Worms in chestnuts_Can chestnut worms be eaten?

Chestnuts are something we eat often. The nutritional value of chestnuts is very high. The protein content and various vitamins in chestnuts are very high. Eating chestnuts regularly has many benefits for human health. However, although there are many ways to eat and cook chestnuts, everyone knows that chestnuts are very easy to get infested with insects. Many people worry that chestnuts with insects cannot be eaten for fear that it will be bad for their health.

Are chestnut worms edible?

Because chestnut pulp has a high starch content and is heavy in water, chestnuts are easily infested with worms. At present, there is no better way to store chestnuts. The most common way is to boil the chestnuts in boiling water for about half an hour, dry them in the sun, and store them in a dry environment with the shells. Another way is to store them in wet river sand or in the refrigerator, but not for too long. Generally, insect eggs grow inside the chestnuts before they are ripe. After the chestnuts are ripe and picked, the insect eggs will grow inside the chestnuts and break out of the shells.

The worms inside chestnuts are edible, and they have a chewy texture, are rich in nutrients, and contain pure natural protein. Many chestnuts that appear to have no worm holes actually already have worm eggs inside that are slowly developing into borer larvae, so pick out the chestnuts that have black spots on them and feel soft when pinched, pull out the worms inside, blanch and wash them clean, and then fry them directly for cooking.

The rich unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals contained in chestnuts can prevent and treat diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, etc., and are an excellent tonic for anti-aging and longevity. Chestnuts are sweet and warm in nature, and enter the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians; they have the effects of nourishing the stomach and spleen, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening the tendons, and promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding.

Why are chestnuts prone to insects?

Chestnuts themselves are not infested with insects. However, parasites may lay eggs in chestnuts before they are harvested. Therefore, the key to preventing infestation is to kill the parasite eggs inside.

First, it must be dried. Especially when exposed to the sun, be sure to turn it over several times to allow the moisture to evaporate fully. At the same time, turning the chestnuts over several times will help them peel (the red, hairy skin inside) later.

Second, if you need to store it for a long time, it is best to seal it in a plastic bag and vacuum pack it. For general storage, seal it in a plastic bag and place it in a dry and low temperature place. Of course, the refrigerator is the best.

Never use boiling water to process it, otherwise the meat inside will turn black!

Types of chestnut worms

1. Pruning weevils

The adult body is 6.5 to 8.2 mm long, blue-black, shiny, and densely covered with silver-gray hairs. The head tube is equal to the elytra in length. There are 10 rows of longitudinal grooves on each elytra. The eggs are oval in shape, milky white when first laid, and then turn light yellow; the larvae are milky white, curved and wrinkled; the pupa is milky white.

2. Chestnut weevil

The mother chestnut weevil drills holes in the chestnut pod to lay eggs. They bite through the pod and seed coat and lay their eggs inside the chestnut. After about ten days, the little white fat insects hatch and eat the chestnuts, excreting their feces in the tunnels. The larvae continue to develop inside the chestnuts after they are harvested. When the larvae mature, they bite a round hole in the chestnut, then escape and burrow into the soil to build a house to hibernate.

3. Chestnut moth

It belongs to the family Cyprinidae of the order Lepidoptera. In mid-July, chestnut moths emerge in large numbers, which is also the peak period for egg-laying. They lay their eggs on the back of leaves near the chestnut thorn or at the base of the fruit stalk, and sometimes directly on the thorns. These eggs will hatch into larvae after about 10 days.