Picking and Cleaning Mulberries

Our mulberry picking is almost over! We have spent the better part of two weeks picking and cleaning berries. When we first started this process I looked for the best way to clean the berries but did not come up with much. My hubby and I have come up with a method that works for us so I am going to share it with you!

First lay all of your old sheets out under the tree. If you do not have old sheets go get some at Goodwill or buy very very cheap ones on clearance somewhere. Next year I think we are going to use a parachute but I will talk about that another time. 

We tried to cover all of the big spots. It is sad to see the berries hit the ground.

Then talk someone into climbing the tree... in this case my husband was volunteered volunteered to climb up!

Yay for helpful husbands!

Then shake the tree and watch the berries fall! We choose to shake the tree instead of picking off each one because it is much faster and, more importantly, when you try and pick the berries off the tree they tend to just fall apart and mush all over your hands. We waste a lot less this way.

After you shake the tree pick each sheet up by the four corners and guide all of the berries together. Then take a few minutes to pick out all of the big sticks and leaves. I will warn you that when shaking the tree you also shake out a lot of bugs. Don't be worried, you will wash them all away in the following steps.

Then put all of the mulberries in a big container, we use a large storage tub.

Then fill that tub up with water. The tub will be very hard to move when filled so do it someplace convenient. We did this part on the front porch. After the tub is full let everything sit for a half hour or so to let as much of the bugs and gunk float to the top as possible.

After you let everything sit skim off all of the big stuff on top and put that into a different bucket. You will skim off allot of berries with the gunk. We used these for juicing because you do not need to clean them as much. I will talk about juicing later on in the week.

Then take a fine mesh strainer and get off as much of the little floating stuff as you can. We use a splatter screen that you would use for frying.

Ok, now all of the big stuff is gone. We started doing all of these steps outside on the porch. It was easier to bring smaller batches in to clean rather than try to do the whole bucket all at once.

Now we go to the four bucket rinse method. I know it sounds like a lot but by doing it this way we are able to work together and you do not waste as much water.

The big pot holds the berries right out of the tub then as they go down the line we let the berries float in each tub of water to get the gunk off. As you will see in the next set of pictures each bowl has cleaner and cleaner water. That means the berries are getting clean as they move down the line.

Big bucket gets the really dirty ones then we take a handful and drop them into the next pan

Then they get taken out of the second pan and put into the bowl

Then from the bowl into the colander in a sink full of water. I use the colander to separate the good berries from the little bits of gunk still left, that way I can change the water less often.  Then into the final measuring cup.

This might seem like allot of steps but it is allot easier then picking bugs and leaves off of each one and if you run water over a handful at a time you will waste a TON of water and be cleaning forever.

After the berries are clean I put them in zip lock bags. The pies each get four cups and I also set enough aside for jam.

This is just from one night

Some other tips:

1. Little red bugs like to live on the berries. If you are cleaning in your house, put a towel under the pots and spray some soap all over it to stop the bugs if they try and get out. They are very very small and you might miss them crawling on the counter if you are not careful. 
2. Leave your shoes outside or you will track purple though the house.
3. Do not stand under the tree when it is being shaken.  It sounds obvious but.... well, I forgot once. 
4. As the season goes on, the berries will get bigger and they are easier to clean. By that time you should have shaken a lot of the dead stuff off the tree.
5. You do not need to try and take off the stems. There is really no way to do it and the stems break down and disappear in the pies and jams. I promise you will not even know they are there.
6. Remember that you are doing something good for your family and most good things take time and effort!