Buzz
Picture roasting chestnuts slowly in a quaint cast iron pot by a crackling fireplace—sounds romantic, right? In reality, my winter nights are often spent navigating a rebellious Roomba and chasing after my two cats as they get into the garbage. For me, the romance of the season leans more toward air fryers than open flames. Air frying is the quick and convenient solution I need during the holidays, eliminating the wait so you can dive straight into cracking open chestnuts while enjoying a cozy viewing of Die Hard in your pajamas.
When I was younger, we’d make oven-roasted chestnuts, a classic method, but even that takes 20 to 30 minutes. The air fryer, with its faster-heating fan and compact space, cooks them in a fraction of that time. Some recipes suggest soaking the chestnuts beforehand to make them easier to peel, but that step isn’t necessary. I tested both soaked and unsoaked chestnuts, and they peeled just as easily. What truly matters is scoring them properly.
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Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer
Instant 4-Quart Air Fryer Oven
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
How to Air Fry Chestnuts
1. Make a Score on the Chestnuts
I usually grab chestnuts from my local Shoprite, where they’re in excellent condition right now. As the season progresses, though, they tend to dry out a bit. With a small paring knife—or preferably a small serrated paring knife—gently cut a deep slit across the round side of each chestnut. Some chestnuts have two flat sides, but don’t be fooled—they’re just trying to mess with us. Pick one side and go with it.
The reason I score the rounded side is that it has more surface area, and its shape helps the shell open up while roasting. You can score a second slit across the first one if you like, but it’s not necessary—although it can help. I’ve tried both horizontal and vertical cuts, and they all work, but if you're only making one cut, I recommend going around the chestnut’s equator. The key is to make a long, deep slice—no tiny “x” shapes here.
Scoring the chestnuts will allow steam to escape during roasting, preventing them from bursting. Meanwhile, the edges of the slits will peel back, making it easier to remove the roasted chestnut meat.
2. Place the Chestnuts in the Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 400°F and arrange the chestnuts in the basket with the scored side facing upwards. This ensures the shells peel back smoothly without obstruction from the tray below.
3. Roast the Chestnuts
Air fry the chestnuts on the “air fry” setting for 8 to 10 minutes, or until you notice the shells beginning to peel back and the edges are nicely toasted.
Allow the chestnuts to cool completely. As they cool, you'll hear a satisfying crackling sound—that’s a good sign. Transfer the chestnuts into a bowl and place another empty one nearby to collect the shells. Gently pinch the ends of each chestnut to loosen the shell and crack it open using the peeled back edges. With the large scoring technique, they should mostly come out in one piece. Hit play, and tell McClane I said “hello.”
