Product Review

You’ve heard of them roasting on an open fire. You’ve seen them on street carts in New York in the winter. But have you ever really wondered what to do with chestnuts? The fragrant nut (yes, it’s actually a nut) is a cold-weather favorite of American culture, to be sure. But it also serves a surprising number of purposes in cooking—and eating. Whether going sweet or savory, cooking or baking, it’s hard to go wrong with the chestnut. Chestnuts usually come raw, still in their inner skin after being freed from their spiky green outer skin (seriously, these babies grow looking like porcupines!). However, most experts recommend against eating them in their raw state because of their extremely high tannic acid content. Suffice to say, it’s better to hold out and just eat them roasted. Perhaps the most convenient way to enjoy chestnuts is to buy them already roasted. Gefen makes delicious roasted chestnuts. But what do I do with them? One of the best ways to enjoy chestnuts is simply to eat them as is. Warm them slightly and dig in. They’re a great snack! But there are also hundreds (or more!) of ways to use chestnuts that are equally delectable. Chestnuts are soft and starchy in texture, with a sweet, earthy flavor that works great in both sweet and savory foods.