How to Peel the "King of Dried Fruits" Chestnuts? A Detailed Guide to Ripening Time

The chestnut is the fruit of trees or shrubs in the genus Castanea of the Fagaceae family. It is rich in nutrients and delicious, and is even called “ginseng fruit” abroad. Whether eaten raw, boiled, or roasted, it is very tasty, so how do you peel the “king of dried fruits” chestnut? When does it ripen?

1. How to peel chestnuts

1. Hot water soaking method: Wash raw chestnuts clean with water, put them into boiling water so they are submerged, cover with a lid and let them steep for 5 minutes, then take the chestnuts out, cut a small slit with a knife, and peel them open by hand. The chestnut shell will come off, and the inner skin will come off along with it. This is a time-saving and labor-saving method.

2. Refrigerator freezing method: First cook the chestnuts in water, wait until they cool, then put them in the refrigerator to freeze for 2 hours, then take them out, and the shell and flesh can be easily separated. Be careful not to wait until the frozen chestnuts warm up to room temperature before peeling, because then the chestnut skin is not so easy to remove. This is also a disadvantage of the refrigerator freezing method: it is rather time-consuming, and the frozen chestnuts cannot be eaten right away. However, frozen chestnuts have a distinctive flavor, and those who like it can give it a try.

3. Microwave heating method: First use scissors to cut open the outer shell of the chestnuts, put them in the microwave and heat on high power for 30 seconds, and the inner skin will automatically separate from the flesh. Be sure to cut open the outer shell of the chestnuts first, otherwise the chestnuts will heat unevenly and explode, causing the microwave to malfunction.

4. Sun exposure method: Leave raw chestnuts in the sun for one day, and the chestnut shells will crack open on their own, while the inner skin becomes crisp and is very easy to remove.

5. Boiling with salt water: Add a little salt when boiling chestnuts, so that after cooking they are very easy to peel, and the salt also helps preserve freshness, making the boiled chestnuts sweeter and more delicious.

2. When do chestnuts ripen

Chestnuts mostly ripen in autumn, around September to October. The flowering period of chestnuts is usually from May to June, and the fruiting period is from September to October. There are many varieties of chestnuts, and different varieties have somewhat different ripening periods. In some regions, chestnuts have already ripened and gone on the market in mid-to-late August, but generally all chestnuts ripen before November, and eating seasonal chestnuts in autumn is the most delicious and most nutritious.

3. How to store fresh chestnuts

1. Refrigerated storage method:Wrap the chestnuts well with plastic wrap or a plastic storage bag and put them in the refrigerator or freezer for cold storage, or leave fresh chestnuts in the sun for one day, remove the hard shells, then seal them well with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Generally, they can be stored for more than one week.

2. Ventilated storage method:Generally, placing fresh chestnuts in a cool, ventilated place allows them to be stored for a relatively long time. Alternatively, soak fresh chestnuts in cold water for 7-10 days, drain them, put them in a bamboo basket or mesh bag, and hang them in a cool, ventilated place. This method can usually keep them for several months.

The above is Tuliuwang's introduction to methods for peeling chestnuts. Chestnuts generally ripen in autumn. Eating chestnuts regularly has effects such as tonifying the kidneys and strengthening the spleen, strengthening the body, and benefiting the stomach and soothing the liver. They are a very good tonic dried fruit.