What is Cream of Tartar

So, you are gawking at the array of baking additives and spices in the store and you see this stuff called cream of tartar. Or, you find a recipe that calls for the ingredient. Or, you are helping to clean out mom’s or grandmom’s pantry and find a can of the stuff. What the heck is it and why would you want it?

Well, it is not creamy. It is a fine, white powder. It’s actual name is potassium bitartrate, or potassium hydrogen tartrate, or tartaric acid. Whew! Now you know why it is called cream of tartar. It is a byproduct from wine making, of all things. What happens is that as the juice from the grapes ferments in the cask, crystals are formed on the cask itself, which then is collected and processed into what we know as cream of tartar. Since it comes from fruit and not grains, it is gluten free.

Its main uses are to stabilize whipped egg whites or whipped cream; it stops sugar from crystallizing, and can be used as a cleaning product.

You may find some sites that tout its use to ease arthritic pain, migraines, and other issues. However, do not try this without the consent of your medical team.

Baking

While this substance is acidic and has a bit of a tang, it is generally not enough to affect the taste of dishes.

When working with egg whites, they hold air pockets. That means the whipped eggs can deflate and fall quickly and without notice. Adding a bit of cream of tartar will help stabilize them to keep the air bubbles as long as possible. That means your meringue will hold up better and longer. It also means angel food cake will be light and fluffy.

If you are making whipped cream from scratch, add a pinch of cream of tartar, and it will stay fresh longer.

Because this additive impedes sugar crystals from forming, if you are making caramel or candy, adding it to the recipe will give you a smoother finished product.

Sometimes it is called for to help baking soda do its thing. If you read the recipe and it calls for baking powder, read the label and you may see that the baking powder is really cream of tartar.

Snickerdoodles are not just your ordinary cinnamon-coated cookie. The addition of cream of tartar makes them taste more tangy than the usual sugar cookie and gives them a bit of a chew as well.

Other Cooking

Use maybe an eighth of a teaspoon, or pinch, to the boiling water that is cooking your vegetables and you may notice that they keep their bright color better.

Cleaning

Mix it with white vinegar to form a paste that will clean stainless steel, copper, brass, and porcelain. Porcelain as in sinks, toilets, etc. It also helps remove scratches on white bowls and dinnerware.

Two More

Look up how to make edible play-doh. That means your toddlers get to play with the goo and you don’t need to worry about a few bites here and there.

It is sometimes uses in making bath bombs for those who enjoy a soothing soak.

Storage

Leave it in its original container, usually a tin or sometimes a jar, and be sure the closure is tight. Store in a cool, dark area like a pantry or spice drawer. Kept like that it will be good indefinitely.

Now you know what it is and you can amaze your friends the next time there is a lull in the conversation.