Roasted Chestnuts

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: people

Preheat the oven to 430°F or 220°C.
Place the chestnut flat-side down on a cutting board.
Hold each one firmly with your thumb and index finger and make a first horizontal cut across the shell. We recommend using a serrated knife.
This cut should span from the left to the right side of the chestnut. Pay attention, as chestnut shells are slippery, and the knife might slide as you try to cut through.
Rotate the chestnut 90 degrees and make another cut, forming a cross or an X on the chestnut.
Transfer the chestnuts to your baking tray and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on their size.
After baking, the skin should wrinkle up, and the chestnuts should be tender.
Wrap the chestnuts in a clean kitchen cloth and steam for 5 minutes. This step will help the skin loosen.
Now, you can peel the chestnuts while still hot, starting from the cross opening. Remove both the brown skin and the thin, hairy peel underneath.
The chestnuts should have a bright golden color.
Discard those that are black. Some might have black or dark brown spots. In this case, you can discard the dark spot and eat the rest of the chestnut.

Make a cross-cut on the rounded edge of the chestnuts. Transfer the chestnuts to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F or 200°C for 10 – 15 minutes.
Remove the chestnuts from the air fryer and wrap them in a kitchen cloth. Let them cool for 5 minutes, then peel them while still hot.

Make a cross-cut on the rounded edge of the chestnuts. Transfer chestnuts to a cast iron skillet, cover with a lid and cook on medium-high heat for about 20 minutes.
Move the chestnuts around the pan every few minutes. The chestnuts will char outside and produce smoke. That’s supposed to happen. I recommend opening the window.
Wrap the roasted chestnuts in a kitchen cloth for 5 minutes to cool down slightly, then peel them while still hot.
This is the most flavorful way to cook chestnuts at home because of the slight charring on the chestnuts.

Cooking chestnuts in the microwave is the fastest method; however, while they cook fast and are delicious, they are a little more difficult to peel than oven-roasted, air-fried, or pan-roasted chestnuts.
Make a cross-cut on the rounded side of the chestnuts. Put the chestnuts cut side up in a microwave-safe dish. Add 1/3 inch (1 cm) of water and microwave at full power for 10 minutes.
Drain the water, wrap in a kitchen cloth for 5 minutes to cool slightly, and then peel with a paring knife.