You can skip the crushing and grinding and just boil in enough water to cover what you have, then strain it through an old t-shirt.
Can the stuff while hot, or keep it in the fridge. The stuff has a high sugar content and will pick up arobic molds and it'll get a scum onit pretty quick. The mold won't hurt the stain, it can be strained out again it's just yukky to work with.
You'll find all sorts of advise to mix in alchohol or ammonia to stop the mold but it doesn't work, just keep it cool and the mold won't grow.