Preparing Chestnuts for Boiling:
Start by scoring the chestnuts. This is a crucial step for easy peeling later on.
Place a chestnut on a cutting board, flat side down, securing it firmly in between your index finger and thumb.
Using a paring knife, chestnut knife, or a sharp serrated knife, make a small incision (approximately ½ inch lengthwise) horizontally over the rounded side of the chestnut. You do want to cut through the outer shell and the inner fuzzy skin, but do your best not to cut through the flesh too much.
How To Boil?
Boiling chestnuts on the stovetop is an easy process and require no special equipment. Simply:
Boil water in a saucepan: Fill a saucepan with cold water. You should have enough water to cover the chestnuts fully. Bring it to a boil. Place chestnuts into the boiling water and cook for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the scored section opens up revealing the fuzzy skin on the inside.
Check for doneness: Carefully remove one chestnut and peel to check if the yellow flesh is fully cooked. If the pulp is soft and creamy, it is cooked.
If so, use a slotted spoon to remove the chestnuts into a bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it cool for 10 minutes. If it is not fully cooked, cook it for another 3-4 minutes, checking doneness during the boiling process once or twice.
How To Peel?
When they are still hot, but somewhat cool enough to handle, peel chestnuts one by one. Start with the outer shell and then remove the inner skin. If you have a hard time removing the fuzzy skin, place it back in the water for a few more minutes or use a paring knife to remove it as much as you can. Peeling chestnuts this way requires patience and you may end up with broken pieces along the way.
Alternatively, you can cut it down the middle and scoop out the nuts using a small spoon and collect the boiled and steamed chestnuts in a bowl. You will end up with broken pieces but it will still be delicious.
I find that this is the easiest way to shell chestnuts, especially if you are using them in a recipe such as chestnut puree or chestnut soup.
Discard the bad chestnuts that are spoiled inside as you peel them.
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