What was the problem with using 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.

What is a substitute for cream of tartar in baking?

A good replacement for cream of tartar in baking is 1 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice for every 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar .

Is cream of tartar good for your kidneys?

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 .

What does cream of tartar do for the body?

Cream of Tartar Benefits Not only is cream of tartar good for your recipes, but it can actually help out your health, too! It's known for treating arthritis, combatting heartburn and even clearing up acne-prone skin .

Is cream of tartar really necessary?

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...

Can I leave cream of tartar out of a recipe?

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.

What happens if you omit cream of tartar?

Most of the time you can just skip the cream of tartar. Your desserts may not be as fluffy as you would like, but the taste will be the same . However, if you're making meringue, know that the peaks may collapse.

Can I skip using cream of tartar?

In some recipes, you can leave out cream of tartar if there is no suitable replacement . You can simply omit cream of tartar from the recipe if you're making whipped egg whites, syrups, frostings, or icings.

Can you use lemon juice instead of cream of tartar?

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.

Is cream of tartar bad for teeth?

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.

What was cream of tartar originally made of?

A byproduct of wine-making, cream of tartar is a dry, powder-like, acidic sediment that is left behind during fermentation. Although derived from the winemaking process, it's all thanks to grapes that cream of tartar exists. This is because they're a natural source of tartaric acid , which is its primary ingredient.

Can cream of tartar get too old to use?

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.

What happens when you mix baking soda and cream of tartar?

Tell students that cream of tartar is a dry acid and that, when mixed with water, it reacts with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas . This is very similar to the way vinegar (a solution of acetic acid) reacts with baking soda to produce a gas.

Your Guide to Cream of Tartar, the Oft-Overlooked Essential Baking Ingredient (2024)

Have you ever read through the ingredient list for angel food cake or meringue and wondered “what exactly is cream of tartar?” You’re not alone. The mysterious powder is sold with the spices but is used in various baking recipes, and not for its flavor.

Cream of tartar (also known by its chemical name potassium bitartrate) is a fine, white powder that is used in cooking as well as cleaning. It tends to pop up in baking recipes, especially if whipped egg whites are involved, but it has a number of other uses. Here’s everything you need to know about the pantry staple.

Cream of Tartar

Common uses: Stabilizing whipped egg whites or whipped cream, preventing sugar from crystalizing, homemade baking powder, cleaning

Shelf life: Indefinite if kept in a cool, dry place

What to Know About Cream of Tartar

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. As grape juice sits and ferments, potassium bitartrate precipitates and forms crystals on the inside of the casks which can then be collected and processed to make cream of tartar.

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. Mix it with white vinegar to make a paste that will shine up stainless steel, copper, brass, and porcelain.

Where to Buy

Cream of tartar is typically packaged in spice jars and tins in the baking aisle, often mixed in with the spices. You’ll find it in major grocery stores as well as at online retailers.

Any brand of cream of tartar will do, as there is no noticeable difference between them. Most home cooks find a small jar is plenty, since recipes tend to call for a pinch or two. If you have a cleaning project coming up and are looking for more than a usual three to five ounce jar, you can sometimes find cream of tartar in bulk bins. You can also order large containers of cream of tartar online.

How to Store

Cream of tartar should be stored the same way as spices—in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. If you purchased the powder in a screw-top jar or metal tin, the original container will do just fine. Make sure you seal the container completely after each use. If you purchased cream of tartar from a bulk bin, transfer it to a screw-top jar or similar container.

How to Cook with Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is commonly used as a safety net for whipped egg whites. On their own, egg whites precariously hold pockets of air, threatening to destabilize and deflate at any minute. Adding a pinch of cream of tartar while whipping the eggs helps to strengthen the bubbles and keep them nice and stable. It's frequently used in meringue, whether that meringue is piled atop a pie, made into cookies, or baked into a light-as-air cake like pavlova.

Cream of tartar also helps keep angel food cake and similar cakes that get their height from eggs fluffy and well-risen.

Similarly, a pinch of cream of tartar can also help stabilize whipped cream so that it lasts longer. On the flipside, cream of tartar interferes with the formation of sugar crystals and can come in handy when boiling sugar to make caramel or candy. Sometimes bakers add a pinch to help keep crystals from forming, yielding a smoother result.

Cream of tartar can also be used to activate baking soda, leavening baked goods. In fact, some baking powder is made using cream of tartar. To make your own baking powder, combine cream of tartar and baking soda at a ratio of 2:1 (for example, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/2 teaspoon baking soda).

Your Guide to Cream of Tartar, the Oft-Overlooked Essential Baking Ingredient (2)

Recipes That Use Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is most commonly found in baking recipes, especially recipes that involve whipped egg whites. You’ll also find it in snickerdoodle cookies, giving the treats their signature flavor and soft texture.

Lemon Meringue Pie
Chocolate Pavlova
Frosted Snickerdoodle Bars
Summer Peaches With Baked Meringue
Angel Food Cake
Seven Minute Frosting

Cream of Tartar Substitutes

If you don’t have cream of tartar handy and need a quick fix, there are a few substitutions using pantry ingredients that work well. Since cream of tartar is used in a few different ways, which one you pick will depend on the application. Find the right cream of tartar substitution for your recipe here.

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