Gardening Lessons : How to Harvest & Store Chestnuts 

Long term storing is possible by husking, peeling and then drying in the sun or the oven. They will become very hard and can be used only as flour. The other method is boiling them, husk them and peel the furry inner skin and store in airtight jars which can be boiled for ten minutes if wanted. This method will keep them soft and ready to eat and will store for a couple of years or more but it's advisable to consume them within the year. Third method is boil, husk and peel them then can them submerged in sugar syrup inside airtight jars; if they are oven roasted instead of boiled then it's better to cook them for a few minutes in sugar syrup on low fire prior to canning They will last for years but as the chestnuts absorb much of the water the sugar will glaze and harden so it's better to consume within a year. The last method is great to accompany ice cream by adding some spirit like cognac or grappa, very good for top class flambed desserts also. Note: the husk is the shiny brown layer that is part of the fruit not to be confused with the spiny burr. Good luck.