Cooking chestnuts is very easy – we show you how it works step by step. In the video we also explain the difference between chestnuts and chestnuts.
Cooking chestnuts: you need these ingredients
- 300 g chestnuts
- water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- large saucepan
Cooking chestnuts: the preparation
- Before cooking, score the chestnuts crosswise so that they don't burst in the pot later.
- Put the sweet chestnuts in a large saucepan and cover with water.
- Now salt the chestnuts, heat the saucepan on the stove and then cook the chestnuts over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- The chestnuts are done as soon as the skin cracks open slightly. Drain the water and let the fruits cool.
In terms of taste, it makes no difference whether you prepare the chestnuts in the oven or in a pot. They are best peeled when they are still warm, because then the shell will loosen better. For example, you can use a tea towel and peel the chestnuts with a short sharp knife.
This is how you recognize fresh chestnuts
Unfortunately, chestnuts can only be kept in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. When buying, you should therefore make sure that they contain no cracks or holes and look plump and shiny. You can recognize old chestnuts by their matt color and soft consistency, then the fruits are already dried out.
You can also use a trick to test whether the chestnuts are still good. Simply put them in lukewarm water: Fresh chestnuts sink to the groundif on the other hand they swim on the surface, they are old. Alternatively, you can buy chestnuts in the supermarket that are already cooked, peeled and shrink-wrapped, but these are usually more expensive than fresh chestnuts.
Alternative ways of preparing chestnuts
Of course it is also possible to use the chestnuts roast in the oven or in the panYou can find detailed information about this in our articles Roasting chestnuts and preparing chestnuts. You can also in the microwave Cooking chestnutsby placing them in a bowl of water and heating them at 900 watts for two minutes. In any case, you should cut the chestnuts in a cross shape beforehand and stay close during the process.
Cooking chestnuts: product knowledge
The season for chestnuts begins End of September and extends into December. Sweet chestnuts are nuts that are surrounded by a prickly shell. This can contain up to three nuts. Chestnuts (by the way, in Austria they are called chestnuts) are low in calories with 192 kilocalories per 100 grams and contain only two grams of fat.
Chestnuts used to be considered food for poor people nowadays Roasted chestnuts are a popular snack at the Christmas market or a delicious filling for the Christmas roast. In France they are eaten as a cream or prepared as chestnut puree. You will find many delicious chestnut recipes here, such as our recipe for chestnut soup.