Cream of Tartar is ane of those foreign ingredients chosen for in lots of recipes simply you probably have no clue what it is or why we use it. We're going to practise a deep dive today: learn what is cream of tartar and how to use information technology!

bottle of cream of tartar

  1. What is cream of tartar?
  2. What is cream of tartar used for?
  3. Calculation cream of tartar to egg whites:
  4. How it helps Candy Making
  5. Leavening Amanuensis in Cookie Recipes
  6. Why practise Snickerdoodles have cream of tartar?
  7. How else is cream of tartar used in cooking?
  8. Substituting: what can exist used in place of Cream of Tartar?
  9. Does Cream of Tartar become bad?
  10. Household Uses
  11. Wellness Benefits and Claims
  12. Where to buy Foam of Tartar
  13. Recipes that utilize Cream of Tartar

What is cream of tartar?

Scientifically, cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate, AKA potassium hydrogen tartrate, a byproduct of winemaking. It'south an acid like to lemon or vinegar, oftentimes used in baking or in cleaning. You find it in the spice alley; information technology's a white powder non dissimilar baking soda or baking pulverisation in await and texture.

It'southward kind of a mystery ingredient, ane that you may have in your pantry simply have no idea when or why to use it. Only information technology has then many uses, especially in baking, and just a bit of it can brand a huge difference in recipes that call for information technology.

This miracle ingredient that can meliorate broiled goods and assist you clean your kitchen!

cream of tartar in measuring spoon

What is foam of tartar used for?

This ingredient is more often than not used in baking. Y'all'll see it called for most ofttimes in recipes calling for egg whites, cookie recipes (like snickerdoodles) and when you're making candy.

Calculation cream of tartar to egg whites:

By adding a flake of it to egg whites when yous're beating them (about ⅛ teaspoon per egg white) helps to speed up the beating process. It helps speed up the creation of cream and stabilities the egg whites. and helps strengthen the bubbles in the foam and prevents them from collapsing too quickly, as well as assistance them stay vivid and white.

Lemon Meringue pie on a blue and white plate with a fork

This is why you run across cream of tartar added to recipes like lemon meringue pie. Adding information technology when beating the egg whites for the meringue helps go along that meringue fluffy, light and white.

You'll as well run into information technology added to affections food cake and meringue cookies, because those call for chirapsia lots of egg whites.

How information technology helps Candy Making

Adding cream of tartar when you lot're making candy helps prevent the creation of sugar crystals. That's why lots of icing, syrup or candy recipes call for it: it makes information technology and then the end production doesn't have large crunchy saccharide capsules. Whenever you're cooking saccharide for a syrup, add a scrap of cream of tartar to aid in a smoother processed recipe!

You'll notice that all of my saccharide cookie recipes contain cream of tartar. It started with a Land O' Lakes recipe for cutout sugar cookies that I started making years ago and when I created my ain perfect sugar cookie recipe I used information technology also (without even knowing why!)

Combining cream of tartar with baking soda creates baking pulverisation (learn all well-nigh baking powder and blistering soda). Baking soda is important in cookies to give them a chewiness (baking pulverisation would make them cake-like) then when you want a chip of both worlds, you add cream of tartar with the baking soda. Since it prevents sugar from crystalizing, it helps aids in giving the cookies a softness that y'all wouldn't go with plain quondam baking soda.

Stack of sugar cookies with sprinkles

Why do Snickerdoodles have cream of tartar?

Foam of tartar in a snickerdoodle cookie is what differentiates information technology from a plain old cinnamon coated cookie. Just like in regular sugar cookies, the cream of tartar prevents the sugar from crystalizing, giving a soft texture that's also chewy, plus that acid flavor is key in what differentiates a snickerdoodle from all other cookies. (For my snickerdoodle cookie recipe, I arrange my sugar cookie recipe because information technology already has this miracle ingredient!)

Chocolate chip snickerdoodle cookies stacked

How else is cream of tartar used in cooking?

Those are just the main ways you'll see it called for in recipes. Withal, yous tin add this magical ingredient to other things to produce even ameliorate recipes!

  • Adding a compression to boiling water helps vegetables retain their bright color.
  • A pinch of cream of tartar will assistance stabilize whipped cream.

Substituting: what can exist used in place of Cream of Tartar?

I highly recommend NOT substituting this ingredient. Some substitutions are easier than others; this is one that gets tricky. At that place are some substitutions just they may (nearly probable volition) affect the consequence of your recipe. Annotation: these have not all been tested in my recipes.

  • Lemon Juice or White Vinegar: Substitute ane teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar for every ½ teaspoon of foam of tartar chosen for in the recipe. This works well in cookies, cakes, quick breads or other broiled goods.
  • Equal parts lemon juice or white vinegar: Utilise this when you want to avoid crystallization in candy or are beating egg whites.
  • Blistering Powder: Blistering powder tin can be used as a substitute for foam of tartar if the recipe besides contains blistering soda. Employ 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder for 1 teaspoon cream of tartar.
  • Buttermilk: In baked goods with liquid like milk (cakes or quick bread) reduce the liquid added by ½ loving cup for every ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar and supersede it with ½ loving cup buttermilk. This aforementioned method works with yogurt thinned with milk.

Does Cream of Tartar go bad?

Unlike other spices, it has a long shelf life. Every bit long as it'south kept in a cool, dry spot and is in an airtight container, information technology should last indefinitely. Cheque the freshness with look and smell: information technology should exist powdery and white and smell slightly acidic.

bottle of cream of tartar

Household Uses

There are so many non-food ways to use it around the business firm!

  • Brand a paste of cream of tartar and lemon juice or vinegar and use it to smooth and clean metal pans or even to remove laundry stains.
  • Before buying Draino, mix some cream of tartar with baking soda and salt then flush the drain with hot water. (Source)
  • Create an all purpose scrub my making a paste of foam of tartar with white vinegar (a 4:ane ratio) and using for cleaning.
  • Use it every bit an pismire deterrent. Supposedly, sprinkling cream of tartar around doorways will help proceed the ants out.

Health Benefits and Claims

(These are untested; exist sure to check with your doc earlier trying whatever of these things or ingesting cream of tartar in this way.)

In my research, I was surprised to see how many people use it for its health benefits, like:

  • Quit smoking by mixing orange juice with a bit of foam of tartar (½ teaspoon to ½ loving cup) and potable information technology daily. Supposedly information technology's said that foam of tartar removes nicotine from the body and reduces cravings for cigarettes.
  • Use it as a laxative (add a bit of it to water and potable). It has a diuretic issue on the torso, just is high in potassium to be sure to bank check with your doctor first.
  • Consuming a pocket-size bit of foam of tartar a 24-hour interval has been said to prevent acne (because of it's antitoxin and antibacterial nature).
  • Ingest cream of tartar to aid decrease heartburn (similar to blistering soda).
  • Mix cream of tartar with epsom salt for a bath to help reduce arthritis pain.

(Source)

Where to buy Foam of Tartar

You volition find this white pulverisation in the spice aisle of whatever grocery store. Information technology looks like baking powder or blistering soda, but it'due south really a spice and sold in jars like cinnamon and other seasonings.

Recipes that apply Foam of Tartar

  • Best Snickerdoodle Recipe
  • Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
  • Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Dulce de Leche Gooey Confined
  • Blueberry Biscuits

Terminal Updated on Feb 17, 2022

All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please practice non use my images without prior permission. If you desire to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition data shown is not guaranteed to be authentic.

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Published on: August 26, 2022