How to Harvest and Dry Elderberries
It is very easy to learn how to harvest and dry elderberries. Dried elderberries are so useful and can be used for teas, syrups, tinctures and much more.
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Several years ago we planted an elderberry bush. Although it grew and produced, I didn’t do anything with the elderberries. I guess I just felt intimidated and wasn’t quite sure exactly what to do with them. So I continued to purchase dried elderberries to use for making elderberry syrup even though I had them growing right here in my backyard. If I only knew how easy it really was to harvest and preserve them myself!
Last year, I did harvest some and froze them. It worked ok but the dried elderberries were just so much more convenient. This year, my bush produced so many bunches of elderberries there was just no way I could freeze them all. It turns out, as with many things in life, it was far harder in my mind than in real life. Drying elderberries is so easy especially if you have the right equipment.
Video for How to Harvest and Dry Elderberries
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Equipment Needed:
- Large bowl to gather elderberries
- Scissor or small garden pruners
- Dehydrator
- Jars for storage
How to Harvest and Dry Elderberries
When and How To Harvest Elderberries
Elderberries grow in clusters. Once they are ripe they will be very dark purple, almost black, in color. The stems are usually a vivid purple color as well. Depending on what zone you live in will determine when the elderberries are ready to harvest. For me, in zone 7a, mine ripen anywhere from the beginning to middle of August.
Cut the entire cluster off at the neck. Don’t bother pulling off the berries while they are still attached to the bush. This would be a completely frustrating and tedious job.
Make sure you have a plan for them as they won’t last long fresh. They can be kept in the refrigerator for a day or so if you can’t freeze or dry them right away.
What To Do Before Drying Elderberries
There are several steps to take before drying the elderberries.
Step 1 – Elderberries tend to house a large population of creeping insects (or at least mine do). Don’t let this worry you though. All you need to do is make sure to throughly rinse the berries in water before proceeding.
- One easy way to do this is to use your garden hose and fill a bucket with water. Rinse the berries in the water then use the shower spray on your hose to rinse them again after you pull them out of the water.
- Another way to clean them up is to do it right in your kitchen sink. Fill the sink with water and submerge all the elderberry clusters. The bugs quickly start leaving the clusters once they are underwater. Swish the berries around in the water and then rinse them again under the faucet.
Step 2 – Next, I like to let them air out a bit before I move to the next step. This helps to remove some of the excess water.
- Lay out the rinsed elderberries on a large towel in a well ventilated area but preferably not in direct sunlight. Let them air dry for about 20-30 minutes before moving on. This step is not completely necessary but I do find it helpful.
Step 3 – The next step is to remove the berries from the stems. The berries can tend to bounce around and get all over the place so I prefer to do this step outside where I don’t need to worry about making a mess. This can be a little tedious but here are several different ways to do this.
- My favorite way is to just pull them off by hand. My kids see me doing this and come running to help. They love the feeling of the elderberries running through their fingers so they are very eager helpers. This can make the job a bit messier but it also creates a fun memory. Just find a spot to sit in the grass and get to work.
- Another way I’ve seen people pull of the berries is with a fork. I, personally, feel like I get too many stems in my berries when I do it this way.
- One way that does work very well is to freeze the elderberries in clusters and then the berries pull/fall off really easily. I prefer this way if I’m going to keep the berries frozen but if I’m planning to dehydrate them I’d rather not add the extra step of freezing them first. You can dehydrate them after freezing though if you prefer.
How to Dry Elderberries in a Dehydrator
Place the loose elderberries in one layer on your dehydrator trays. Piling them on too high will cause the drying process to take longer and can cause some not to dry all the way. They can also tend to stick together as well.
Turn the dehydrator to between 135-145°F (57-62°C). It takes approximately 12 hours to dry out the berries completely. When they are completely dry they should have a hard crunchy feeling to them. If they still feel like raisins they are not dry all the way. If you put them into jars at this stage you run the risk of them turning moldy and ruining your whole batch. It is best to just leave them a little longer if you are unsure.
How to Harvest and Dry Elderberries without a Dehydrator
It is really easy to dry elderberries in a dehydrator, however it is possible to do this in an oven too. The problem with most ovens are that their temperature doesn’t go low enough and you run the risk of cooking and burning the elderberries.
You need to figure out a way to keep the oven around 135-145°F (57-62°C) in order to get the elderberries dry without burning them. This can be achieved with careful attention by keeping the oven propped slightly open. You will want to keep a thermometer in your oven to make sure your temperature stays consistent.
Dehydrating in the oven takes a little more babysitting of the elderberries but it can work if you are in a pinch or don’t want to buy a dehydrator.
How to Store Elderberries
Once dehydrated completely, store elderberries in an air tight container like a mason jar or ziplock plastic bag. Keep the container in a cool dark area.
Dried elderberries should last for at least a year if stored properly and most likely even longer.
What to use dried elderberries for
Elderberries can be used for making elderberry syrup for cold and flu season. I have an easy recipe you can find here for making elderberry syrup.
Some other uses for dried elderberries are:
- Elderberry tea
- Elderberry tincure
- Elderberry gummies
- Elderberry jam or jelly
- Elderberry kombucha
- and many more…
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