How to Juice American Elderberries: Three Simple Methods for Every Kitchen

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn fresh American elderberries into rich, dark juice for syrups, shrubs, and recipes — you’re in the right place. The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment to get started. Whether you prefer a no-heat approach, a gentle steam method, or a simple stovetop simmer, you can make beautiful, nutrient-rich juice right at home.

1. No-Heat Method: Juice Press or Manual Press

If your goal is to preserve every bit of flavor and nutrition, the no-heat method is your best choice.

Pressing elderberry juice with an at home manual fruit/wine press.

What you’ll need: a clean juice press, mesh strainer, or even a nut milk bag.

How to do it:

1. If using frozen elderberries, let thaw.

2. Add berries to your press or strainer and gently press to release the juice.

3. Collect the juice in a clean bowl or jar and refrigerate or freeze immediately.

Because this method skips heat, it keeps more of the elderberries’ natural enzymes, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds intact — giving you the most potent, true-to-nature juice possible.

2. Low-Heat Method: Steam Juicer

For a clean, hands-off process that still maintains excellent nutrient quality, a steam juicer is a wonderful option.

If you don’t have a juice press or need to get juice from frozen berries, you can use a steam juicer for a quick, easy process.

How to do it:

1. Fill the bottom of your steam juicer with water.

2. Add fresh or frozen elderberries to the top basket, cover, and let the gentle steam do the work.

3. In about an 30 minutes to 1 hour, you’ll have a pure, rich elderberry juice ready to pour from the spout.

The low, steady heat helps extract juice efficiently without the need for stirring or straining — perfect if you’re in a pinch to get from frozen berries to juice quickly! This method does apply heat to the berries but it is indirect so preferred over stove top method below.

3. Simmer Method: Stovetop Pan

If you don’t have a juicer, this simple stovetop method still yields delicious results.

How to do it:

1. If using frozen berries, dethaw. This will minimize time on direct heat.

2. Place elderberries in a large pot with just enough water to cover the bottom.

3. Gently simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the berries are soft and release their juice.

4. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, pressing lightly to extract every drop.

While this method uses a bit more heat, it’s easy, accessible, and still produces a wonderful, homegrown elderberry juice for everyday use.

Storage Tips

• Refrigerate fresh juice for up to 7 days.

• Freeze for long-term storage — we love using glass jars or silicone freezer trays for easy portions.

A Note on American Elderberries

Unlike many imported varieties, American elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) don’t require heat to be safe for consumption. That means you can use gentler juicing methods and still preserve their natural antioxidants, flavor, and vibrant color — just another reason we love growing them here in the Ozarks.

Try It in Your Kitchen

Once you’ve made your juice, the possibilities are endless — from homemade syrups and gummies to mocktails and winter tonics. Visit our Recipe section for our favorite ways to enjoy the fruits of our labor.