How to Cook Chestnuts

Reviewed by Craig Watson

Last Updated: November 20, 2023 Approved

Chestnuts are sweet, earthy treats cultivated in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Though you can eat some strains raw, cooking your chestnuts will bring out the rich flavors most people associate them with.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Microwaving Chestnuts

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Five or six at a time will do.
Place it on a cutting board and cut it with a sharp knife. Cutting it in half will help it cook faster.

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The chestnut is similar to the potato when it comes to cooking. This should take between 2-5 minutes, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Enjoy these chestnuts plain and bite the nut directly off the shell or scoop it out with a small spoon first.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Roasting Chestnuts in an Oven

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Use a sharp knife to do this. This will make the chestnuts roast faster, allowing the steam to escape from the chestnuts. You can also just pierce each chestnut several times with a fork.
You can also just place them right on the grill, with the cut side facing up. Sprinkle them lightly with water to help them roast.
Roast them until they're tender and the shell comes off easily. While they're roasting, use a spoon or spatula to move them around every few minutes so they don't burn. When they're done roasting, remove them from the oven.
Wait 2-3 minutes for the chestnuts to cool off and then wrap them in a towel and squeeze them until the skin is crushed. Leave them in the towel for another five minutes.
Do this while they're still warm to make the process easier. Take out the inner skin along with the shell. If any nuts are hard to peel, you can heat them briefly for a few more minutes until they're ready.
Enjoy these nuts on their own while they're nice and hot.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Roasting Chestnuts Over an Open Fire

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Rinse them off under cool water to remove any dirt.
Score the shells before you place them in a pan.
Place the flat sides of the chestnuts down.
Make sure that there's a bed of glowing coals that you can rest the pan on, whether you've lit a fireplace or a campfire.
This should be enough to roast one side of the chestnuts. Lightly shake the pan around every minute or so to distribute the heat.
After five minutes, use a potholder to remove the pan, roll over the nuts, and place them back on the fire.
Once you've roasted the nuts, wait 2-3 minutes for them to cool down and enjoy them while they're nice and hot.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Boiling Chestnuts

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Use a sharp knife to cut the "X" shape into the chestnuts. This will make them boil more easily.^{[2]
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Research source} Boiling chestnuts won't make them quite as tasty or aromatic, but it's a great way to quickly soften them.
Wait at least 2-3 minutes until the chestnuts are cool enough for you to handle them.
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Enjoy these chestnuts plain or with 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of melted butter.

Community Q&A

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Question

After they're cooked, can I let the chestnuts cool off and store them in the freezer?

Community Answer

Once they've cooled, cooked and peeled chestnuts can be frozen for several months, stored in airtight wrapping.

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Question

Once cooked in the oven, can they be stored for three days, then reheated?

Community Answer

If they are kept with correct HACCP, they can be kept up to five days. Check on day four, as they can become bitter by day five.

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Question

Will storing chestnuts in a vacuum-sealed container prolong their shelf life?

Community Answer

Vacuum-sealing usually adds 2-3 days to the standard shelf life. Even though it removes oxygen from the storage, anaerobic bacteria can still develop in a zero-oxygen environment.

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Tips

If you don't have the "potato" setting, you can listen for the sizzle. Let them sizzle for about one minute.

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Warnings

Do not put them in the microwave and just leave due to there being too little moisture. If they are left too long in the microwave they will burn and produce lots of smoke.

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