How to process elderberries in a steam juicer

Find out how to use a steam juicer to process elderberries into juice and syrup, saving a huge amount of time and work.

Course Drinks, Health Drink / Syrup

Cuisine American

Keyword elderberry juice, elderberry syrup, process elderberries, remove elderberries

Prep Time 5

Steam time 30

Author Aaron von Frank

Cost 100

1 pair of kitchen scissors or garden pruners (to harvest elderberry clusters and remove large base stems)
1 steam juicer
storage jars/bottles

1/2 gallon elderberries, measured with stems on (or maximum 1 gallon per session with a standard 11-quart steam juicer)
1/3 gallon water, poured into base of steam juicer

Remove thick primary base stems from elderberry clusters (optional but recommended). Then place elderberry clusters into top chamber of steam juicer.
Pour water into base of steam juicer and place on burner over high heat on stovetop.
Set timer for 30 minutes. (Once water reaches a bowl, it takes about 20-25 minutes for all the elderberry juice to be extracted.)
Remove steam juicer from heat. Pour elderberry juice into storage jars until ready to use for recipes. If making elderberry syrup (which is much more concentrated than juice), see link to recipe in article!