Air-Fried Chestnuts: A Quick, Easy Holiday Treat

Cooking chestnuts in an air fryer is a quick and easy alternative to roasting them in the oven or over an open fire. Air-fried chestnuts are a tasty treat, with a soft, pillowy texture and a mild buttery taste. They can be enjoyed as a snack or used in other recipes, such as chestnut cream soup or chestnut dressing. Preparing chestnuts for the air fryer involves rinsing and scoring them, and optionally soaking them in water, before placing them in the air fryer basket and cooking for around 10-20 minutes.

Preparing chestnuts for air frying

After scoring, you can choose to soak the chestnuts in a bowl of cold tap water for 30-60 minutes or in warm water for about 15 minutes. Soaking is not mandatory, but it can help make the chestnuts easier to peel. If you decide to soak them, pat them dry before proceeding to the next step.

Finally, arrange the scored chestnuts in the air fryer basket with the "'X'" facing upwards. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket, as the chestnuts should fit comfortably in a single layer. If necessary, you may need to air fry them in batches to ensure proper air circulation.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The first step to cooking chestnuts in an air fryer is to preheat the air fryer. Different sources recommend preheating to different temperatures, with some suggesting 374–375°F/190°C, and others suggesting 400°F/204°C. The preheating time also varies, with one source recommending five minutes, while another suggests preheating the air fryer for the duration of time it takes to boil a pot of water.

Once the air fryer is preheated, the chestnuts can be added. The cooking time depends on the size of the chestnuts, with smaller chestnuts requiring less time, and larger chestnuts requiring more. One source recommends cooking for 8–10 minutes, while another suggests cooking for 17 minutes. It is important to shake the basket or toss the chestnuts during the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly. The chestnuts are done when the shells are peeling back and the edges are toasted.

How to peel air-fried chestnuts

Preparing and peeling air-fried chestnuts is a simple process, but it does require a few steps to ensure the best results. Here is a detailed guide on how to peel air-fried chestnuts:

Preparing the Chestnuts:

Firstly, rinse the raw chestnuts under cold running water in a colander. Drain them thoroughly. Then, lay the chestnuts on a cutting board, ensuring the flat side is down and the rounded side (or belly side) is facing up. Using a sharp paring knife or chestnut knife, carefully cut a large "X" on the rounded side of each chestnut. Make sure the cut is deep enough to penetrate the shell but not too deep that it cuts into the actual nut. This scoring step is crucial as it allows steam to escape during the cooking process, preventing the chestnuts from exploding, and it also makes peeling easier later on.

Soaking the Chestnuts:

After scoring, transfer the chestnuts to a bowl and cover them with cold tap water. Let them soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Soaking helps to soften the shell and makes the chestnuts easier to peel. If you're short on time, you can soak them in boiled water for 1 to 5 minutes, depending on their size.

Air-Frying the Chestnuts:

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the soaked chestnuts in the air fryer basket, ensuring the "`X`" side is facing up. This positioning allows the shell to peel back without being hindered by the basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket, as the chestnuts should fit comfortably in a single layer. Air fry the chestnuts for approximately 10 minutes, or until the shells start to peel back and the exposed flesh has browned.

Peeling the Chestnuts:

Once the chestnuts are cooked, transfer them to a clean kitchen towel or tea towel and let them steam for about 5 minutes. This helps to loosen the shells further. It's important to peel the chestnuts while they are still warm, as they become significantly harder to peel once they cool down. Use your fingers to pinch the ends of the chestnut and wiggle the shell loose. The shell should crack open, and you can then use the peeled-back shell to remove it in mostly one piece. Enjoy your freshly peeled air-fried chestnuts!

Air frying vs. other cooking methods

Air fryers are a convenient, healthier, and quicker alternative to deep frying, which involves submerging food in hot oil or other fats. Air fryers use a fraction of the oil that deep frying does, or none at all, and they cook food faster. They are also safer and easier to use and clean than deep fryers.

Air fryers are also a great alternative to traditional ovens. They are more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and quicker than ovens, and they can achieve a similar crispy texture. However, ovens with air-fry capabilities can cook larger amounts of food, which is useful when serving a large number of people. Ovens are also better for baking delicate items and recipes that call for liquid batters.

Air fryers are also safer for children as only the inner basket heats up, and it cools down quickly. They are also simple to use, with most models requiring you to simply set the temperature and time, and place the food in the basket.

When compared to other cooking methods, such as pan-frying, stir-frying, or baking, air fryers are faster and healthier, as they use little to no oil. They are also a convenient alternative to roasting chestnuts on a BBQ or an open fire, as they can be used indoors.

Chestnut-based recipes

Air fryer chestnuts are a versatile treat, perfect for snacking on or using in other recipes. They are a great alternative to oven-roasted chestnuts, taking half the time to cook and without sacrificing any flavour.

How to Cook Chestnuts in an Air Fryer

First, rinse your raw chestnuts and drain them. Next, lay the flat side of a chestnut on a cutting board, ensuring the rounded side (or the 'belly') faces up. Hold the chestnut firmly and cut horizontally across the rounded face with a sharp knife, rotate 90 degrees, and make a second cut to form an 'X' on its top. Repeat this scoring process for the remaining chestnuts.

You can then choose to soak the chestnuts in a bowl of cold tap water for 30-60 minutes, or in warm water for about 15 minutes. However, some recipes note that this step is not necessary.

After patting the chestnuts dry, place them in the air fryer basket with the 'X' facing upwards. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket, as the chestnuts should fit comfortably in a single layer. Set the air fryer to 375F/190C and cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice during the cooking time. You can also cook them at 400F for a more well-done result.

Once cooked, transfer the hot chestnuts onto a clean kitchen towel, draw the edges of the cloth towards the centre, and let the chestnuts steam for about five minutes. Alternatively, place the chestnuts in a paper bag and roll down the top to trap the steam inside.

• Chestnut Cream Soup: Use air fryer roasted chestnuts as a base for a silky, creamy soup.
• Chestnut Dressing: Prepare a chestnut dressing to accompany a Christmas dinner.
• Tossed in Vegan Butter: Toss the air-fried chestnuts in vegan butter and sprinkle with a sweet spice blend.
• With Vin Chaud: Enjoy air fryer chestnuts with a mug of vin chaud (mulled wine) for an autumnal experience.
• With Olives and Lupini Beans: Serve air fryer chestnuts as a festive snack alongside olives and lupini beans.

Frequently asked questions