I wanna forage me some chestnuts!

[kingsdowner]

I saw Hedgehogpie's comment about ripe chestnuts in Kent - I agree....there's a fine crop of large nuts this year, so presumably the good weather that we've had in this corner this summer has been good for them.
A question - the recent winds have brought down quite a few with partly-white shells - are these unripe, and if so are they edible?

[Millymollymandy]

Aaaaaaargh why are chestnuts such a pain to peel? I'm really sore under my thumb nails from peeling off the outer layer and the inner skin I just give up and cut off as it won't peel so I lose a bit of chestnut, but that doesn't really matter. Spent about an 2 hours and only got through 30 (some of which were full of bugs of course).

Kingsdowner - I'm not sure but why don't you cook a couple and see what they are like?

[jemima]

Hi all,

Im new to this forum :)

Id really like to take my Son who's 5, chestnutting (sweet kind) we live in Crowborough, East Sussex. Would anyone be able to point us in the direction of woods or anywhere good for this?

Id also like to him conkering in some woods....if anyone can help there.

Thanks
J x

[Millymollymandy]

Hi, that's pretty much what I do (a production line!) but I don't add oil. I boil for 6 mins which is undercooked (for the chestnuts) but then they are going to be cooked a bit more later. If I cook for longer then they are cooked and too soft and mushy (and therefore fewer go in the freezer because I eat them whilst I peel them!!! ).

I'll try your method next time once my thumbnails have recovered - I don't get stained so that's not a problem so no need for gloves.

Apart from the ones which have little holes in them how can you see if they have bugs in before peeling? Sometimes they just have a tiny little bugged area and the rest of the nut is OK.

[becks77]

Hi there SE-isher,
We are in Hailsham and this afternoon Rosie (the dog) and I went to Park Wood, brilliant huge juicy sweet chestnuts, have just roasted a load and they are quite yummy,
Becks