First of all, species are very different.
China is the first country to grow and eat chestnut in the world, and it is also a famous chestnut producer in the world. Its output ranks first in the world and is widely favored by all people in the world. Chestnut can be roughly divided into oil chestnut and chestnut according to varieties, which are basically different varieties of chestnut trees. From the planting area, it can also be roughly divided into south chestnut and north chestnut. It can also be vaguely felt that most chestnuts in the north are oil chestnuts, and chestnuts in the south are more common.
Second, the design is different.
In terms of appearance, chestnuts are undoubtedly "handsome men and beautiful women" in the field of chestnuts, and they are Gao Fushuai and the rich woman in the field of chestnuts. Chestnut is a bit like walnut kernel, which is equivalent to a part of dried fruit in fruit; So chestnut is a kind of nut. There is a "burr-like" exocarp on the surface of chestnut, which is equivalent to the exocarp and part of chestnut fruit. Generally, there are 2-3 chestnuts in a chestnut fruit, and some are "single chestnuts".
There are more single chestnuts than chestnuts, and most of them are 1-2 chestnuts wrapped in a chestnut fruit, so chestnuts are mostly conical, oblate and relatively small. Among chestnuts, there are few single chestnuts, and it is common that 2-3 chestnuts are wrapped in a chestnut fruit. Therefore, most chestnuts are flat-cone-shaped, with a vertical side and a convex side, while chestnuts sandwiched in the middle are flat, triangular and slender. Chestnuts are generally large, and one chestnut is almost 2-3 oil chestnuts. There is a chestnut on the market now, which is as big as a "small egg". I like it when I see it.
Third, how much is the price difference?
Don't think chestnuts are handsome and beautiful, but also big and eye-catching; However, chestnuts are certainly not as valuable as oil chestnuts in price, and the market also shows a one-sided development trend of "oil is expensive and cheap". Chestnuts are far from being enemies of oil chestnuts. At present, the price of a catty of oil chestnuts on the market is nearly one-third more expensive than chestnuts, and it can be half as expensive at the most expensive time.
Fourth, the color difference is significant.
No matter the color of the shell or the color of the inner chestnut, there are great differences between oil chestnut and chestnut. The shell color of Castanea mollissima is much darker than that of Castanea mollissima. Most of Castanea mollissima is dark brown, brown and purple brown, and its surface is smooth, delicate and dazzling. Chestnuts are often light brown, with a dull surface color and a dull side look. The dried fruit inside the oil chestnut presents attractive golden color, especially after frying, which is more attractive; The dried fruit in chestnuts is white and light in color.
Fifth, the taste difference is clear.
Oil chestnut has high water content, high sugar content and low cassava starch content, so it tastes sweet. Chestnuts have higher starch content, lower water content and lower sugar content than oil chestnuts, so chestnuts eat glutinous noodles far away.
Sixth, the main uses of efficacy are different.
Because of the differences in internal structural components, starch content and taste between oil chestnut and chestnut, the main uses of the two kinds of chestnuts are also different. Oil chestnut is suitable for roasting and frying, and it is very suitable for making sugar-fried chestnuts. If you want to buy sugar-fried chestnuts, you must buy oil chestnuts. Chestnuts are more suitable for steaming and iron pot stewing, especially when stewed with meat ingredients, which can especially refresh the taste. The more classic ones are stewed bone with chestnut and stewed chicken with chestnut. You must buy chestnuts when cooking this dish or eating it directly after steaming.
Seven, peeling difficulty
We usually eat sugar-fried chestnuts, and a chestnut shell can be peeled off gently, and a complete chestnut kernel jumps in front of us, which is the expression effect of oil chestnut. The shell and epidermis of oil chestnut are closely connected, but the connection between epidermis and chestnut core is loose, so it is easy to peel off the shell and remove the complete chestnut core. Chestnuts are not only closely connected with the shell and epidermis, but also closely connected with the chestnut core, and sometimes placed in the deep layer of the chestnut core, so it is difficult to peel off the shell.