, such as a casserole or baking pan
- Oven
Instructions
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1
Use a small, sharp knife to score an "X" on the flat side of each chestnut.
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2
Soak the chestnuts in a bowl of water for about an hour.
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3
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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4
Place the scored chestnuts in an iron skillet or other oven-safe pan. Roast for 20 minutes, or until the nuts are tender.
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5
Peel the skin from the chestnuts with your fingers or the knife as soon as they are cool enough to handle.
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Tips & Warnings
Peel as soon as you can comfortably handle the roasted nuts. Cooled chestnuts become increasingly harder to peel.
A chestnut knife is not necessary, but if you plan on roasting a lot of chestnuts over time, it could come in handy. Chestnut knives look like small paring knives with a small hook to the tip of the blade, like a parrot's beak.
Make sure your knife is sharp. A dull knife is more likely to slip and cut you.
Score deeply enough to let the shell peel back as the nut expands. Otherwise, the chestnut could explode in the oven.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit chestnut image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
