I am a 75 year old Grandma and have never picked an Elderberry let alone can any. How be it, I am an avid canner of any and everything. I started helping my mother can around the year 1959. A “wee little one” of 10 years old, I was. This year, 2024, my daughter wanted to gather some Elderberries as they are so very high in antioxidant’s among other good things. We found some. In fact we found about 135 pounds in two days where we were looking. That weight was after the stems were removed. I made juice, tincture, syrup, and dried Elderberries. Not bad for my first time ever gathering any. I want to thank you for your video on the how to do things. The information is PRICELESS. I immediately ordered a steam juicer and a steam canner after watching your tutorial. I always canned the old fashioned way. I own both my mother’s and my mother -in- law’s old pressure canners. My husband of 55 years and our daughter and myself worked diligently for two days preparing and preserving our Elderberries. We are so blessed. I value your information so very much. I love the steam canner. No more hot water baths and hot water pots. Thank you for the recipe to make Elderberry syrup using the Elderberry juice. I pray you are in good health and may God bless you.
I just finished steam juicing 10 pounds of frozen cranberries. I got 4 qts of delicious juice concentrate. Am going to freeze dry my pulp and make it a cranberry powder to sprinkle on yogurt, add to drinking water, add to pork or whatever else I can think of to create. Thanks for your nice informative video. Love our steam juicer and canner.
Thank you so very much! I have just ordered a steam juicer, primarily for elderberries, and your video was very thorough and informative! I only wish my Mimi would have had one when I was growing up and she was making elderberry jelly! I learned from her and the 'old' way of squeezing the berries thru a cotton bag took SO long!! I'm sure she's smiling down on me now. :)
You are so welcome! I'm happy the video was helpful to you. Hopefully it will save you some time and frustration! Enjoy your steam juicer and blessings for an abundant elderberry harvest. Your Mimi would indeed be proud. ♥️ Michele
Hi, you don't need to separate the stems from the berries for steam juicing. It a complete waste of time! However!!!! You have given me a brilliant way to separate the elderberryies so they can freeze dried!! 😍😍 Thank you! Brilliant!!
YOU are amazing - well spoken, remembered everything, answered everything and talked me through my first run with my steamer. I'm definitely following you. WISH U WERE MY NEIGHBOR!!
Oh my goodness, thank you for your very generous compliment! I'm so glad you found some info here that will help you use our steam juicer. I hope it becomes one of your favorite (and most fun) preserving tools! Love, Michele
Oh my goodness, it saves SO much time! Just don't try to dehydrate the berries after freezing them, because the juice will leak out inside the dehydrator. ~Michele
This video was exactly what I was looking for. I purchased this steam juicer (in the box and still sealed) at a yardsale and elderberry is the reason I wanted one. 👍
I found a new, stainless steel steam juicer, still in the box, for $5.99 at a small thrift store. Truly, the buy of a lifetime! I'm also in the PNW (Western side) & don't know where to get fresh elderberries. Any suggestions?
What an amazing find! Have you used it yet? As you saw in the video, they're useful for all kinds of fruit. As for finding elderberries, consider taking a drive up to the mountains. They tend to be found above 2,000 feet election in areas that were logged years ago. Or burned. You might also find mullein, another valuable medicinal herb worth studying.
Was just recommended this video by Mary from Mary's Nest and I'm so glad she did! I used to live in the Netherlands, and lived close to many wild growing elderberry trees. I was introduced to the steam juicer and loved to make the elderberry juice with it. However, I used to leave the berries on the stems, although I would cut the thickest parts off. We never had any ill affects from leaving the stems in the juicer, probably because it would have taken longer for any juice in them to leach out. However, now that I have seen your wonderful tip on freezing the berries first and then rubbing them off, I will definitely try that next time. Now I am back in my home country of New Zealand, and I miss having the steam juicer. They are hardly known here, but there are one or two sites online that sell them, but for quite a hefty price. Love making elderberry syrup and giving some to friends who are susceptible to colds or flu! I haven't had a cold since I started using it over 10 years ago! I was intrigued by what you said about knowing the level of acidity before water bath canning. I have been wondering if you can actually can elderberry juice without the addition of sugar to preserve it. So what should the level be and how do you know when you should add lemon juice? And where do you buy those acidity metres? Thanks again for the wonderful tips!
Hi Prudence, welcome over from Mary's Nest! It takes quite a bit of stems and leaves to cause health issues, and from what I understand, cooking/steaming greatly lessens the risk, but it's wise to err on the side of caution. I hope you can get a steam juicer. You already have experience with one and will certainly enjoy having one again. In regards to canning elderberry juice, the pH you are looking for is below 4.6. Mine always tests well below that, so I have no worries about canning the juice. It may be the specific variety that grows wild here is a little different. I use an Oakton Eco Tester pH 2+ meter. Unfortunately it is discontinued but there are others. You will want to read the reviews and look for one that reads in tenths instead of just whole numbers. Or just treat your elderberry juice the same as tomato juice. Acidify it with bottled lemon juice and use the processing time recommended for tomatoes. ~Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage Thank you for taking the time to reply to my questions! I have now subscribed to your channel and i do hope you get more subscribers. Thanks for the info on the PH meters. All the best!
Your video helped me out tremendously. Just bought the steamer specifically for elderberries. Made it so much easier and less daunting! Question though, do you rinse your elderberries before you freeze them?
I’m a year late watching this but wanted to add I bought a steam juicer this year and made the most fabulous concord and Niagara juice. 28 quarts. Experimenting with apple juice now. Love the idea of making my own elderberry syrup for the upcoming cold and flu season.
Thank you so very much for sharing this time saving process. Your instructions as well as the video presentation is so very helpful and amazing footage and instruction. Very calming voice, with a delivery very easy to follow, understand. Bravo 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Michelle, thank you SO much for this video! I've been on the fence about purchasing a steam juicer ahead of this harvest season but I saw another video where they complained about how long it takes. They failed to mention how hands-off the whole process is! Also, thank you for the tip on freezing the elderberries before removing them from the stem. Last year was my first year to process elderberry and I tried everything EXCEPT your method! 😂
You are so welcome, Anna! And hello, thanks for popping over to visit. 😊 Glad you found some helpful tips. I love my steam juicer, as you probably picked up on, and if you have grapes, elderberries, or other backyard fruit in abundance I think you will too. The hands-off aspect is one of its BEST attributes, in my opinion. Love, Michele PS. One year of hand plucking individual elderberries from their stems is enough to really make you appreciate an easier way.
I came to find out how to use a steam juicer I found @a second hand store for $10 so excited! Wonderful information! I’m not dreading the elderberry harvest this year! I’ll be freezing & rubbing them off the stems! Thanks so much!
🍇🫐How to Use a Steam Juicer - Make Your Own Elderberry Juice 🍑🍐 Are you wondering if you really need a steam juicer? The answer may surprise you! Not just for kitchen maximalists, the large preserving tool known as a steam juicer may earn its place in your preserving kitchen even though it is a one-job tool. Because it does its one job so well. Turn a large bounty of fresh fruit into delicious juice with a steam juicer! I show you how, using elderberries as an example, but you can juice many other fruits. Watch the video to learn how! ➡ Recipe and directions chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/ ➡ Apple Butter recipe chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/crock-pot-apple-butter/ ➡ Fruit Leather Method Tutorial chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/best-fruit-leather-recipe/ ➡ Fruit Leather Troubleshooting Guide chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/fruit-leather-troubleshooting-guide/ ➡🕰 VIDEO OUTLINE: 0:00 Intro 1:28 Parts of the Back to Basics Steam Juicer and how it works 4:34 Short-cut to de-stemming fresh elderberries 4:48 Start heating the steam-juicer 5:24 Why I recommend wearing gloves to process fresh elderberries 5:53 Mise en place (prepare your workspace) 6:05 De-stemming fresh elderberries the easy way 6:47 Blue elderberries, Sambucus nigra ssp. Caerulea 7:08 Should you worry about elderberry toxicity? 7:29 First tray of elderberries, de-stemmed in less than a minute 7:41 Regulating the heat 7:57 Adding the elderberries to the steam juicer 10:40 Choose a container to catch the juice 11:22 Things to keep in mind when using a steam juicer 13:20 Other fruits to juice in your steam juicer 14:11 What to do with the juice 14:30 Juice is filling the tubing and safe handling of hot tubing 14:54 How to release the clamp and dispense juice 15:45 How to stop the juice flow 16:28 Special consideration for preserving elderberry juice 17:01 How to safely fill jars with hot juice 18:04 Second dispensing of juice 1852 Peek inside the steam juicer 19:00 To stir or not to stir 20:23 Third and last dispensing of juice 20:59 Introducing the Fruit Saver steam canner 21:32 Canning processing time for elderberries 22:06 It’s not hard! 23:17 Uses for leftover fruit pulp 24:24 Care and maintenance of steam juicer 26:08 Pretty pictures from Chocolate Box Cottage 🛒 Shopping Guide Some links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission when you make a qualifying purchase. This does not change your price. Thank you for supporting my business! You may be able to find a steam juicer at a thrift shop or yard sale for cheap. If not, take a look at the products I recommend below. 🌼 Steam juicer like mine www.pntra.com/t/8-11653-273845-160434?sid=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lehmans.com%2Fproduct%2F11-qt-mehu-maija-steam-juicer%2F 🌼 Another style of steam juicer www.pjtra.com/t/8-12416-273845-206096?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpleasanthillgrain.com%2Fkuhn-rikon-juice-extractor-2010
Hi there, thank you for your generous compliment - that makes me feel so good! Grapes produce abundantly, so you will get a lot of use from a steam juicer. Here is a link to the steam juicer: www.pntra.com/t/8-11653-273845-160434?sid=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lehmans.com%2Fproduct%2F11-qt-mehu-maija-steam-juicer%2F Blessings on an abundant harvest from your soon-to-be-planted grape vines, Michele
Hi, Michele! Imagine my delight, dear friend, when I was researching how to juice elderberries & your excellect video popped up! The videography is wonderful & you explain things well. I've been juicing elderberries today & learned several good tips from watching your video. Thanks! QUESTION: I was confused about how long you recommend processing quarts of elderberry juice in a water bath canner... would that be 20 minutes or 45? Your neighbor, Mo (Maura)
Hi Maura! Surprise, surprise! You're so kind. I'm not techie, but I figure it out as I go. Thank you for your very kind comment and compliments. ❤️ Our variety of elderberry is in the safe pH range for a shorter canning time than most others. It really only needs 10 min. If you want to be conservative, you can treat them like tomato juice and can for 40 min for pints or 45 min for quarts in a water bath canner. (20 min is for using a pressure canner.) XOXOX Michele
Thank you! I have half a dozen quart jars of elderberry juice sitting in the refer now. Planning to make a batch of jelly & process the rest for future use when, as you say, things aren't so crazy around here. The juice's flavor packs a wallop. I like it! Can't wait to try my first elderberry jelly. ❤ @@ChocolateBoxCottage
I have watched several steam juicer videos today and all say that it takes a long time. That has not been my experience. Unless I am steaming hard foods = like beets - I rarely have a full load take more than 45 minutes. Perhaps that is becauuse do much of my steaming outside using a gas 2 burner stove operated on propane which may be hotter than a kitchen stove. Last year I canned over 100 quars of juice in one long day. I have a boiler on the second burner so as I fill jars from the juicer I put lids on and begin the hot pack. I'm still learning how to used the steamer after having it for 10 years and look forward to steaming fish and recovering the fish broth for stews this year.
Great tips, thank you! I do think using a more powerful burner would speed it up. I am generally multi-tasking and have found I can get 2 loads done in a day without too much trouble. You're going at it with much more focus than I do! ~Michele
I just subscribed to you today you’re video came up and I have never seen any of your videos before. I am so grateful about your teachings I say that because I knew there was something different about you. I read your bio and that explains why and set up things so well.
Thank you for guiding me through using my steamer for the first time! I have elderberries steaming right now! I have 4.5 quarts so far. Our berries in Iowa are about 1/4 the size of the ones you have!! I will be doing tomato juice next! Any tips for me on that? Oh...when filling quart jars with juice, I put the lid and the band on and about 5 minutes it sealed without the water bath. It should be okay? Or should I break the seal and put a new lid and band on when I put them all in the bath? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, congrats on your new preserving tool! I am guessing have black elderberries in Iowa? From what I have seen in pictures, they're smaller than the blue. But valuable nonetheless! The juice does need to be canned in order to ensure it will last well in your pantry. You will also want to add 🍋lemon juice before canning because some varieties of elderberries are borderline pH for water bath canning. (My blue elderberries are naturally more acidic so I do not add lemon juice to mine in the video.) Here is a link toy website where you can find further directions. ~ Michele chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
Lisa - Oops, I forgot to answer your question about 🍅 tomato juice! Be sure to wash and to cut the tomatoes up before you add them to the steamer. This will help them release the juice much more quickly! I would also recommend dispensing the juice into a larger container and stirring it before filling jars because tomato juice tends to separate in layers. - Michele
@chocolateboxcottage hi,have you ever used the organza bags to protect the elderberries from the birds? If so can the bags be put on while they are still in the flower stage? Thank you
Hi Torey! It's a beautiful day here. I'm about to go out to my garden and pick a few herbs and gather up some seeds to save for next year. How are you?
It is drinkable as is, or you can add water and/or sweetener to taste, but I wouldn't call it a concentrate. You can make jelly with it without adding any water. It's perfect. ~ Michele
Im just seeing ur video. Its wonderful! I was wondering what about any green ones? Im from missouri. Ours r much smaller u have to harvest when the majority r ripe if u wait the birds get them. So freezing and tsking off that way green ones will get in there. I have spent hours picking them out. Do i need too?
Hi Juli, you want to avoid adding very many green elderberries. Can you (next year) cover the berry clusters with netting to protect them from the birds and give them more time to ripen? You can buy tulle by the yard at fabric stores inexpensively and it works well. ~ Michele
Hi Colleen, are you asking about the canning jars I put the juice in? If so, they're Ball and Kerr brand canning jars, 1-quart size. If I misunderstood your question, please feel free to rephrase and ask me again. ~Michele
I love canning,baking ,cooking.i just purchased a fruit steamer to help handle my apple tree!! Already made 2 types of apple sauce an with 7 grandkids loving apples an all kinds of fruit I figured be a great investment. Also to help with jellies..how would it work to make choke cherry juice ,,berry to suger ratio or all by taste unless you have a recipe?
Hi Joan, I'm glad to hear you are using your new steam juicer to make juice - and happy memories! 🌹 For chokecherries, you will want to add sugar to taste. They're very sour, and sweetness is a personal preference. Some people like tart juices while others like more sweetness so just experiment until you like the way it tastes. Have fun! Love, Michele
I’m curious as to why you remove the clamp? I always leave my clamp on and just open it and then clamp it back down. Seems like another step you may not need. I wish we had elderberries here. I’d love to make this juice. Thank you for your tips.
Hi Leann. Are you asking why I remove the clamp to let the juice flow? Can you explain what you mean? I'm not sure I understand. I am always looking for an easier way! ~Michele
Hi Michelle, I promise I am not being critical. I’m the Queen of Short-cuts. The clamp on mine looks just like yours. I just squeeze it open and don’t take it all the way off and I have my jars just sitting down below the tubing and the clamp. I just squeeze the clamp open and let the juice pour right into the jar and release the squeeze when the jar is full.
I didn't think that at all. I appreciate you sharing what works for you! The clamp is very hard, at least mine is. I can't hold it open with one hand and it feels unsafe to try to manage it while dispensing juice. I used to dispense juice directly into jars as the manufacturer's instructions recommend, but burned myself once when I couldn't clamp the hose off quickly enough. Hot grape juice on jeans; I couldn't get out of my jeans fast enough. 🥴 So I switched to dispensing into a pitcher. It gives me more time to stop the flow before it overflows. This is what has worked best for me. Thank you for taking the time to share what works for you. ❤️🤗❤️ Michele
I totally understand. Mine is super flexible because it’s about 15 years old. I’ve had to replace the tubing twice but the clamp is still pretty solid and doesn’t allow juice to leak at all. I’m sorry you got burned.😩
@@Actionswoman what brand is your steam juicer? Mine is Back to Basics and I've had it since 2009. Even with heavy use, the clamp is still tough, so I'm just curious.
Hi, I’m just wondering what size cookie sheet and silicone liner you use. I ordered a liner for my cookie sheet and it was too large. Thank you for this information! 😊
Hi Carolyn, I have 2 USA cookie sheets and 1 Mrs. Andersons - both from Bed Bath and Beyond. The silicone mats are Mrs. Andersons brand, I'll grab links for you. www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/usa-pan-nonstick-20-inch-x-14-inch-extra-large-sheet-pan/1042287414?keyword=usa+cookie+sheet www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/mrs-anderson-s-baking-aluminum-baking-sheet/3324940?keyword=mrs+andersons+cookie+sheet www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/mrs-anderson-39-s-baking-nonstick-silicone-baking-mat/1044076955?keyword=mrs+andersons+silicone+mat PS. as it gets closer to Christmas, Bed Bath and Beyond usually has good sales or you can always use one of their 20% off coupons that you get by signing up for their newsletter.
For those wondering, I get a quart of juice for every 3 lbs of berries. The instructions I found for steam canning used 1/2 tsp of citric acid (for ph I presume) & 80 grams of sugar per quart jar.
How do you know when the juice is finished? I was using apples and was still getting juice out 4 hours later, i think! Then i put the apples through a food mill and made apple sauce.
When the juice stops running and nothing more dispenses in 15 minutes, I call it done. Apples are the slowest fruit to juice because they are dense, but 4 hours is a very long time. I wonder if you need to turn the heat up a bit. It might also help to chop the apples smaller so that more surface area is exposed to steam. Good job on getting a second product (applesauce) from your apples! ~Michele
What is the ratio for water and juice extracted to make syrup? Do you have to add water to the extracted juice when boiling it to make elderberry syrup?
Hi Joe! I'm not sure of the exact ratio and have never been able to find that info anywhere. I can tell you it is the easiest way to put up a bounty of elderberries!! I like having jars of elderberry juice on the shelf and being able to ehip up a batch of elderberry syrup so easily. The juice is very flavorful, so I suspect it is at least as concentrated as the other recipes out there that call for dried berries + a quantity of water. I usually simmer a jar of elderberry juice with the extra herbs I want to add for an hour two, which reduces it somewhat, then cool and add the same amount by volume of honey to make it last and store the syrup in the fridge. ~ Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottageI add the cinnamon, cloves, organic sugar or honey, ginger(fresh or dehydrated), to the fruit inside the steamer… quick, I don’t like so much sugar as in syrup. Also I prefer not to cook more than necessary to kill nutrients in the fruit
I can't really say, because I don't weigh the fruit and every type of fruit releases a different amount of juice. Did you have anything specific in mind? Here's a link to a chart of fruits that work nicely with the steam juicer along with more info. Hope it helps! chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
Hi thank you for the video👋 one question. Why do you have to steam the jars Again if the mix was already Hot coming out from the steamer? Is not that a form of pasteurization already?
i just want to make elderberry juice from the steamer. I will use mason jars to pour the steamed juice into. Do i need to do anything else to preserve the juice once it is in the mason jar ? can i store it at room temperature ? Or does it have to be refrigerated ?
You can refrigerate the juice or can it in a water bath canner or steam canner. I will add a link below to my website. If you scroll down to the bottom of the post, you will find canning directions. chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/ ~Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage Thanks. i prefer to just leave it in the mason jar in the refrigerator if possible. i'm just wondering how long it will last b4 it spoils.
@@ChocolateBoxCottage That's what i thought. i screwed up and juiced too much at one go. I'll probably have to kind of OD on the juice for the next week or so.
Yes, I do use it to make distilled water. There is a condensation pan you need in place of the collindar pan. Fill the bottom pan with water and place cold water in the top condensation pan. I leave my stove on medium low through the process. It takes about 3 or 4 hours to create enough distilled water to fill 3 or 4 quart jars.
I am a 75 year old Grandma and have never picked an Elderberry let alone can any. How be it, I am an avid canner of any and everything. I started helping my mother can around the year 1959. A “wee little one” of 10 years old, I was. This year, 2024, my daughter wanted to gather some Elderberries as they are so very high in antioxidant’s among other good things. We found some. In fact we found about 135 pounds in two days where we were looking. That weight was after the stems were removed. I made juice, tincture, syrup, and dried Elderberries. Not bad for my first time ever gathering any. I want to thank you for your video on the how to do things. The information is PRICELESS. I immediately ordered a steam juicer and a steam canner after watching your tutorial. I always canned the old fashioned way. I own both my mother’s and my mother -in- law’s old pressure canners. My husband of 55 years and our daughter and myself worked diligently for two days preparing and preserving our Elderberries. We are so blessed. I value your information so very much. I love the steam canner. No more hot water baths and hot water pots. Thank you for the recipe to make Elderberry syrup using the Elderberry juice. I pray you are in good health and may God bless you.
Put a few marbles in bottom pan. When water gets to low you can hear the marbles rolling around
Now that's a good idea! 💡
Are all marbles heat safe?
Mary’s Nest recommended you. Never knew there was such a thing as a steam juicer. Subscribed.
Welcome over! The steam juicer has not been well-known, but I am seeing them in stores and online more often.
@@ChocolateBoxCottage Thank you!
Can you post a recipe using the juice once it is steamed?
I love your tutorial on the steam juicer. I love the thorough way you explain every step and why…etc. will be an avid fan from now on. 👍
I just finished steam juicing 10 pounds of frozen cranberries. I got 4 qts of delicious juice concentrate. Am going to freeze dry my pulp and make it a cranberry powder to sprinkle on yogurt, add to drinking water, add to pork or whatever else I can think of to create. Thanks for your nice informative video. Love our steam juicer and canner.
Thank you so very much! I have just ordered a steam juicer, primarily for elderberries, and your video was very thorough and informative! I only wish my Mimi would have had one when I was growing up and she was making elderberry jelly! I learned from her and the 'old' way of squeezing the berries thru a cotton bag took SO long!! I'm sure she's smiling down on me now. :)
You are so welcome! I'm happy the video was helpful to you. Hopefully it will save you some time and frustration! Enjoy your steam juicer and blessings for an abundant elderberry harvest. Your Mimi would indeed be proud. ♥️ Michele
Hi, you don't need to separate the stems from the berries for steam juicing. It a complete waste of time!
However!!!! You have given me a brilliant way to separate the elderberryies so they can freeze dried!! 😍😍 Thank you! Brilliant!!
YOU are amazing - well spoken, remembered everything, answered everything and talked me through my first run with my steamer. I'm definitely following you. WISH U WERE MY NEIGHBOR!!
Oh my goodness, thank you for your very generous compliment! I'm so glad you found some info here that will help you use our steam juicer. I hope it becomes one of your favorite (and most fun) preserving tools! Love, Michele
I watched this video for the tips on steam juicing. But, was so happy to see the tip on destemming elderberries! Genius!
Oh my goodness, it saves SO much time! Just don't try to dehydrate the berries after freezing them, because the juice will leak out inside the dehydrator. ~Michele
This video was exactly what I was looking for. I purchased this steam juicer (in the box and still sealed) at a yardsale and elderberry is the reason I wanted one. 👍
I'm glad to hear that! You found yourself a good deal. You will get a lot of use from your new steam juicer. Enjoy! 🌸 Michele
I found a new, stainless steel steam juicer, still in the box, for $5.99 at a small thrift store. Truly, the buy of a lifetime!
I'm also in the PNW (Western side) & don't know where to get fresh elderberries. Any suggestions?
What an amazing find! Have you used it yet? As you saw in the video, they're useful for all kinds of fruit. As for finding elderberries, consider taking a drive up to the mountains. They tend to be found above 2,000 feet election in areas that were logged years ago. Or burned. You might also find mullein, another valuable medicinal herb worth studying.
Was just recommended this video by Mary from Mary's Nest and I'm so glad she did! I used to live in the Netherlands, and lived close to many wild growing elderberry trees. I was introduced to the steam juicer and loved to make the elderberry juice with it. However, I used to leave the berries on the stems, although I would cut the thickest parts off. We never had any ill affects from leaving the stems in the juicer, probably because it would have taken longer for any juice in them to leach out. However, now that I have seen your wonderful tip on freezing the berries first and then rubbing them off, I will definitely try that next time. Now I am back in my home country of New Zealand, and I miss having the steam juicer. They are hardly known here, but there are one or two sites online that sell them, but for quite a hefty price. Love making elderberry syrup and giving some to friends who are susceptible to colds or flu! I haven't had a cold since I started using it over 10 years ago! I was intrigued by what you said about knowing the level of acidity before water bath canning. I have been wondering if you can actually can elderberry juice without the addition of sugar to preserve it. So what should the level be and how do you know when you should add lemon juice? And where do you buy those acidity metres? Thanks again for the wonderful tips!
Hi Prudence, welcome over from Mary's Nest! It takes quite a bit of stems and leaves to cause health issues, and from what I understand, cooking/steaming greatly lessens the risk, but it's wise to err on the side of caution.
I hope you can get a steam juicer. You already have experience with one and will certainly enjoy having one again.
In regards to canning elderberry juice, the pH you are looking for is below 4.6. Mine always tests well below that, so I have no worries about canning the juice. It may be the specific variety that grows wild here is a little different. I use an Oakton Eco Tester pH 2+ meter. Unfortunately it is discontinued but there are others. You will want to read the reviews and look for one that reads in tenths instead of just whole numbers. Or just treat your elderberry juice the same as tomato juice. Acidify it with bottled lemon juice and use the processing time recommended for tomatoes. ~Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage Thank you for taking the time to reply to my questions! I have now subscribed to your channel and i do hope you get more subscribers. Thanks for the info on the PH meters. All the best!
@@prudenceseales735 you're very welcome!
Great Tips 👍
Thank you, Maura! ~Michele
I've watched so many videos on how to do this, and this one has to be the best/fastest. Thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful, thanks for letting me know!
I have been processing elderberries for years and never thought to freeze them! I'm so excited to try that this year!
It will save you SO much time! Just don't try to dehydrate them after freezing as the juice will leak all over the inside of your dehydrator. ~Michele
Thank you for this video Michele!! It is very helpful. I usually feed my poultry all the berry mash when I'm done making my elderberry syrup. ❤
Hi Jeannie, thank you! Chickens, ducks, and all the birds enjoy the mash very much! It's like dessert for them. 😀 Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage and it's so very healthy for them too 🐔🐣🐓
German and Norwegian; good combo!
Thank you for this video. I bought a steam juicer two years but have not used it.
You already have one - that's good! Maybe next year you can pull it out and put it to work for you. It really is a wonderful tool.
Your video helped me out tremendously. Just bought the steamer specifically for elderberries. Made it so much easier and less daunting! Question though, do you rinse your elderberries before you freeze them?
I was just thinking of you. Hope all is well. Super excited for this video.
Thank you
Thank you, Abby! I appreciate that. ~Michele
Do you wash the elderberries before freezing?
I’m a year late watching this but wanted to add I bought a steam juicer this year and made the most fabulous concord and Niagara juice. 28 quarts. Experimenting with apple juice now. Love the idea of making my own elderberry syrup for the upcoming cold and flu season.
Mmm Concord grape juice, how delicious!
Thank you so very much for sharing this time saving process. Your instructions as well as the video presentation is so very helpful and amazing footage and instruction. Very calming voice, with a delivery very easy to follow, understand. Bravo 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
Michelle, thank you SO much for this video! I've been on the fence about purchasing a steam juicer ahead of this harvest season but I saw another video where they complained about how long it takes. They failed to mention how hands-off the whole process is! Also, thank you for the tip on freezing the elderberries before removing them from the stem. Last year was my first year to process elderberry and I tried everything EXCEPT your method! 😂
You are so welcome, Anna! And hello, thanks for popping over to visit. 😊 Glad you found some helpful tips. I love my steam juicer, as you probably picked up on, and if you have grapes, elderberries, or other backyard fruit in abundance I think you will too. The hands-off aspect is one of its BEST attributes, in my opinion. Love, Michele
PS. One year of hand plucking individual elderberries from their stems is enough to really make you appreciate an easier way.
I came to find out how to use a steam juicer I found @a second hand store for $10 so excited! Wonderful information! I’m not dreading the elderberry harvest this year! I’ll be freezing & rubbing them off the stems! Thanks so much!
🍇🫐How to Use a Steam Juicer - Make Your Own Elderberry Juice 🍑🍐
Are you wondering if you really need a steam juicer? The answer may surprise you! Not just for kitchen maximalists, the large preserving tool known as a steam juicer may earn its place in your preserving kitchen even though it is a one-job tool. Because it does its one job so well. Turn a large bounty of fresh fruit into delicious juice with a steam juicer! I show you how, using elderberries as an example, but you can juice many other fruits. Watch the video to learn how!
➡ Recipe and directions chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
➡ Apple Butter recipe chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/crock-pot-apple-butter/
➡ Fruit Leather Method Tutorial chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/best-fruit-leather-recipe/
➡ Fruit Leather Troubleshooting Guide chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/fruit-leather-troubleshooting-guide/
➡🕰 VIDEO OUTLINE:
0:00 Intro
1:28 Parts of the Back to Basics Steam Juicer and how it works
4:34 Short-cut to de-stemming fresh elderberries
4:48 Start heating the steam-juicer
5:24 Why I recommend wearing gloves to process fresh elderberries
5:53 Mise en place (prepare your workspace)
6:05 De-stemming fresh elderberries the easy way
6:47 Blue elderberries, Sambucus nigra ssp. Caerulea
7:08 Should you worry about elderberry toxicity?
7:29 First tray of elderberries, de-stemmed in less than a minute
7:41 Regulating the heat
7:57 Adding the elderberries to the steam juicer
10:40 Choose a container to catch the juice
11:22 Things to keep in mind when using a steam juicer
13:20 Other fruits to juice in your steam juicer
14:11 What to do with the juice
14:30 Juice is filling the tubing and safe handling of hot tubing
14:54 How to release the clamp and dispense juice
15:45 How to stop the juice flow
16:28 Special consideration for preserving elderberry juice
17:01 How to safely fill jars with hot juice
18:04 Second dispensing of juice
1852 Peek inside the steam juicer
19:00 To stir or not to stir
20:23 Third and last dispensing of juice
20:59 Introducing the Fruit Saver steam canner
21:32 Canning processing time for elderberries
22:06 It’s not hard!
23:17 Uses for leftover fruit pulp
24:24 Care and maintenance of steam juicer
26:08 Pretty pictures from Chocolate Box Cottage
🛒 Shopping Guide
Some links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission when you make a qualifying purchase. This does not change your price. Thank you for supporting my business! You may be able to find a steam juicer at a thrift shop or yard sale for cheap. If not, take a look at the products I recommend below.
🌼 Steam juicer like mine
www.pntra.com/t/8-11653-273845-160434?sid=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lehmans.com%2Fproduct%2F11-qt-mehu-maija-steam-juicer%2F
🌼 Another style of steam juicer
www.pjtra.com/t/8-12416-273845-206096?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpleasanthillgrain.com%2Fkuhn-rikon-juice-extractor-2010
I have one, love it, I take the fruit from the top when all the juice is taken out, and make fruit leather.
Good idea!
Excellent tutorial! Also very timely as I was just wondering what kind of juicer to get since we are planting grapes this season. Thank you so much.
Hi there, thank you for your generous compliment - that makes me feel so good! Grapes produce abundantly, so you will get a lot of use from a steam juicer. Here is a link to the steam juicer: www.pntra.com/t/8-11653-273845-160434?sid=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lehmans.com%2Fproduct%2F11-qt-mehu-maija-steam-juicer%2F
Blessings on an abundant harvest from your soon-to-be-planted grape vines, Michele
Hi, Michele! Imagine my delight, dear friend, when I was researching how to juice elderberries & your excellect video popped up! The videography is wonderful & you explain things well. I've been juicing elderberries today & learned several good tips from watching your video. Thanks! QUESTION: I was confused about how long you recommend processing quarts of elderberry juice in a water bath canner... would that be 20 minutes or 45? Your neighbor, Mo (Maura)
Hi Maura! Surprise, surprise! You're so kind. I'm not techie, but I figure it out as I go. Thank you for your very kind comment and compliments. ❤️ Our variety of elderberry is in the safe pH range for a shorter canning time than most others. It really only needs 10 min. If you want to be conservative, you can treat them like tomato juice and can for 40 min for pints or 45 min for quarts in a water bath canner. (20 min is for using a pressure canner.) XOXOX Michele
Thank you! I have half a dozen quart jars of elderberry juice sitting in the refer now. Planning to make a batch of jelly & process the rest for future use when, as you say, things aren't so crazy around here. The juice's flavor packs a wallop. I like it! Can't wait to try my first elderberry jelly. ❤ @@ChocolateBoxCottage
Very interesting. Another awesome kitchen gadget to add to my wish list. 😊
It does require its own storage space but if you have fruit trees or access to a lot of cheap/free fruit, it will pay for itself. ~Michele
Hi, shouldn't we have heated jars before we add the hot juice? I would think the jars would crack if they were cold then add hot to them. Good video
I have watched several steam juicer videos today and all say that it takes a long time. That has not been my experience. Unless I am steaming hard foods = like beets - I rarely have a full load take more than 45 minutes. Perhaps that is becauuse do much of my steaming outside using a gas 2 burner stove operated on propane which may be hotter than a kitchen stove. Last year I canned over 100 quars of juice in one long day. I have a boiler on the second burner so as I fill jars from the juicer I put lids on and begin the hot pack. I'm still learning how to used the steamer after having it for 10 years and look forward to steaming fish and recovering the fish broth for stews this year.
Great tips, thank you! I do think using a more powerful burner would speed it up. I am generally multi-tasking and have found I can get 2 loads done in a day without too much trouble. You're going at it with much more focus than I do! ~Michele
Hi I don’t have a steamer canner can I water bath or it need pressure canner? My altitude is 1158. Tks
I just subscribed to you today you’re video came up and I have never seen any of your videos before. I am so grateful about your teachings I say that because I knew there was something different about you. I read your bio and that explains why and set up things so well.
Welcome and thank you for your kind comment! ❤️ Michele
Your elderberries look so different from my wild ones. I usually freeze mine but have a steam juicer so may try that instead.
what variety of elderberry are those ? here in the uk our wild ones are no where near that size, those are the size of blueberries !
Great video! Does the headspace matter?
Will this work with the smaller elderberries?
Yes, it will.
Thank you for guiding me through using my steamer for the first time! I have elderberries steaming right now! I have 4.5 quarts so far. Our berries in Iowa are about 1/4 the size of the ones you have!! I will be doing tomato juice next! Any tips for me on that? Oh...when filling quart jars with juice, I put the lid and the band on and about 5 minutes it sealed without the water bath. It should be okay? Or should I break the seal and put a new lid and band on when I put them all in the bath? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, congrats on your new preserving tool! I am guessing have black elderberries in Iowa? From what I have seen in pictures, they're smaller than the blue. But valuable nonetheless!
The juice does need to be canned in order to ensure it will last well in your pantry. You will also want to add 🍋lemon juice before canning because some varieties of elderberries are borderline pH for water bath canning. (My blue elderberries are naturally more acidic so I do not add lemon juice to mine in the video.) Here is a link toy website where you can find further directions. ~ Michele chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
Lisa - Oops, I forgot to answer your question about 🍅 tomato juice! Be sure to wash and to cut the tomatoes up before you add them to the steamer. This will help them release the juice much more quickly! I would also recommend dispensing the juice into a larger container and stirring it before filling jars because tomato juice tends to separate in layers. - Michele
Wonderful information ! I have a steam juicer but so good to see more ideas! Thank you! So glad I found your channel! 😊Regina
Hi Regina, I'm so glad! Welcome and thank you for your sweet comment. ~ Michele
@chocolateboxcottage hi,have you ever used the organza bags to protect the elderberries from the birds? If so can the bags be put on while they are still in the flower stage? Thank you
Do you wash your elder berries before you freeze them?
Great video this was my first time using my steam juicer, it was great to watch your video why I did it
Great to hear, I'm glad it was helpful! ~Michele
What brand steamer is that?
Hi Michelle this is torey here. I love making homemade juice lol. How are you today?🥰
Hi Torey! It's a beautiful day here. I'm about to go out to my garden and pick a few herbs and gather up some seeds to save for next year. How are you?
Does the juice that comes out of the steamer come out as a juice concentrate? Do you need to add water to the juice to drink it or to make jelly with?
It is drinkable as is, or you can add water and/or sweetener to taste, but I wouldn't call it a concentrate. You can make jelly with it without adding any water. It's perfect. ~ Michele
Thank you this was very helpful!
Im just seeing ur video. Its wonderful! I was wondering what about any green ones? Im from missouri. Ours r much smaller u have to harvest when the majority r ripe if u wait the birds get them. So freezing and tsking off that way green ones will get in there. I have spent hours picking them out. Do i need too?
Hi Juli, you want to avoid adding very many green elderberries. Can you (next year) cover the berry clusters with netting to protect them from the birds and give them more time to ripen? You can buy tulle by the yard at fabric stores inexpensively and it works well. ~ Michele
My steam juicer arrives tomorrow!!! Yaaayy i have pounds and pounds of frozen elderberries
Fantastic! Have fun with it. It really is a wonderful tool to save you a lot of work. ~ Michele
May l ask what brand and quart size you use for the steam juicer?
Hi Colleen, are you asking about the canning jars I put the juice in? If so, they're Ball and Kerr brand canning jars, 1-quart size. If I misunderstood your question, please feel free to rephrase and ask me again. ~Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage what brand of Steam Juicer
I love canning,baking ,cooking.i just purchased a fruit steamer to help handle my apple tree!! Already made 2 types of apple sauce an with 7 grandkids loving apples an all kinds of fruit I figured be a great investment. Also to help with jellies..how would it work to make choke cherry juice ,,berry to suger ratio or all by taste unless you have a recipe?
Hi Joan, I'm glad to hear you are using your new steam juicer to make juice - and happy memories! 🌹 For chokecherries, you will want to add sugar to taste. They're very sour, and sweetness is a personal preference. Some people like tart juices while others like more sweetness so just experiment until you like the way it tastes. Have fun! Love, Michele
Marvelous video I learned so much!
We are ordering one today. Can I make tomatoe juice with that?
Yes you can! It works nicely for tomatoes. Enjoy your new preserving tool! ~Michele
I’m curious as to why you remove the clamp? I always leave my clamp on and just open it and then clamp it back down. Seems like another step you may not need. I wish we had elderberries here. I’d love to make this juice. Thank you for your tips.
Hi Leann. Are you asking why I remove the clamp to let the juice flow? Can you explain what you mean? I'm not sure I understand. I am always looking for an easier way! ~Michele
Hi Michelle, I promise I am not being critical. I’m the Queen of Short-cuts. The clamp on mine looks just like yours. I just squeeze it open and don’t take it all the way off and I have my jars just sitting down below the tubing and the clamp. I just squeeze the clamp open and let the juice pour right into the jar and release the squeeze when the jar is full.
I didn't think that at all. I appreciate you sharing what works for you!
The clamp is very hard, at least mine is. I can't hold it open with one hand and it feels unsafe to try to manage it while dispensing juice.
I used to dispense juice directly into jars as the manufacturer's instructions recommend, but burned myself once when I couldn't clamp the hose off quickly enough. Hot grape juice on jeans; I couldn't get out of my jeans fast enough. 🥴 So I switched to dispensing into a pitcher. It gives me more time to stop the flow before it overflows.
This is what has worked best for me. Thank you for taking the time to share what works for you. ❤️🤗❤️ Michele
I totally understand. Mine is super flexible because it’s about 15 years old. I’ve had to replace the tubing twice but the clamp is still pretty solid and doesn’t allow juice to leak at all. I’m sorry you got burned.😩
@@Actionswoman what brand is your steam juicer? Mine is Back to Basics and I've had it since 2009. Even with heavy use, the clamp is still tough, so I'm just curious.
Hi, I’m just wondering what size cookie sheet and silicone liner you use. I ordered a liner for my cookie sheet and it was too large. Thank you for this information! 😊
Hi Carolyn, I have 2 USA cookie sheets and 1 Mrs. Andersons - both from Bed Bath and Beyond. The silicone mats are Mrs. Andersons brand, I'll grab links for you.
www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/usa-pan-nonstick-20-inch-x-14-inch-extra-large-sheet-pan/1042287414?keyword=usa+cookie+sheet
www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/mrs-anderson-s-baking-aluminum-baking-sheet/3324940?keyword=mrs+andersons+cookie+sheet
www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/mrs-anderson-39-s-baking-nonstick-silicone-baking-mat/1044076955?keyword=mrs+andersons+silicone+mat
PS. as it gets closer to Christmas, Bed Bath and Beyond usually has good sales or you can always use one of their 20% off coupons that you get by signing up for their newsletter.
Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
@@carolynludwig1241 you're very welcome!
For those wondering, I get a quart of juice for every 3 lbs of berries.
The instructions I found for steam canning used 1/2 tsp of citric acid (for ph I presume) & 80 grams of sugar per quart jar.
Good tip, thank you!
LOVE IT❤
Thank you!
Can you use the pulp from the fruit leftover for jam?
You would need to add back some juice, either elderberry or apple or another, kind to get the right consistency. 🌸 Michele
Can you make tomato juice in this steam juicer?
Yes! You can use a steam juicer to make tomato juice.
How do you know when the juice is finished? I was using apples and was still getting juice out 4 hours later, i think! Then i put the apples through a food mill and made apple sauce.
When the juice stops running and nothing more dispenses in 15 minutes, I call it done. Apples are the slowest fruit to juice because they are dense, but 4 hours is a very long time. I wonder if you need to turn the heat up a bit. It might also help to chop the apples smaller so that more surface area is exposed to steam. Good job on getting a second product (applesauce) from your apples! ~Michele
What is the ratio for water and juice extracted to make syrup? Do you have to add water to the extracted juice when boiling it to make elderberry syrup?
Hi Joe! I'm not sure of the exact ratio and have never been able to find that info anywhere. I can tell you it is the easiest way to put up a bounty of elderberries!! I like having jars of elderberry juice on the shelf and being able to ehip up a batch of elderberry syrup so easily. The juice is very flavorful, so I suspect it is at least as concentrated as the other recipes out there that call for dried berries + a quantity of water. I usually simmer a jar of elderberry juice with the extra herbs I want to add for an hour two, which reduces it somewhat, then cool and add the same amount by volume of honey to make it last and store the syrup in the fridge. ~ Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottageI add the cinnamon, cloves, organic sugar or honey, ginger(fresh or dehydrated), to the fruit inside the steamer… quick, I don’t like so much sugar as in syrup. Also I prefer not to cook more than necessary to kill nutrients in the fruit
What is the acidic number necessary for elderberries?
You are looking for a pH of 4.6 or below for safe water bath canning. Otherwise, treat them like tomatoes and add lemon juice.
How much juice do you get from a pound?
I can't really say, because I don't weigh the fruit and every type of fruit releases a different amount of juice. Did you have anything specific in mind? Here's a link to a chart of fruits that work nicely with the steam juicer along with more info. Hope it helps! chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
Hi thank you for the video👋 one question. Why do you have to steam the jars Again if the mix was already Hot coming out from the steamer? Is not that a form of pasteurization already?
How long does it take to juice a batch or elderberries? How many quarts of frozen berries do you need for a batch?
It depends on the amount of berries, whether they are fresh or frozen, and your stove. Anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours from start to finish.
Freezing also ruptures cell walls of fruit, further enhancing the extraction.
Right!
i just want to make elderberry juice from the steamer. I will use mason jars to pour the steamed juice into. Do i need to do anything else to preserve the juice once it is in the mason jar ? can i store it at room temperature ? Or does it have to be refrigerated ?
You can refrigerate the juice or can it in a water bath canner or steam canner. I will add a link below to my website. If you scroll down to the bottom of the post, you will find canning directions.
chocolateboxcottage.tv/videos/steam-juicer-elderberry-juice/
~Michele
@@ChocolateBoxCottage Thanks. i prefer to just leave it in the mason jar in the refrigerator if possible. i'm just wondering how long it will last b4 it spoils.
@@SuperLooneyrooney oh okay, I understand. In that case, you will want to use it within a week.
@@ChocolateBoxCottage That's what i thought. i screwed up and juiced too much at one go. I'll probably have to kind of OD on the juice for the next week or so.
Have you ever used this to make distilled water?
Hi Lisa, I have heard it is possible, but have not done it. Have you?
Yes, I do use it to make distilled water. There is a condensation pan you need in place of the collindar pan. Fill the bottom pan with water and place cold water in the top condensation pan. I leave my stove on medium low through the process. It takes about 3 or 4 hours to create enough distilled water to fill 3 or 4 quart jars.
@@lisaallen2539 thank you for the info! What do you use distilled water for?
@@ChocolateBoxCottage We use it for a Cpap machine.
@@lisaallen2539 oh okay, got it. Thanks for explaining. I didn't realize distilled water was needed for that.
Allot of berries on the stem. What kind of elderberries are they?
We have blue elderberries here in the Pacific northwest, Sambucus nigra, ssp. cerulea.
Put about 3 marbles in the water. Let you know when the water is low
Good idea
Do you sell your elderberry syrup?
Will the nutrients die after cooking them?
Allot of berries on the stem. What kind of elderberries are they?
I live in the Pacific Northwest. We have a blue variety called Sambucus nigra, subspecies caerulea. ~Michele