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OUR PRODUCTS | COOKING
WITH CHESTNUTS | ROASTING CHESTNUTS
RAW CHESTNUTS | PACKAGING
| VARIETIES OF CHESTNUTS | SIZES
OF CHESTNUTS
STORING CHESTNUTS FOR FRESHNESS
| SHIPPING | ORDERING
SEASON FOR CHESTNUTS | PEELING
CHESTNUTS | PRICING: WHOLESALE OR DISCOUNT
MAILING LIST | CONTACTING
US | MISCELLANEOUS
OUR PRODUCTS [Back]
Question
1: I am looking for chestnuts that have already been roasted and peeled.
I believe they come in a jar or can. Do you offer these?
Answer
1: We have vacuumed-packed cooked chestnuts that are whole and peeled.
Please check our website for a further description of the product.
Question
2: What is the benefit of a chestnut knife?
Answer 2:The angled
blade of the knife is specifically designed to score chestnuts, making
the job easier.
COOKING WITH CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: I see recipes that call for "blanching" chestnuts and
then it appears that the nuts are cooked along with the rest of the
ingredients. Does blanching mean I should boil the nuts for about
one minute and then peel them or should I boil them for 1/2 hour pursuant
to your instructions on how to cook chestnuts?
Answer 1:We recommend
that you boil the chestnuts pursuant to our instructions.
Question
2: How can chestnuts be cooked?
Answer 2:They can be
boiled, roasted over an open fire, baked in the oven, and steamed.
Check our website for chestnut recipes or purchase our chestnut cookbook
for more ideas.
Question
3: Do I need to score the chestnuts before I boil them?
Answer 3: No.
ROASTING CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: How do I roast chestnuts in a fire? I have heard that I should
put an "x" in the top and put them in foil right in the
fire. I don't know if that works. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer 1:Chestnuts may
be roasted over an open fire in a wire basket or a special perforated
chestnut-roasting pan. We have such products available to purchase.
We see no reason why chestnuts roasted in foil would not work, but
be sure to closely monitor them. It is absolutely necessary for you
to score the chestnuts so they do not explode. Shake the foil frequently.
Once the chestnuts are charred black, they should be ready to eat.
Question
2: We want to roast chestnuts on an open fire for our town Christmas
tree lighting. It will take too long at 15-20 minutes. Could we cheat
by partially cooking the chestnuts in a microwave and then finish
cooking them in a pan over a fire?
Answer 2: We believe
you can. Please be sure to score your chestnuts before cooking.
Question
3: What is the best way to roast chestnuts? In the oven? On the stovetop?
In a microwave?
Answer 3: You will want
to use the oven if an even roast is important. Using a broiler or
open fire will result in a less even roast. If you use the stovetop,
please be sure to shake the pan often. You will have to experiment
with the number of chestnuts to cook at a time when using the microwave.
Question
4: We have a Dickens style celebration in December and some have suggested
that we roast chestnuts. If we do this over an open fire, what kind
of pan should we use? Do we use any kind of oil or salts? How can
they be served?
Answer 4: Girolami Farms
sells pans for fire roasting. Please see our website for a description
of the pans available. There is no need to oil or salt your chestnuts.
We have found two popular, but very different, ways of serving chestnuts.
First, you can serve the roasted chestnuts in a paper cone. The second
serving suggestion is better suited for a small gathering. We soak
a clean cloth in red wine and then place warm chestnuts in the cloth
and let them sit for approximately five minutes. Then we set the wine-soaked
cloth filled with chestnuts on a plate and serve.
Question
5: Wow, I just wanted to let you know I tried to roast the chestnuts
in the oven. I think I will be able to manage this. Why do some taste
like pumpkin and others taste nutty? Was it because I over-cooked
some of them?
Answer 5: All of your
chestnuts should taste nutty, although we have heard some people describe
the flavor as pumpkin-y or potato-y.
Question
6: We were told that prior to roasting chestnuts on an open fire,
we should soak them in water before scoring them. Is that true?
Answer 6: No, not if
they are fresh.
RAW CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: May chestnuts be eaten raw?
Answer 1: Yes. We love
to eat chestnuts raw. Be sure to take off the two skins.
PACKAGING [Back]
Question
1: Could you please tell me approximately how many chestnuts would
be in two pounds?
Answer 1: It depends
upon the size of the chestnuts. For example, for extra large chestnuts,
50-60; for jumbo chestnuts, 40-48; for colossal, 30-36:
Question
2: I made a purchase last year for 3 pounds of chestnuts. Can I make
a purchase this year for one or two pound bags of the jumbo variety?
I really don't have a need for three pounds of chestnuts.
Answer 2: Our minimum
size is the 3-pound bag. We suggest that you freeze what you don't
use in the freezer. Then you can enjoy chestnuts again anytime during
the year.
Question
3: How many chestnuts are in a 3-pound bag?
Answer 3: For extra
large chestnuts, there are 70-90 chestnuts; for jumbo chestnuts, there
are 60-72 chestnuts; and for colossal, there are 45-54 chestnuts
VARIETIES OF CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: Is there a difference between a chestnut tree and a "buckeye"
tree?
Answer 1: Yes. Ask your
local nurseryman, agriculture extension office, or farm bureau for
more detailed information on the differences.
Question
2: I was wondering if your chestnuts are pure 100% American chestnuts
or if they have Chinese, Japanese, or other variety stock?
Answer 2: Our chestnuts
are a European/American hybrid.
Question
3: Could you please tell me what kind of cultivars you have for both
your chestnuts and walnuts?
Answer 3: Our chestnuts
are Colossal. Our walnuts are Chandlers.
Question
4: Do you have French chestnuts?
Answer 4: No.
Question
5: I have a tree in my yard that drops a large, fleshy, bumpy pod
with what looks like a chestnut inside (the pod sometimes holds 2-3
nuts). The chestnuts on your recipe page look "hairy." Are
mine chestnuts or not? I live in southwest Michigan.
Answer 5: We suggest
that you ask your local nurseryman, agriculture extension office,
or farm bureau for more detailed information on the differences.
Question
6: How can I find out if the tree in my front yard is a chestnut tree?
Answer 6: Ask your local
nurseryman, agriculture extension office, or farm bureau for more
detailed information on the differences.
SIZES OF CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: Could you let me know what the differences are between the sizes
of chestnuts? I understand that there is a difference in size, but
is there a difference in flavor, etc.?
Answer 1: There is no
difference in flavor between the sizes of chestnuts. An extra large
chestnut is approximately 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches. A jumbo chestnut is
approximately 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches. A colossal chestnut is 1 1/2 inches
or more.
Question
2: Why is there a price difference between the jumbo and extra jumbo
chestnuts with the extra jumbo being more expensive?
Answer 2: The bigger
chestnut is more desirable.
STORING CHESTNUTS FOR FRESHNESS [Back]
Question
1: How do you guarantee the quality and freshness of the chestnuts?
Answer 1: There is no
middleman involved. We can guarantee the freshness because we hand
pick, hand sort, and hand pack our entire product. We know where the
chestnuts have been and we store them on site until we ship them to
you direct. At times, extended shipping will cause this highly perishable
product to mold, which impairs freshness. If that should occur, please
contact us immediately by phone or e-mail. If you shipped pursuant
to our recommendations--see shipping order form--we will fully guarantee
and replace your order immediately. This is why we strongly recommend
that 3-day shipping be used when the destination is east of the Mississippi.
Question
2: I am planning to order a couple of pounds of chestnuts in bulk.
How can I store them until I need them? Do they need to be kept at
30 degrees?
Answer 2: Chestnuts
should be stored at 34-40 degrees in an airtight container in the
refrigerator. When stored in this way, your chestnuts should last
three weeks. If you do not plan to use your chestnuts for a long time,
store the chestnuts in an airtight container in the freezer. Your
frozen chestnuts should last one year.
Question
3: I am told that chestnuts are best kept frozen, but how? Should
they be frozen in the shell raw? In the shell cooked? Cooked and out
of the shell?
Answer 3: Either cooked
or raw; and either shelled or unshelled will work. The important factor
is storing them in an airtight container. Our family prefers to store
them in the shell and raw, but we have friends who cook their chestnuts
and freeze them with equally good results.
Question
4: Is there a way to dry chestnuts?
Answer 4: Chestnuts
dry easily. Place them in a warm, dry area. Space them evenly in a
single layer until the chestnut becomes hard.
Question
5: What kind of container do you recommend be used for freezing or
refrigerating chestnuts?
Answer 5: Any airtight
container will do whether it is a plastic container or a plastic,
freezer bag.
SHIPPING [Back]
Question
1: Besides the cost, are there any other problems in shipping chestnuts
to Mexico?
Answer 1: Girolami Farms
does not ship to Mexico. Because our products are sold retail, because
chestnuts do not have a shelf life over 6 months, and because of other
procedure and restrictions, UPS will not deliver to Mexico or Canada.
Question
2: What is the shipping charge on 25 pounds of jumbo chestnuts?
Answer 2: Please refer
to our UPS tracking page to calculate and determine your shipping
costs.
Question
3: Is shipping included in your prices?
Answer 3: No.
ORDERING [Back]
Question
1: What assurances do I have when I order chestnuts from you?
Answer 1: You have our
guarantee. There is no middleman involved. We can guarantee the freshness
because we hand pick, hand sort, and hand pack our entire product.
We know where the chestnuts have been and we store them on site until
we ship them to you direct. At times, extended shipping will cause
this highly perishable product to mold, which impairs freshness. If
that should occur, please contact us immediately by phone or e-mail.
If you shipped pursuant to our recommendations--see shipping order
form--we will fully guarantee and replace your order immediately.
This is why we strongly recommend that 3-day shipping be used when
the destination is east of the Mississippi.
Question
2: When should I place my order if I want to have them sent as a gift
the week before Christmas?
Answer 2: Monday is
our shipping day and so, all orders taken from Monday through Sunday
are shipped on the following Monday. It will take 3-5 days for your
order to arrive, depending upon the destination. UPS is excellent
about sticking to its delivery schedule, especially around the holidays.
Question
3: Do you accept personal checks or money orders?
Answer 3: Yes. Please
see our website for acceptable methods of payment. Upon receipt of
your personal check or money order, we promptly send your order.
Question
4: I would like to order some chestnuts, please let me know your procedures?
Answer 4: Please use
our website. We believe it is easy to navigate. If you prefer, however,
we do accept phone orders.
Question
5: In order to get an order in time for Christmas, should I order
ahead of time and refrigerate/freeze the nuts or order them to be
delivered around the 22nd?
Answer 5: We recommend
that you place your order before December 15th and refrigerate and
start the curing process. By the way, you can pre-order your chestnuts
for a later delivery date. Pre-orders are encouraged and as a consumer,
it is a way to ensure product availability.
Question
6: Will my credit card be billed when I place the order or when the
order ships?
Answer 6: Your credit
card is charged when you place the order.
SEASON FOR CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: Let me know when your chestnuts are available.
Answer 1: Typically,
chestnuts are available in the first part of September (September
1-10). But that can change depending on the year's climate.
Question
2: I want to be sure that the chestnuts I order are from the new crop
this fall?
Answer 2: All our fresh
chestnuts are new crop chestnuts.
Question
3: I was wondering what period of the year chestnuts are available
freshly harvested. I have heard October-January, is that true?
Answer 3: We have freshly
harvested chestnuts available from the beginning of September through
the middle of December.
PEELING CHESTNUTS [Back]
Question
1: How do you cook chestnuts so that the "skin" won't stick
to the "meat?" Do I need to do anything to the chestnut
before I put them in the oven? It is so hard to peel off that "skin"
after breaking off the shell. Please help me. I love to eat chestnuts,
but I have no patience to do the peeling.
Answer 1: The curing
process helps with the peeling of chestnuts. Please refer to our website
for directions on how to cure chestnuts. In order to peel chestnuts,
you will need to score the chestnuts before cooking. Also, peeling
the chestnuts while they are still warm will help.
PRICING: WHOLESALE OR DISCOUNT [Back]
Question
1: I am interested in buying chestnuts in bulk for Christmas gifts.
Do you offer any discounts?
Answer 1: Yes. Call
us to find out about our wholesale prices. As for discounts on retail
purchases, when you order 25 pounds of chestnuts or more, we automatically
apply a discount. If you order 50 pounds of chestnuts or more, an
additional discount will be applied to your order.
MAILING LIST [Back]
Question
1: How do I add my name and address to your mailing list?
Answer 1: Simply e-mail
us with your mailing information and we will be sure to add your name
to our fall mailing list.
CONTACTING US [Back]
Question
1: Is your phone number an 800 number?
Answer 1: No.
Question
2: Do you have a catalog that can be sent in the mail?
Answer 2: Not at this
time.
MISCELLANEOUS [Back]
Question
1: Is it possible to propagate a chestnut tree from an old tree that
is over 100 years old?
Answer 1: Yes. The best
way to approach this task is to speak with your local nurseryman,
agriculture extension service, or farm bureau.
Question
2: Can I start my own tree from your chestnuts?
Answer 2: Yes, but they
will be wild chestnuts. You will need to graft or bud on a domesticated
hybrid variety.
Question
3: I have never had chestnuts before, so I don't know what they look
like. My sister gave me a bag of chestnuts and they were very hard
and in a spiny shell. It looked more like a porcupine than a nut.
What do chestnuts look like?
Answer 3: The spiny
shell is the outside of the chestnut. Chestnuts have two shells--the
harder outer shell (spiny shell) and a thinner inner membrane. Both
shells need to be removed before eating. Please see curing and peeling
procedures in our website.
