How to Peel and Store Fresh Chestnuts
Chestnuts are perishable. Unlike almonds or walnuts, they are high in moisture and will mold if they sit warm or sealed in plastic. Handle them like fresh produce.
Store them cold and breathable
Refrigerate unpeeled nuts as soon as they arrive.
Keep them in the mesh or paper bag they shipped in, or a perforated produce bag. Do not seal them in airtight plastic.
They hold 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator if they were fresh at shipping and stayed cold.
Check every few days and remove any nut that softens or shows mold so it does not spread.
We ship Monday through Wednesday so nuts spend less time in transit over a weekend. Delivery is typically 2–3 days within the continental U.S. We cannot ship to California, Oregon, or Washington.
Freeze for later
For longer storage, score and roast or boil, peel, then freeze the nutmeats in a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Frozen peeled chestnuts work well in stuffing and soup. You can also freeze raw, scored nuts, but texture is better if you cook before freezing.
How to peel them
The skin loosens only while the nut is hot.
Score an X on the rounded side of each nut.
Roast at 425°F for 18–25 minutes, or boil 8–10 minutes.
Cover with a towel for 5–10 minutes.
Peel shell and inner skin while warm. Work in batches.
If a skin sticks, rewarm that nut for a minute and try again.
Boiling is faster to peel and better when you chop the nuts for stuffing. Roasting tastes better for eating out of hand. A full roast walkthrough is on our how-to-roast page.