Dry chestnuts for extended storage. You can dry chestnuts shelled or unshelled, but shelled chestnuts will dry faster.

Set a dehydrator to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and dry shelled chestnuts for two days or unshelled chestnuts for three days. Unlike dried fruits or vegetables, dried chestnuts will be very hard when they're done.

Store dried chestnuts in a cupboard for up to two months. When you’re ready to use them, reconstitute them in water overnight. This will soften the nuts and make it easy to add them to a variety of meals.

Freeze chestnuts by placing whole or shelled chestnuts in sealable freezer bags and storing in the freezer.

Keep freshly frozen chestnuts for three months and chestnuts that are dried and then frozen for up to one year.

Reconstitute dried and frozen chestnuts in water for four to six hours before using. Freshly frozen chestnuts need only be thawed before use. Chestnuts frozen without being dried first can be cooked in a variety of different recipes.

Can chestnuts to store at room temperature, rather than freezing. Canned chestnuts need to be shelled and dried first, for about half the time of a full drying process, or one day in a dehydrator set at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add the chestnuts fresh from the dryer to small canning jars and process in a boiling water canner for best results. The water should come to about an inch below the lids of the jars.

Process for 30 minutes and let cool before putting the jars of chestnuts into storage. Canned chestnuts keep for up to six months.