are dried elderberries safe to eat
The leaves, twigs, stems, roots and unripe berries of all elderberry plants are not edible, and contain toxins which are metabolized into cyanide. So, it’s not a good idea whatsoever to eat anything off an elderberry tree other than the ripe berries and the blossoms. Unless of course you like cyanide poisoning. The best foods is free and can be found in the wild. wild edibles are super nutritious. I'm a big fan of weeds such as the elderberry! Where I live you can see this plant everywhere: in the woods, next to the roads. Thus very easy to find. According to Dutch folklore the benefits of elderberry (sambuca or vlierbes) are plenty: the Dutch believe that the tea of the leafs purifies your blood. Tea of flowers boosts your immune system. And in fact, I have a large jar of dried elderberries and sprinkle them on and in many things when cooking. Boiling or baking certainly takes care of any “toxic” issue as does drying raw berries. The Mikasukis Indians considered elderberries a scarcity food only. Elderberries are easy to like. They’re user-friendly. Jam, jelly, pies, syrup, schnapps, brandy and wine can be made from them. The flowers are also edible and can be used in pancakes and muffins or just dipped in batter and fried. They also make a nice tea or a refreshing “Elder Blow Champagne.” Elderflower water is also used in perfumes and sweets. Many writers say raw elderberries have an unpleasant taste. The ones in my yard do not, but that can change from location to location, shrub to shrub. Most agree that they do need to be cooked if you are going to eat more than just a few out of hand. Elderberries are nutritious, are packed with antioxidants, and have more Vitamin C than oranges or tomatoes. They also have Vitamin A, calcium, thiamine, niacin, twice the calories of cranberries and three times the protein of blueberries. They put grapes to shame, and man is not the only consumer. You can eat the ripe berries raw in small quantities, but they really aren’t very good. They have a VERY low sugar content, and taste a bit bitter and foul. Couple this with the fact that there can be a trace of toxins still in the ripe berries, and it is best to cook them before eating in large quantities. More Elderberry Information. For more info on the elderberry, watch the video above. It has some great elderberry information on how to recognize this plant, the benefits of elderberry, where to watch out for and where to find them. 1 Place elderberries loosely in a shallow container, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Do not wash elderberries until ready to eat, as excess moisture during storage will hasten decay. FOOD STORAGE — HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP... ELDERBERRIES — FRESH, RAW. 1  Place elderberries loosely in a shallow container, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Do not wash elderberries until ready to eat, as excess moisture during storage will hasten decay. To freeze: (1) Wash berries carefully in cold water, pat dry and place in a single layer on cookie tray in freezer; (2) Once berries are frozen, transfer to airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags and return to freezer.
Yes, dried elderberries are safe to eat.