How to Clean Elderberries

Elderberries ripen in summer, providing fruits suitable for use in cooked foods, such as pies and jams. The ripe berries become nearly black at maturity, and their deep purple juice stains your fingers as you harvest them. They have a tart and mildly astringent flavor that makes them unsuitable for use as fresh fruit. Cooking helps sweeten and soften the flavor of the elderberries. Clean the berries thoroughly before you use them, not prior to storage. Moisture from washed and stored berries may cause them to spoil more quickly.

Colander

Instructions

- 1
  Place the elderberries in a large colander. Wash and sort a small amount at a time; otherwise, the berries will crush each other under their own weight. A layer no deeper than 2 to 3 inches at the bottom of the colander is sufficient.
- 2
  Pick out any stems or leaves mixed in with the elderberries. Grasp individual berries gently, and twist them from the stem. Pulling may crush the berry.
- 3
  Dispose of badly crushed and discolored berries. Slight crushing that occurs during stem removal is OK. Only dispose of those that are already crushed on the stem.
- 4
  Run cool water over the elderberries. Swish the berries around gently with your hand as the water runs over them.
- 5
  Drain the elderberries completely in the colander. Use the cleaned berries immediately.

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