I thought I’d happened on a spectacular find in Kai House Select’s roasted chestnut peeler, a way to save my uncles the trouble of splitting open chestnuts with their teeth. In our first attempts to use it, however, we found it extremely tedious and ended up with tiny pieces of broken shell all over the table. My Uncle Tootsie said it would be faster to use his teeth.
A week later, though, something clicked, and I began producing nearly perfectly peeled chestnuts within 30 seconds, intact and gorgeous. It dawned on me that this Japanese tool was meant to produce whole, peeled chestnuts, not just to break open the shells like a nutcracker. It would be the perfect tool when making a monburan, a Japanese sponge cake topped with a whole candied chestnut.
At that instant I fell in love with the tool and wanted to peel chestnuts for anyone willing to eat one, urging them to watch and see how magnificent this tool was. (My Uncle Tootsie still fails to recognize its brilliance. I guess when it comes to peeling and eating, speed trumps appearance.)
How it works: The tool has a straight edge on one side to cut the shell and a serrated edge on the other to help guide the gadget around the chestnut. The chestnut has a flat side and rounded side. For me it’s easier to begin cutting in the center of the nut, where the rounded edge begins. Pierce the shell with the straight edge, then carefully cut off the shell as though using scissors, working around the nut. Slip the straight edge under the top shell and cut around the nut again until the shell comes off; usually a gentle tug will remove the bottom shell. If the inner skin doesn’t come off, just peel it.
Does it work?: Yes.
Pros: Small, so it’s easy to store. Easy to wash. Has a safety lock and cover. If you’re a baker this could open a whole new recipe group to try. (By the way, according to livestrong.com, chestnuts have 69 calories per ounce and less than 1 gram of total fat, while other nuts have 160-200 calories per ounce and 14-21 grams of total fat.)
Cons: The tool takes a little getting used to.
Cost and availability: $15.99 at Don Quijote, 801 Kaheka St.; $14.99 on amazon.com (free shipping on eligible orders).
Worth it?: A little pricey, but not bad if you’re the type to eat with your eyes first. If you’re OK with broken chestnuts, definitely not.
Got a gadget you love? Curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813.
