Sweet Chestnuts - how to store?

For the first time ever I've collected sweet chestnuts from the ground beneath a tree - some of the nuts were still a bit white at the end so I stored them in a brown paper bag for a couple of days in the airing cupboard and they're all brown now.

How should I now store them and do I need to peel them first?

How long can they be kept for prior to use?

Thanks

 

I've never tried to store them but I assume the biggest problem is keeping them moist but not allowing them to rot.
How long do you intend storing them.
I wouldn't peel them and I'm not sure the airing cupboard is ideal.

I picked up a few today and like you I dont think they are quite ripe yet, not sure if that matters regarding storage.

Maybe at the bottom of a refrigerator would work or a cold out house with some ventilation.

Just guessing.

 

I've had the same dilemma in the past. Collected in October for use at Christmas, it was a disappointment to find them either dried up or wormy when I came to use them, despite being stored in the cold store. I now cook and peel, and then freeze them.

 

I slice open the nut, put them on a plate and in the microwave for 1 minute on high. Then they are peeled while still hot (they are easier to peel then rather than when they are cold). Then the kernels are put in the freezer. They will keep like that for 12 months if need be,
Sadly the ripe nuts will not store as they are very prone to going musty.

 

What is you microwaves wattage and how many nuts in each batch, roughly.

I suppose it's mostly trial and error.

 

The wattage is 700 to 800 (what it says on the machine)and the number is how many can fit on a side plate, single layered.

 

Thanks.

 

You've just reminded me it's chestnut season. But I've still got some in the freezer from 2 years ago so I'd better not go out foraging!

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Not planning on storing them for more than maybe a week or two.

They're currently in a brown paper bag in the fridge's salad drawer.

I should point out that they are the smaller variety, maybe an inch in diameter (if that).

 

They seem small mostly, the ones you can collect growing basically wild, I bought some big ones last year, imports from Italy I think.
I planted one and now have a 18in seedling, wonder what the chances are of getting a tree that has the genes of the parent.

Sometimes you do find the occasional tree around which grows bigger ones.

 

I have five seedlings from giant sweet chestnuts at Westonbirt and wondering what to do with them. Perhaps a local woodland might take them, but I'm prepared for a declaration of zero interest. Apparently they coppice well (on a 15-year or so cycle).

 

Shame to coppice a potential good fruiting tree.
I've got a park with a semi wild area near me. I planted a couple of trees there over 20 yrs ago and they are fairly big now.
Maybe you have somewhere similar.

 

How to Store Chestnuts - La Cucina Italiana

 

Regarding the 'float test' - just put mine in a bowl of water and they all float, indicating all are bad (which seems incredibly unlikely). I also note that some instructions state to leave them in water for nine days to check which ones still float - is nine days really necessary? :-)