Can water chestnuts be eaten with the skin?

Water chestnut is also called water caltrop. It is a kind of fruit, and can also be said to be a vegetable. Water chestnut tastes very good, but many people are not sure whether they can be eaten with the skin. Generally speaking, you need to peel the skin off when eating water chestnuts.

1. Don’t eat the skin

Since water chestnuts live mainly in a watery environment, they will accumulate harmful and toxic biological excrement and chemicals. If you eat this kind of food with the skin, various harmful substances in the water chestnuts will enter the human body and endanger your health. In addition, water chestnuts contain many different types of parasites. If they are eaten directly without washing the skin, it will cause various gastrointestinal diseases.

2. Water Chestnuts

Water chestnut, commonly known as horse hoof, also called ground chestnut, is named because it is shaped like a horse hoof and a chestnut. Calling it a horseshoe only refers to its appearance; saying it is like a chestnut means that not only the shape, but also the nature, taste, composition and function are similar to chestnuts. Because it bears fruit in the mud, it is called ground chestnut. The skin of water chestnut is purple-black, the flesh is white, sweet, juicy, crisp and delicious. It has been known as the "underground snow pear" since ancient times, and people in the north regard it as "Jiangnan ginseng". Water chestnuts can be eaten as both fruit and vegetable, and are a popular seasonal delicacy.

3. Peel

If you use a knife to peel the skin, you should cut off the skin on both sides first, and then peel it. When buying, be sure to pick the ones with shorter buds. The shorter the buds, the more tender and sweeter they are, and easier to peel. Then peel the middle and bottom first, and finally peel the top of the bud. If you pick the ones with the shortest buds, there will only be a flat spot on the top, which can be peeled off in one go with a paring knife.