Instant Pot Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe - Simply Preparing (2024)

FAQs

How long to cook elderberries to remove cyanide? ›

To neutralize toxins, specifically cyanide-inducing glycosides, heat treatment is a must. Boiling elderberries for at least 30 minutes is the go-to method. This ensures the destruction of harmful compounds. Steaming or baking can also do the trick, as long as the berries reach a high enough temperature.

Are There Elderberry Side Effects? There is a downside to consuming too much elderberry, and that is an upset stomach. Just like with any high fiber fruit, eating too much can cause stomach pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

There is no standard medical dosing for this syrup, but it's generally considered safe for adults to take 1 tablespoon by mouth daily for prevention, and 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours when fighting the cold or the flu.

Homemade elderberry syrup stored in a glass jar generally lasts 2-3 weeks if the pH is not below 4.2. However, its shelf life can be extended anywhere from 3 to 6 months if you've added an acidifier like lemon juice, citric acid, malic acid, or the liken and keep it in the “way back” of the refrigerator.

Elderberries contain vitamin C, but much of it is destroyed by heat. Adding lemon juice provides an additional vitamin C boost to the syrup.

Elderberries were more prone to decrease anthocyanin content after cooking process. Nevertheless, about 70% of the anthocyanins were recovered from the fruit and the water used in the cooking process. Berry anthocyanins' content decreased the most in jam, and in recipes with baking soda.

Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.

Making elderberry syrup homemade is cheaper and allows you to have better control of the ingredients. Most store-bought elderberry syrups contain refined cane sugar, which is not really something your body needs when you're fighting off germs. I find that to be a little counterproductive.

Although there is no specific time of day to take elderberry, you'll maximize its benefits by using it consistently on a regular basis. You can choose whether to use it morning, afternoon or evening. It may be best to use elderberry for short periods of time to support healthy immune function, and then take a break.

Should elderberry syrup be refrigerated? ›

We get asked all the time, “Do I need to refrigerate my syrup?” And the answer is YES! Most of the store-bought elderberry syrups out there are packed with preservatives, which is why they can last in the medicine cabinet for so long. Most preservatives are sugar laden and unhealthy for our bodies.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TAKE ELDERBERRY SYRUP AND WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGE? It can be taken daily as an immune booster. We recommend ages one and two: take 1-2 tsp, ages three and up: take 1 Tbsp. If you feel like you're getting sick, use our recommended intensive dosage.

Our shelf life study deemed our syrup safe out of the fridge for up to 5 days. As always, we recommend you keep an eye on the consistency, taste and smell of the syrup. Do not consume if it starts growing white mold, smells bad, tastes bad or fizzes upon opening.

The most popular variety used for syrups is Sambucus nigra, which is native to Europe. The berries on these trees are typically dark purple and tart in taste.

The most potent form of elderberry is raw elderberry syrup (Dr. Mobley suggests syrup made with organic, fresh-pressed elderberries). The syrup is absorbed most quickly by the body—whereas if you take elderberry gummies, capsules, lozenges, or teas, they're less potent and/or take longer for the body to digest.

Simmer. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat slightly. Simmer the elderberries for at least 15 minutes. The water will turn dark purple, and your kitchen will start to smell like elderberry juice!

In the same way, toxic cyanide is released when the plant is cut into small pieces during food preparation, and the resulting hydrogen cyanide is easily removed by cooking in water since it is volatile.

While immune supporting magnesium, potassium, niacin, viburnic and shikimic acids and other health supporting constituents and nutrients in elderberries can withstand heating and drying, the ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and many other flavonoids (AKA antioxidants) may not.