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16-10-2006, 08:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,666
| | | Chestnuts
Does anyone know of a simple way of getting the shells off of chestnuts? I've got a load to do that I collected in the woods and it is a right fiddly job.
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16-10-2006, 08:28 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,287
| | | Re: Chestnuts
carefully! Yes, they're tricky aren't they and the spikes are bloomin' sharp. We collected a load yesterday but mainly picked up those that were already half open. I'm not sure how best to do it if the shells are not actually open already.
Matt |
16-10-2006, 08:31 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,573
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by matt_xyz carefully! Yes, they're tricky aren't they and the spikes are bloomin' sharp. We collected a load yesterday but mainly picked up those that were already half open. I'm not sure how best to do it if the shells are not actually open already.
Matt | Wack them into the ground  thats how we did it as kids |
16-10-2006, 08:35 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Sussex
Posts: 801
| | | Re: Chestnuts
You could try rolling them underfoot. They may even open on their own if left on a windowcill. |
16-10-2006, 08:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,287
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly Wack them into the ground thats how we did it as kids | they'd bounce wouldn't they, rather than open  If we're talking about Sweet Chestnuts that is, not horse Chestnuts (conkers)
Matt |
16-10-2006, 08:37 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,666
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Whoops - sorry - I don't think I was very clear above. We already have them out of their outer casing - these are sweet chestnuts for eating.
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16-10-2006, 08:43 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,573
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by matt_xyz they'd bounce wouldn't they, rather than open If we're talking about Sweet Chestnuts that is, not horse Chestnuts (conkers)
Matt | I was thinking we was talking about horse chestnut to be honest |
16-10-2006, 08:45 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yateley, Hampshire
Posts: 1,974
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Susie Whoops - sorry - I don't think I was very clear above. We already have them out of their outer casing - these are sweet chestnuts for eating. | Do it the hard way like we did and end up with a sore thumb nail or slice and par-boil them to soften the casing |
16-10-2006, 08:55 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,287
| | | Re: Chestnuts
I thought you normally roasted them in their (inner) shells, but with a cross in the top. They can still be a bit tricky to remove to eat though. We did some like this last night; BBC - Food - Recipes - Roast chestnuts
Matt |
16-10-2006, 09:17 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 409
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Just send them to me. I promise to send all the shells back to you. |
16-10-2006, 09:21 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,666
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Haha Airehead!
Well, I roasted 'em, about a dozen exploded despite having a cut made in the shells (cleaning the oven will be a job for tomorrow), and I have shelled about another dozen.
I've decided that it is far too much like hard work for a lazy lump like me so they are going outside for the critters tomorrow and I am going to buy mine ready done.
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16-10-2006, 09:31 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,197
| | | Re: Chestnuts
I find boiling them is better..shell is much softer afterwards and it makes a moister sweeter eating too. Cut the cross in them as usual.
Jaki
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16-10-2006, 09:36 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Scunthorpe, Nth Lincs
Posts: 1,612
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Susie Well, I roasted 'em, about a dozen exploded despite having a cut made in the shells (cleaning the oven will be a job for tomorrow), | I too once "pebbled dashed" the inside of our oven, roasting 'em.
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16-10-2006, 09:48 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,287
| | | Re: Chestnuts
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Tormentil I too once "pebbled dashed" the inside of our oven, roasting 'em. | yep, I've done that as well before learning about the 'cross' trick . They went off like depth charges 
Matt | | |
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