How to store chestnuts?

Every autumn is the season when chestnuts are on the market in large quantities. Chestnuts are very nutritious, and there are many ways to eat chestnuts. They can be eaten raw, fried, or cooked directly. The most common way to eat chestnuts is chestnut roast chicken. Although chestnuts are delicious and nutritious, their shelf life is very short at room temperature. The following are some storage methods for chestnuts.

How to store chestnuts

1. Sand Hiding Method:

Dig trenches (cellars) outdoors for storage. Choose a well-drained site, dig a trench 1 meter wide, 60 centimeters deep and of unlimited length. After leveling, spread a layer of wet sand (water content 30-35%) on the bottom of the trench, and then put a layer of chestnuts, layer by layer, with each layer of sand and chestnuts about 5-6 centimeters thick. The top layer of sand should be 10 cm from the pit surface. Sorghum stalks can be inserted into the pit for ventilation, and finally the soil can be covered into a ridge shape to prevent rainwater from seeping in.

2. Storage with buds:

Choose a well-drained site, spread 10 cm thick sand on the ground, and pile the buds in the open air. The size of the pile can vary, but the maximum should not exceed 1 meter. If it is too high, it will easily heat up. Cover the pile with sorghum stalks. Pay attention to the inspection. If the pile is hot or dry, pour water to cool it down and keep it moist. This storage method is simple and labor-saving, with a long storage period, which can be kept until March or April of the following year, but chestnuts stored in buds are prone to sprout. This method is not suitable for fruit bracts infested by weevils, because the high humidity in the pile is conducive to the activity of weevils.

3. Storage in plastic film tents or film bags:

Normally mature chestnuts can be stored in film tents or perforated film bags after sweating and heat dissipation for one month. Film bags can be placed in bamboo cages, paper baskets or wooden boxes. To prevent mold, wash the fruits before bagging and soak them in 500 times thiophanate solution for a few minutes. Then bag them after drying. The capacity of the film bag should be 25 kg, the film thickness is 0.05 mm, and small holes with a diameter of 2 cm are punched on both sides of the bag, with a hole distance of 5 cm. If bags without holes are used, they should be turned over at any time to facilitate ventilation and disperse moisture. When the temperature is high and the humidity in the bag is too high, you should check it more frequently to reduce rot, germination and weight loss.

4. Sealed Storage

Chestnuts can also be stored for a long time in a sealed environment. Usually, people can put the fresh chestnuts they bought directly into a sealable fresh-keeping bag, seal the mouth, and then put it in a cool environment where there is no sunlight. This way, the chestnuts inside can be stored for a long time without deteriorating.