usually if they stick it mean that they are past their prime. A lot of
chestnuts come from Italy and are no good by the time they get here. I
found a source on the net that has great, but pricey, chestnuts. I am not
affilated with them. here is the link.
http://chestnutsonline.com/

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
> redirr wrote:
>> thanks for the replies. i do cut a big X on one side ... although it
>> seems to matter also how deep you cut them. if you don't cut deep
>> enough, you don't get thru the inner skin. if you cut too deep, when
>> you try to squeeze them to crack them open, they just split in half
>> instead with the inner skin stuck on.
> (snippage)
>> point is, i don't think the big ol' X is enough in and of itself.
>> again, i just wonder how they did it in taiwan ... i don't think they
>> even put an X on the nuts, and they all just popped open easily.
>
> Maybe they par-boiled them before roasting? I think I've heard of this.
> And the X should be cut in the flat bottom part, not on the side.
>
> Jill
>
>