What Happens If You Skip Cream Of Tartar In A Recipe? - Tasting Table (2024)

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What Happens If You Skip Cream Of Tartar In A Recipe? - Tasting Table? ›

You can also simply leave out the cream of tartar from a recipe, which may result in baked goods that are not as fluffy, but will still work out and taste good.

You can also simply leave out the cream of tartar from a recipe, which may result in baked goods that are not as fluffy, but will still work out and taste good.

Cream of tartar is more acidic than baking powder and baking soda, which gives the cookies an added tanginess it wouldn't otherwise have if I'd used baking powder. In addition to having an effect on flavor, skipping the cream of tartar would also result in different textured cookies.

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.

In baked goods, cream of tartar is used as a leavener, to give cakes, muffins and cookies their rise. It has a tinny, metallic taste that's most noticeable in Snickerdoodle cookies. A tiny pinch added to water also helps vegetables maintain their color when they're blanched.

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.

High intakes of cream of tartar may lead to hyperkalemia, or dangerously high blood potassium levels, due to its high potassium content.

Ingestion of cream of tartar can potentially result in life-threatening hyperkalemia.

Cream of tartar has a slightly tangy, acidic flavor, but it's not typically used in large enough quantities to impact the flavor of dishes. While you'll find cream of tartar in spice jars and tins in the baking aisle, it also makes appearances in cleaning solutions.

What will happen if we don t use cream of tartar in the play dough? ›

Cream of tartar is used in playdough to stabilize the dough. It helps give playdough a soft and malleable texture, as well as help it last longer. If you don't have cream of tartar to add to this playdough recipe, you can substitute it with the same amount of lemon juice.

When combined with baking soda, it becomes a leavening agent (the stuff that makes baked goods puff up in the oven) by producing carbon dioxide gas. If you ever run out of baking powder, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for 1 teaspoon baking powder.

But while technically you don't need the ingredient, Food Network still recommends swapping it with vinegar or lemon juice as opposed to leaving it out of a recipe that calls for it. These substitutions work because cream of tartar is powdered tartaric acid, per Healthline.

Or, You Can Skip the Cream of Tartar (Sometimes)

However, if you're making meringue, know that the peaks may collapse. Cream of tartar is also used to prevent crystallization sometimes, but don't worry if you have to leave it out, just proceed without it and everything should still be fine.

While cream of tartar is not an ingredient you probably keep on hand in your kitchen, it is worth the investment if you are trying to become a playdough making pro. Cream of tartar really helps to get your playdough to the fun gel form and prevent it from staying too wet.

Not removing tartar from your teeth early can cause tooth decay as the bacteria eats away at your tooth enamel. It can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis or more seriously periodontal disease which is when your gums recede or shrink away from your teeth.

Cream of tartar does not expire so long as you store it in a cool and dry space. When in doubt, check for a powdery, white appearance and a slightly acidic smell. Discard your cream of tartar if it has become discolored or if it has a strong smell.