BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?

Subject: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:23 PM

I have a bunch of what look like very good chestnuts here, and they need roasting. I've had some hit and miss with doing that in the past as far as getting good results. Sometimes they get dried out too much, sometimes they explode. Who is experienced out there and can recommend the best method, time, temperature, etc...

Thanks, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:46 PM

How the hell did your nuts get all the way up on your chest, Little Hawk? Something to do with that "Freeze Your Balls" thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:49 PM

For each quart of chestnuts you need a small roasting pan, a match, and one cup of gasoline. Put the nuts in the pan, cover in gas, ignite with match from a suitable distance.

Flame temperature should reach 475 degrees. When flames are all gone, allow the nuts to cool and then discard them into a rubbish container.

Go buy a pound of cashews or pecans. Eat and enjoy.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Peace
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:52 PM

LH,

Put a slit in each nut with a sharp knife (OOOOOOOOOO, it hurts talking like this because it's much like what ya do to bulls to change their names to steers). That will stop the exploding. I think we used to do them at about 350-375 F, but check 'em frequently, yer nuts that is. If you use an oil on them make it peanut oil because it doesn't breakdown until about 425 F (that's why it is preferred in stirfry--it doesn't burn until it gets to that temp.

It's easier to rost them then check for bad nuts than it is to check first. Good luck with your roast.

PS, I like 'em with salt and some butter, that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:14 PM

Ah. Peanut oil, eh, Peace? That explains why Jimmy Carter went so far.

You're advising me to check my nuts frequently? Thanks, pal, I needed that.

So okay, say we roast them at 365...but for how long? You say "check them", but how? A hot chestnut is a hot chestnut is a hot chestnut, and its outer appearance remains, well, inscrutable at best. Should I preheat the oven, then put them in? Is any water required in the pan to keep them from drying out too much?

Spaw, I always think of you when I need advice. Then I ask someone else. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Peace
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:58 PM

OK, so my memory is off.

"Use the point of a paring knife to slash an X on the flat side of each nut, being sure to cut through the skin.

Bake in a single layer at 425 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes for peeling only. If you want them completely roasted, bake 15 to 25 minutes until tender. Stir nuts occasionally during the roasting time.

Always peel chestnuts while they're still warm. If they cool so much that the shell won't easily come off, reheat them briefly."

However, if you use peanut oil on yer nuts, don't put the oven so high. They'll roast jus' fine at 400 degrees.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 09:36 PM

Sounds good. What's the peanut oil for? I will give it a try tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Peace
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 09:41 PM

I have no idea what the peanut oil is for.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: number 6
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 09:43 PM

Why don't you ask one of those chestnut/popcorn vendors that are always outside of the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) ... that's if they are still there.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 12:49 AM

Yeah, I would if I was in Toronto. ;-) I also wonder if they are still there. There used to be a guy outside of Maple Leaf Gardens too, out there for hours on the most frigid winter days, with steam rising from his little chestnut wagon.

The tip about the skins being easier to peel when they are hot is a good one.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 12:52 AM

Here is info on all the different ways to prepare chestnuts, lifted from Fantes, in South Philly, where people still roast a lot of chestnuts --



How to Roast Chestnuts

The best chestnuts for roasting are the larger, better quality called "marroni". Only the rich brown, firm ones will do to produce sweet, soft, delicious roasted chestnuts. The regular "castagne" are best kept for boiling.

Always score or make slits to break the tough skin along the rounded side of each chestnut before cooking. This promotes even cooking and to keeps them from popping during cooking.

Over an open fire, use a grill basket or popcorn roaster. Score the raw chestnuts, place them in the basket, and move or shake them frequently back and forth over the fire.

Keep the chestnuts some inches away from the coals, so they will not char.

If the basket or roaster is kept at a reasonable distance from the heat, the chestnuts should be done when the skins have been blackened by the heat.

On the stovetop, a chestnut pan (a frying pan with holes on the bottom) works best. Score the raw chestnuts, put them in the pan, and sprinkle them with water. Don't overload the pan.

You can add multiple layers to the pan if it will be covered during roasting. Otherwise, we recommend you limit the quantity of chestnuts to just one layer at the bottom of the pan, or it will take longer and more shaking for them to roast properly.

Place the pan over a medium flame or heat setting. If you are using an electric stove with open elements, a metal trivet or heat diffuser between the pan and the open element will help prevent burnt marroni.

Shake the pan back and forth frequently, to roast the chestnuts properly and to prevent their charring.

You will know they are done when the skins have become quite black, but not charred. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how many chestnuts are in the pan. It can take longer in certain instances, usually having to do with the type and amount of heat coming from your burner.

For the microwave, put a half dozen raw scored chestnuts on a dish, and cook them for about half a minute at full power.

To boil chestnuts, first slit the the raw chestnuts, boil for 10 minutes, and take them out of the water when you're ready to shell them.

To make basic chestnut paste, shell the raw chestnuts, boil about 10 minutes, remove the remaining fur-like skin, and pass through a potato ricer (or use a food processor or stick blender).

Hot chestnuts are really hot, so watch your fingers and your tongue. It only takes a few minutes for the marroni to become cool enough to enjoy their delicious meat.

The skin of roasted chestnuts hardens quickly and is more difficult to break open when roasted chestnuts are cooled. So crush chestnuts in a towel while they are still hot, so that their still-crispy skins will break.

Enjoy!

The fridge is the best place to store chestnuts before use (or freezer for longer-term storage)

Low-low fat, no cholesterol, gluten or oil in chestnuts

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Slag
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 02:04 AM

Don't know if you've heard this old chest nut (stop me if you have!) but the local Chess club was holding its annual tournament at the Biltmore and the members were driving the highstrung concierge crazy. It was his duty to keep the foyer open for the smooth flow of the regular guests but between games the club members would all gather in the foyer to discuss their games and their standings in the tourney. Just as he was about to tear his hair out the manager came out and asked him what was wrong. Replied the concierge "I can't stand it. If there is one thing I cannot stand it CHESS NUTS BOASTING BY AN OPEN FOYER!"

Hey, I said you should stop me!

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: number 6
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 07:59 AM

LH ... hell, take a day off. Take a break from the crazy Mudcat. Get out of Mariposa for a day, drive the 1.5 hours down to Toronto. Go to the ROM, AGO, the Science Centre. Find one of those vendors and learn the secret of roasting chestnuts. A day's adventure would do you some good.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 10:04 AM

Has to be the traditional way,no microwave ovens, must be over a log fire.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: MMario
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 10:11 AM

for our Dicken's festival they are slit, boiled, drained while hot, then cooled. then the nuts are pan roasted until hot. They peel easily, don't get burnt, are cooked fully even if they don't get hot and really are tasty.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 11:24 AM

Hmmm. That sounds like a foolproof technique, Mario. Well, thanks all, I will attempt some chestnut roasting and or boiling today and see how it goes.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Grab
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 11:47 AM

The quick way is to microwave them. The only problem with this is that they microwave *very* fast because there's a fair amount of water in them, and then they burst. I only cook 8 at a time, because that's the most I can eat before they go cold. My solution is microwave for 30s, turn them over and round, 20s, turn over/round, 15s, turn over/round, 10s. The turning over and round step ensures they're cooked evenly, and also allows a short "resting" period for the steam to escape. And don't forget to cut a slot in them - I just do one long slot along the top, and that seems to work.

Microwaving doesn't give as good a flavour as roasting, but it's much faster and easier.

And don't forget the salt - chestnuts without a little bit of salt just aren't the same.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 01:10 PM

Yoy can get a gadget for cutting the slits in them. It looks a bit like an olive/cherry stoner but with a blade instead of the prod.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 02:45 PM

A lot of the raw chestnuts that you buy in the market are not very fresh, and it is not uncommon to find, on opening, that they are moldy or have hardened into rocks.

The easiest and cheapest way to enjoy real roasted chestnuts is to buy them frozen from Trader Joe's--about $2.29 or so for a pound, you can warm them up in the oven for about ten minutes and they're all good.

Though not mentioned above, chestnuts, which were a significant part of the diet in the nineteenth century, were all but obliterated by a blight--nowadays, what few chestnuts you find are imported from Italy. They make the trip better if roasted and frozen first.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 10:23 PM

If you actually eat those things, they must taste better than what we got a few years ago from the only vendor I have ever seen around here (Michigan). Those were about like slightly sweetened gobs of thick booger.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: number 6
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 11:14 PM

I prefer cashews.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:54 AM

Well you need to get yerself a coke brazier and go dahn Oxford Street an' flog 'em for 'arf a crown fra little bag. (Of course if you do it properly you won't be able to say little, but I can't find a font with a glottal stop)

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 05:38 AM

li'l ?

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 10:19 AM

Thanks, that's almost there. Maybe li'ul would be closer, or maybe no'.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:02 PM

Yes, li'ul is closer.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Peace
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:35 PM

The glottal stop symbol can be replaced with a ? if you're of a mind to.
Glottal Stop Symbol

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 12:01 PM

No, I don't have a mind to.
Question marks in the middle of words are just confusing and, to me, convey nothing - unless it is a transcription and the question mark indicates the position of something illegible.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 01:10 PM

Do NOT just throw them in an active fireplace.
Julie did and when one burst it exploded sending the chestnut painfully right into her ample cleavage.
It was a case of chesting roast nuts.

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: open mike
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 04:10 PM

putting an "x" in them
sounds like the method
of preparing brussels
sprouts, too.

now, how about the way
to fix mushy peas?

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: MMario
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 04:11 PM

boil until grey, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Best way to roast chestnuts?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 05:29 AM

The only way to 'fix' mushy peas is to bin them.