Chestnuts are as much a part of autumn and winter as amen is to prayer. Do you count yourself among the lucky ones who can harvest chestnuts directly in your private garden, but do not really know how to use the huge number of chestnuts? Then it is best to dry some of the chestnuts and preserve them for months or even years. Our guide explains step by step how to proceed.

Chestnuts are best dried in the oven

How to properly dry chestnuts - step-by-step instructions

  1. Remove the brown skin and, if possible, the hairy outer skin from the chestnuts. To do this, simply cut the peel in a jagged pattern using a sharp paring knife. Then it can usually be easily eliminated.
  2. Place the chestnuts evenly - with a good distance from each other - on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
  3. Place the tray with the chestnuts in a dry, warm and airy place.
  4. Let the chestnuts dry like this for at least two weeks. It is important to turn them every day.

Tips:

  • You don't have to cook the chestnuts before drying, you can use them raw right away.
  • Be sure to dry the chestnuts in a protected indoor space - not on the balcony or terrace (generally not outdoors).
  • Stick to the motto: it is better to dry longer than too short. Chestnuts are unfortunately very susceptible to mould. If they are not stored completely dry, they spoil quickly.
  • It is common for some chestnuts to be larger than others. Logically, the smaller specimens take less time to dry. So always use the large chestnuts as a guide.
  • You can test whether the chestnuts are completely dry as follows: Squeeze the chestnuts very firmly between your thumb and forefinger. If they don't give way anymore, they are completely dry.
  • Don't worry if you can't remove the skin while peeling the fruit. As it dries, it often comes off by itself and you can easily remove it.
  • Sort out spoiled fruit mercilessly. At the lower pointed end of your chestnuts you can often already tell whether there is mold on the inside. Only keep the perfect sweet chestnuts. You can cut away small brown spots.

Store dried chestnuts

Fill the dried chestnuts into an airtight jar. They usually have a shelf life of at least twelve months, sometimes even several years.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Trees