What does a chestnut look like?

Chestnuts are round with a point on one end and are flat on one side. They are covered with a thick dark brown husk with a tan scar on one side. They have a diameter of approximately one inch.

The fruit inside of the nut is cream-colored with a grooved texture. A second protective layer of skin adheres to the fruit and contours to the rippled texture. To roast chestnuts, cut an “X” through both the husk and the skin. The fruit is easier to peel if the cuts are deep and traverse the entire diameter of the nut. Following roasting, the exterior of the fruit turns a golden hue.