Selection and Storage Chestnut

Selection of chestnut

From October to March harvested, the tips of December is the month for fresh chestnuts. If you can not find fresh, you can canned chestnuts, mashed or in sugar syrup can enjoy preserved (candied chestnuts).

Some specialty markets also carry frozen peeled and peeled Italian chestnuts. Canned chestnuts can be sweet or sugar and are usually imported from France, which makes them a bit expensive.

Choose fresh nuts that are smooth and shiny, free of stains. You should feel heavy for their size. Avoid that are shrunk, cracked, or rattle in the shell. Shake the helmet. When you hear the movement, you know, to dry them.

Fresh chestnuts are dried easily, so keep them in a cool, dry, draft-free within a week. Fresh nuts in the shell can be set and stored in a ventilated plastic bag in the drawer of the refrigerator up to a month, depending on the coolness factor when you buy them. Fresh chestnuts can be frozen whole in their shells up to 4 months.

Chestnut storage

Cooked and peeled nuts should be covered in the refrigerator and. Within three to four days Cooked chestnuts, whole, sliced or mashed, can be frozen in an airtight container and stored for up to 9 months.

Dried chestnuts are a bit softer and less mealy in texture than fresh roasted, but not as tasty. The dry form is like new restored by immersion in water before use in equal amounts. Soak dried beans, as it was for about an hour before cooking. Dried chestnuts are also stored as dry, free of moisture and sealed legumes. Under proper storage, which can last up to two months or up to 6 months are frozen in an airtight container or bag.

Chestnut flour usually sold only in the fall and winter because of its short life, is also available, but be aware that it is quite strong in taste. Except for special dishes, it is best combined with other flours for biscuits and cakes. Shop chestnut flour rather than in an airtight container in a cool, dry and use within one month.

Learn more about chestnuts and chestnut recipes

• The selection of chestnut and storage
• cooking tips Chestnut
• Warning raw chestnuts
• Fuchs equivalent measures and substitutions
• History of Chestnut
• Chestnut Recipes
_{Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed Brown Photo © 2007 to About.com, Inc.}

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