How to Roast Chestnuts in the Oven

Longing for something a little different over the holidays? All you have to do is just follow some brief and simple steps, and you’re well on your way to enjoying a cozy, storybook-style winter's night and warm up with some traditionally toasty chestnuts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chestnuts
• Salt
• Salt
• Baking Sheets
• Paring Knives
• Salt
• Salt
• Baking sheets

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Clean off chestnuts.

3. Use a sharp paring knife to cut an X into one side of each chestnut, or prick chestnuts with a fork to allow steam to escape.

4. Arrange chestnuts on a baking sheet or in a shallow pan, with the cut or pricked sides up.

5. Roast in oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until chestnuts are tender and easy to peel.

6. Peel the nuts when they are cool enough to handle, and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Use dry, firm chestnuts; soft chestnuts might be rotted.
• Try a little salt on your chestnuts.
• Be sure to remove the inner skins as well as the shells.
• Chestnuts that have not been cut or pricked to allow steam to escape may explode, even after being removed from the heat.

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[kz797]

on 11/1/2009 What I do to keep them soft and moist is to soak the chestnuts in a bowl of water before roasting.After I cut an X on one side of the chestnut I place them into a bowl of water for a few hours , then roast for about 25-30 min not only are they soft and moist right out of the oven, but they remain soft for many days

[hdrdr98]

on 1/1/2009 I add a little water to the roasting pan before I put them in the oven. This keeps them moist and stops them from sriveling up. Been doing it this way for 50 years.

[SerenaMc]

on 12/26/2008 I just tried roasting chestnuts for the first time and was very disappointed. I followed the directions on the package which said to roast them for 24 to 26 minutes. When we peeled off the outer shell we were left with shriveled up hard as rock nuts and we couldn't peel off the inner light brown membrane let alone eat them. I think they must have been cooked too long. I think I'll try 15 minutes with the second box.
[e-mail]

on 1/5/2006 Place the chestnut on a cutting board. Cut down on an angle twice. The 'X' does not have to be perfect, just intersect.

on 11/22/2005 Simply rest a knife where you want to cut it and whack it a few times with a wooden mallet (or the back end of a butcher knife) to make the X in the chestnut.