I grow Jerusalem artichokes in a 55-gallon drum cut in half. That way they don't spread from the roots. I have never worried about eating them after the frost. I just dig up a few when I feel like it, which frankly isn't all that often. They can be eaten raw or cooked (steamed or lightly boiled). I don't find them all that hard to peel -- just use a regular potato parer. I never had any problem with blowing up or gas or flatulence. Perhaps this is because I eat moderately. Or perhaps the persons who have a problem with gas combine them with something -- an unfortunate undigestible mixture -- that causes gas? After the frost I pull up all the stalks and harvest the biggest roots and leave the tiny ones and bits of ones to come back the next year. Of course, in the barrel with no direct ground contact, they are much more apt to dry out, so I do water them in the really hot weather when the soil dries out.(posted 9003 days ago)