Chestnuts: How to Eat Them, What They Do for Your Health, and Safety Tips

Chestnuts are a seasonal treat and a useful plant in home cooking and natural health. They taste sweet, have a starchy texture, and work in savory or sweet dishes. People often confuse edible chestnuts with horse chestnuts, so knowing the difference matters for safety.

Fresh edible chestnuts (Castanea species) pack fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and a lower fat profile than most nuts. A 100 g serving has around 200 calories, mainly from carbs, and gives more vitamin C than many tree nuts. That makes them a good choice if you want something filling that won’t spike fat intake.

Cooking chestnuts is easy. Score the flat side with an X, roast at 200°C (400°F) for 20–30 minutes, or simmer for 15–20 minutes to peel more easily. After cooking, wrap them in a towel for five minutes — the steam loosens the skin. Use roasted chestnuts in salads, stuffings, soups, or mashed like potatoes.

For storage, keep fresh chestnuts in the fridge for up to a month in a ventilated bag. Freeze peeled cooked chestnuts for several months. Canned or vacuum-packed chestnuts are handy when fresh fruit is out of season, but check labels for added sugar or syrup.

Edible chestnuts vs horse chestnut

Don’t eat horse chestnuts. They look similar but belong to the Aesculus genus and contain toxic compounds like aesculin that cause stomach upset and other issues if eaten raw. Horse chestnut extract, however, is processed to remove toxins and used topically or orally to treat chronic venous insufficiency and swollen legs. Always use standardized products from trusted brands.

Buying and using chestnut supplements safely

If you’re considering horse chestnut supplements for varicose veins, check interactions first. Horse chestnut can affect blood clotting and might interact with anticoagulants like warfarin, antiplatelet drugs, and NSAIDs. Tell your pharmacist or doctor before starting any new supplement. Look for products that state standardized aescin content and avoid homemade preparations.

Buy chestnut or chestnut-derived products from reputable sources. Online pharmacies and health shops should list batch testing and clear ingredient labels. If a product promises dramatic cures or lacks dosage info, steer clear. Pharmacists can suggest evidence-based alternatives and advise safe dosing.

Quick kitchen idea: toss chopped roasted chestnuts into a winter salad with roasted squash, arugula, goat cheese, and a mustard vinaigrette. For supplements, a common horse chestnut extract dose used in studies is 300 mg daily standardized to 20% aescin, but follow the product label and medical advice.

Chestnuts can add flavor, texture, and nutrition to your meals and offer medicinal options when processed correctly. Keep safety top of mind: know the species, check interactions, and buy tested products if you plan to use supplements.

A few quick tips: peel chestnuts while warm to avoid the inner skin sticking; slice them before adding to soups so they melt into the broth; substitute mashed chestnut for half the potatoes in gnocchi for a nutty twist. If you have tree nut allergies, try a small taste first and check with your doctor. Pregnant or breastfeeding? Ask your healthcare provider before taking chestnut supplements online.