All about chestnuts > How to roast them

450 g (1 lb.) of chestnuts provides about 625 ml (2 1/2 cups) of shelled nuts.  

Hints and tips
To make shelling easier and to prevent the chestnuts from exploding, cut an X on the flat side with a sharp knife just before cooking the chestnuts.

To obtain pre-cooked and easily shellable chestnuts, place them in a dish with a little water and put them in the microwave for 3 minutes on low power.

How to roast chestnuts
Once you have made a cut in the chestnuts, they can be roasted in a special perforated pan, though other cooking methods are just as effective:

• in the oven
Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Place the chestnuts in a shallow dish and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Once they are cool enough to handle, remove the shells and the dark skin surrounding them.

• on a plancha

• on the barbecue

• in a traditional skillet

• in the fireplace

• with a raclette maker

You can also boil them
Simply cover them with water; add a pinch of salt and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

Or microwave them
You first have to split them, then place them in a dish with enough salted water to reach one-third of the way up; cover with plastic wrap; prick the plastic wrap 3-4 times with a fork and cook on high power for 4-6 minutes, depending on size.