Chestnuts are enclosed by prickly burrs
Chestnuts impart a sweet and starchy flavor. Most often, chefs and food vendors serve them roasted and perhaps buttered and salted. Boiling and steaming are also viable cooking methods. You can eat cooked chestnuts by themselves or add them to casseroles or stews, but you should never eat an unpeeled chestnut. The shells are stubborn, so the chestnuts require cooking before peeling.
Instructions
1. Grasp a chestnut and score an "X" on one side of it with a sharp knife. The "X" should be about 1/2 inch long and wide. Repeat this for all of your chestnuts.
2. Place the chestnuts in a bowl and cover them with water.
3. Allow the chestnuts to soak for about an hour before draining them.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Arrange the chestnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast them for about 20 minutes. When the shells open, they are done. Stir them occasionally while roasting.
6. Let the chestnuts cool until you can comfortably handle them, but they should still be slightly warm while you peel them.
7. Insert your fingers into the cracks in the shells and work the shell off. Completely peel the entire shell on each chestnut.
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