# How do you roast chestnuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537 "2001-11-27T17:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rodney\_of\_Texas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rodney\_of\_Texas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodney_of_Texas)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/1 "2001-11-27T17:00:49Z")
Is there a preferred way to roast chestnuts? What do I need? How do I know they’re done? Overdone? Is there a recipe for this sort of thing? Can a marine alcohol stove qualify as “an open fire”? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/2 "2001-11-27T17:31:30Z")
In Europe we saw these sold throughout the Christmas and winter season. Looked to be cooked mainly in a pan or wok type device over a gas flame. I imagine there is some sort of device similar to old fireplace popcorn poppers for cooking directly in a wood burning fireplace. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/3 "2001-11-27T17:36:04Z")
Here’s a [chestnut roaster](http://www.williams-sonoma.com//srch/name.cfm?ftype=name&imgs=on&name=chestnut+&x=12&y=3) from the Williams Sonoma catalog. And here’s an [antique brass chestnut roaster](http://208.195.144.206/Auctions/62/Detail/Lot_50.html) from an antique auction site. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/4 "2001-11-27T17:38:11Z")
Here’s a recipe. You don’t need an open flame, a regular oven will do: [http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/greenline/00v6/14.html](http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/greenline/00v6/14.html) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/5 "2001-11-27T17:42:38Z")
And here’s a lithograph of a [chestnut street vendor](http://www.world-wide-art.com/art/shpg3213876164106553ctvasku19990910165409/artworkResults.html) [This site](http://newsobserver.com/standing/collections/curry/500000022659.html) (quoted below) provides some book suggestions and some recipes for roasting chestnuts in your oven. > [@](#): > > I recognized the delicious, nutty fragrance in the crisp air, but I just couldn’t put my finger on its source. As we strolled closer to the source of this tantalizingly familiar aroma, I stopped in my tracks. There before me was a chestnut roasting cart just like the ones on street corners in New York or Europe during the winter. But this was Asheville. > > I found out from chestnut vendor Sadhvi Gantenbein that she and her husband had recently shipped their roasting cart all the way from Laufen, Switzerland, to North Carolina. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she sells roasted chestnuts at Earth Fare Market and on Saturdays at Grove Park Inn, both in Asheville. > > In Europe, according to Gantenbein, the much anticipated chestnut season begins in October. Its arrival is celebrated with special foods made from chestnuts in the cafes. ---
**Author:** ![keno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f9ae1b/32.png) [@keno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keno)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/6 "2001-11-27T20:53:55Z")
As far back as about 1954, we used to ‘roast’ 'em in a covered cast iron skillet on top of the stove. Then we thought, “Hey, why can’t we microwave 'em?”. And as long as you remember to cut the shell first, it works like a charm. Whole lot quicker and easier. You just have to experiment the first few times to get the timing right. By the way, if you’re just interested in getting cooked chestnuts to use in a recipe, e.g. turkey stuffing, it’s easier to boil than to roast, same results when used again in cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/7 "2001-11-27T21:25:45Z")
Warning, DO NOT over cook them - they become inedible. Remove them as soon as they begin to spread. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-roast-chestnuts/95537/8 "2001-11-28T00:40:55Z")
This can’t be repeated too often- be sure to pierce the shells before roasting unless you want to be scraping chestnut shrapnel out of your oven.