Cream of Tartar: What It Is and How to Use It (2024)

FAQs

Cream of Tartar: What It Is and How to Use It? ›

Cream of tartar stabilizes the tiny bubbles in the egg whites, by precluding the egg proteins from sticking together. It thus speeds up the egg white whipping process and contributes to a stable, billowy, glossy meringue, perfect for cookies, topping pies, and folding into cake.

Cream of tartar is a white powder found in the baking aisle that is commonly used to help stabilize whipped egg whites in meringues and cakes and give snickerdoodle cookies their signature flavor and texture. It's made from tartaric acid, a byproduct of the winemaking process.

The Best Substitute for Cream of Tartar

For every 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in the recipe, use 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar. As an example, if your cookie recipe calls for 1 teaspoon baking soda, add 2 teaspoons lemon juice instead of the cream of tartar.

Cream of tartar is praised for multiple potential health benefits, from migraine relief to help quitting smoking. Yet, the only claim that's backed by science is its effect as constipation relief. The FDA recognizes cream of tartar as a safe ingredient when consumed in small quantities.

This ingredient hidden at the back of your spice cabinet helps tomatoes strike the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

To keep track of its freshness, label the container with the date of purchase. Cream of tartar typically has a shelf life of about 2-3 years, and knowing when you bought it can help you determine if it's time for a replacement.

Cream of tartar may reduce the chances of UT infections. But, excess potassium levels in the blood put kidneys under pressure. It is because potassium is a potent diuretic. Therefore, an increase in potassium levels leads to a rise in the diuretic action of the kidneys, which is harmful.

For arthritis pain: Cream of Tartar is rich in potassium, so adding 2 Tablespoons to a warm bath along with 3 Tablespoons of Epsom salt and soaking for 30 minutes will help to reduce inflammation and joint pain. Do this once or twice per day until pain is alleviated.

Potassium bitartrate is a natural laxative that can help with digestive issues like constipation. This benefit comes from its potassium and magnesium content. However, there are case studies showing toxicity from consuming too much cream of tartar for its laxative effects, so stick to smaller amounts mixed with water.

What happens if I put too much cream of tartar? ›

“Too much cream of tartar will impart a metallic, tin-like taste,” Molly warns.

“When you take cream of tartar and you mix that with vinegar, or even lemon juice, you get what's called tartaric acid and that actually can be used to clean porcelain, aluminum, and copper and brass as well,” says Chem Thug.

Even though they're similar in colour, consistency and packaging, baking soda and cream of tartar are totally different ingredients. Baking soda is alkaline and commonly used in recipes that mix moisture plus an acidic ingredient (such as lemon juice, chocolate, buttermilk or honey) together to make batter rise.

The bottom line: For smooth, stiff beaten egg whites that keep their shape, don't skip the cream of tartar. If you don't have cream of tartar, substituting 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar per egg white works almost as well. To avoid meringues that weep, don't skip the cream of tartar...

Ok, the good news first: cream of tartar is completely unrelated to teeth. Whew! In fact, it's an acidic by-product from the process of making wine. It's found in the sediment left behind in barrels after the wine has been fermented, and it gets purified into the powdery white substance that we use in baking.