Some ways to properly conserve your chestnuts

When the autumn season arrives it comes with its ups and downs. There is beauty in the changing foliage, but the temperatures are also decreasing. However, the cold weather can always be remedied somewhat by enjoying the wonderful aroma of chestnuts. There are many ways to prepare chestnuts, and they can be enjoyed both cooked and raw. But conserving your chestnuts can prove to be a little more complicated.

Here we are going to go over some tips on how to keep your chestnuts fresh, and we have also even added some recipes for some side dishes and desserts.

Storage

Chestnuts have been enjoyed as far back as the time of the ancient Greeks. Different cultures have historically stored chestnuts in sand or in earthen pots. Now, we are going to go over a couple of methods that can be used depending on whether the chestnuts have been cooked or are raw.

When faced with raw chestnuts, the water method is ideal. Fill up a bowl of water and fully immerse your leftover chestnuts. Now you can leave them to sit overnight. This method acts as a test. The chestnuts that eventually float to the water’s surface will need to be thrown away. While those that sink to the bottom are fine for conservation. Now all you need to do is collect the good chestnuts. They should keep for up to twelve months.

Now, when dealing with cooked chestnuts we will have to resort to the second method. In this case, we will have to store the chestnuts in an airtight container, which will keep them fresh for about a month. If you don’t have any airtight containers on hand you can also use a plastic food bag and place the chestnuts in the freezer. By doing this, your chestnuts will stay fresh for up to six months.

Some chestnut recipe recommendations

Since chestnuts are typically considered a food associated with autumn, they are ideal ingredients in both savory and sweet recipes. Let’s take a look at each.

For our dessert recipe, we will be discussing chestnut cake. This is a Tuscan recipe that is particularly popular in Umbria. The cake consists of chestnut flour cake, rosemary, and pine nuts. You can even add some raisins for an even sweeter flavor.

If you are looking for a savory dish, chestnut soup is a great option, especially in cold weather. Start by boiling your chestnuts, then peel them. Meanwhile, prepare a broth containing your favorite vegetables. After about a half hour of boiling, take out the chestnuts and blend them into a paste. Now just add the paste to your broth. This recipe is also ideal with croutons.