Peeling Fresh Chestnuts Tip

By Food & Wine Updated March 31, 2015

For handling chestnuts:

A quick and easy way to peel fresh chestnuts: using a small sharp knife, make an “x” on the flat side of each chestnut.
Soak the chestnuts in water for about an hour, then drain.
Roast the chestnuts in a cast-iron skillet in a 400° oven for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
Peel as soon as they are cool enough to handle.

When shopping for chestnuts, look for smooth skins and a nice shine; feel for chestnuts that are quite hard—the leathery skin should be firmly attached to the nut itself.

If cooking with fresh chestnuts still seems too cumbersome, vacuum-packed imported whole chestnuts in a jar are an easy and delicious alternative.