Foraging for food with Jonny69: Can you eat chestnuts?

[Jonny69]

I know you can't eat conkers because they are poisonous but down my road there are two more types of chestnut tree and both are laden with fruit. I'm sure one of these must be edible. On one tree the spiky fruits grow in bundles of two or three and the nut inside is about the size of a hazelnut, on the other they grow singly a lot higher up the tree and appear to be a bit bigger, I haven't managed to break one open yet.

Are either edible?

[Will]

Of course! Have you never had roasted chestnuts at a bonfire party? I use it for turkey stuffing too (mixed with other things.) Chestnuts are delish!

[Belmit]

There used to be a chestnut bush near where I got dropped off from school years ago. Spent ages picking them and trying to get the precious nut from the shell without smashing it to oblivion!

[Jonny69]

Of course! Have you never had roasted chestnuts at a bonfire party? I use it for turkey stuffing too (mixed with other things.) Chestnuts are delish!
Yes but since conkers are poisonous and there are two types of chestnut tree out there I thought I'd better check before I go poisoning myself ;D

[Will]

They have a little tail sort of thing.

here's a pic

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2297716/2/istockphoto_2297716_edible_chestnuts.jpg

[Jonny69]

Mmmm I might try and candy some of them and spread it on crepes with chantilly :p

[Will]

Mmmm - roast 'em in tin foil in the oven then eat eat eat eat!!!! :D

[Treefrog]

Sweet Chestnut (http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/MrsGrieve/mgsweetchetsnut.htm)

A couple of recipes there too :)

[SidewinderINC]

Conkers have the fleshy green shell, Chestnuts as shown in the picture have a mega spiky brown shell.


I fight with squirrels in my garden for hazelnuts as we have a tree at the end of the garden.

[leowyatt]

They sell them at Alton Towers around bonfire night :)

[Treefrog]

Conkers have the fleshy green shell, Chestnuts as shown in the picture have a mega spiky brown shell.


I fight with squirrels in my garden for hazelnuts as we have a tree at the end of the garden.
Hehe - they're both green on the tree though, they only go brown when they ripen and fall off.

[SidewinderINC]

Hehe - they're both green on the tree though, they only go brown when they ripen and fall off.

Well erm, the edible ones have lots more spikes :p


I keep digging up the nuts that the squirels bury! 1 - they're stupid squirels round here and i'll only end up digging up a tree sapling nex year. 2 - I'm evil :evil:

[Tak]

Smell of roasted chestnuts makes me retch :( therefore I have never tried them due to the not being able to go near them thing