What is Cream of Tartar? (2024)

Cream of tartar is a baking ingredient also used as a household cleaning agent. It may provide some health benefits such as relieving migraine or helping quit smoking. 1 tsp (3 g) has only 8 calories.

This article reviews some popular claims surrounding cream of tartar’s benefits, its potential side effects, and how to get the most out of it.

What is Cream of Tartar? (1)Share on Pinterest

Cream of tartar — also known as potassium bitartrate or potassium acid tartrate — is the potassium acid salt of L-tartaric acid, which is naturally present in wine (1).

Formed as a byproduct of winemaking, cream of tartar crystallizes and forms deposits at the bottom of wine casks during the fermentation process (1, 2, 3).

Cream of tartar is an additive classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe — meaning that it’s shown to be safe if used as intended (4).

It has an acidic but pleasant taste, and you may find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store as a white, dry powder.

Summary

Cream of tartar is an additive formed as a byproduct of winemaking. It is a white, dry powder with a slightly acidic taste.

Cream of tartar can be used in so many different ways. Here are some of its primary uses.

Food additive

Cream of tartar is used as an additive in the food industry for the following purposes (1, 4):

  • Anticaking agent: prevents lumps caused by moisture in powdered or granulated ingredients
  • Antimicrobial agent: prevents the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi
  • Leavening agent: helps dough rise by releasing carbon dioxide from baking soda (2, 5)
  • Control agent for pH: changes or maintains the pH level — the acidity or basicity — of a product
  • Stabilizer and thickener: structures and thickens your recipes and food products

Culinary uses

Bakers often use cream of tartar in baked goods by mixing it with egg whites to help create stiff peaks in meringue. This prevents the formation of sugar crystals.

Cream of tartar can be a substitute for anything from buttermilk to baking powder and lemon juice in your favorite recipes.

It is also used as an ingredient in (4):

  • frostings, gelatins, and puddings
  • hard and soft candies
  • jams and jellies

Cleaning agent

You can use cream of tartar as a cleaning agent around the house. Some popular uses include:

  • Appliance polish. Mix one part cream of tartar with four parts white vinegar to create a paste that will help you polish stainless steel, aluminum, and silver appliances.
  • Rust remover. Mix with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and let sit on rusty areas for an hour. Wipe clean.
  • Stain remover. Applying cream of tartar on a damp stain may help you remove difficult stains before washing your clothes.
Summary

Cream of tartar has numerous uses as an additive in the food industry, an ingredient in baked goods, and a household cleaning agent.

Cream of tartar is typically consumed in small amounts.

One teaspoon (3 grams) of cream of tartar contains (6):

  • Calories: 8
  • Carbs: 2 grams
  • Fiber: 0 grams
  • Protein: 0 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Potassium: 11% of the daily value

As you can see, cream of tartar provides few macronutrients but packs a relatively high amount of potassium. In fact, based on its chemical formula, it is 20% potassium (7).

Potassium is an essential mineral that your body needs to function. It is present in all body tissues. Most of cream of tartar’s health claims revolve around its potassium content (8).

Cream of tartar contains trace amounts of other minerals, such as:

  • calcium
  • iron
  • magnesium
  • phosphorus
  • sodium
  • zinc
Summary

As the name potassium bitartrate implies, cream of tartar provides a relatively high amount of potassium and very few macronutrients.

Health food bloggers praise cream of tartar for its alleged health benefits. However, only a few of these claims are backed up by scientific evidence.

Here are some of the most popular ones and what science says about them:

  • Relieves constipation. An older study determined that a 5-gram daily dose of cream of tartar may relieve constipation by softening stools and shortening intestinal transit time (9).
  • Helps a person quit smoking. Despite anecdotal evidence as a means to quit smoking, cream of tartar has no scientific evidence as a smoking cessation treatment (10).
  • Relieves migraine symptoms. Another myth that’s strongly perpetuated by different online sources is cream of tartar’s positive effect on migraine attacks. There’s no evidence to support this claim.
  • Aids skin health. Many believe that cream of tartar’s antimicrobial effect helps treat acne when applied to the skin. While tartaric acid belongs to a group of alfa hydroxy acids (AHA), used in cosmetics and dermatology, there’s no available information on the effect of tartaric acid nor cream of tartar on the skin (11).
  • Lowers blood pressure. Cream of tartar’s purported effect on blood pressure comes from its potassium content, which does help lower your risk of high blood pressure. Still, there are no studies that draw a link to cream of tartar itself (8).

Other unsubstantiated claims about cream of tartar include its ability to:

  • aid in weight loss
  • reduce urinary tract infections
  • improve arthritis

Again, these claims lack any scientific proof.

Summary

Health food bloggers promote cream of tartar for many different health benefits, but its only proven benefit is constipation relief — backed up by an older study. More research is needed in these areas.

Cream of tartar’s most important side effect is the risk of hyperkalemia — or excessive potassium levels in your blood — due to its high potassium content (10).

Evidence shows that consuming high amounts of cream of tartar may cause abdominal discomfort, abnormal heart rate, and muscle weakness — all common symptoms of hyperkalemia (8, 10).

People with mild to moderate kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, heart failure, liver disease, or those taking medication to increase blood potassium levels have a higher risk of developing hyperkalemia (8, 10).

While excess potassium is typically released through your urine, consuming large amounts of potassium may still lead to dangerously high blood potassium levels (10).

Summary

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

Cream of tartar is a white, acidic powder similar to baking powder used as a food additive, baking ingredient, and all-purpose cleaning agent.

Composed of 20% potassium, it is a byproduct of winemaking.

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. Ingesting high amounts of it may lead to hyperkalemia, or dangerously high potassium blood levels.

Just one thing

Try this today: Aside from its culinary and household uses, cream of tartar also makes a nontoxic homemade play dough. Just follow this recipe if you want to give it a go!

Was this helpful?

What is Cream of Tartar? (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of cream of tartar? ›

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.

Is cream of tartar just baking soda? ›

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.

Does cream of tartar taste like anything? ›

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.

What are the disadvantages of cream of tartar? ›

Cream of tartar's most important side effect is the risk of hyperkalemia — or excessive potassium levels in your blood — due to its high potassium content ( 10 ).

Is it OK to drink cream of tartar? ›

You can drink half a teaspoon of cream of tartar in one glass of water and feel the difference. Cream of tartar is rich in potassium, and this element can reduce migraine. In addition, it acts as a buffer that controls acid-alkaline levels and boosts antioxidants in the body.

What happens if you leave out cream of tartar? ›

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.

Does cream of tartar go bad? ›

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.

Can I skip cream of tartar in a recipe? ›

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.

Can I use cream of tartar in scrambled eggs? ›

Cream of tartar is known for its ability to stabilize the whipped structure of lofty meringues and piles of whipped cream, and there's no reason it can't do the same for a pile of fluffy scrambled eggs. You don't need much—just an eighth of a teaspoon for every two eggs (plus a little salt for flavor).

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

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

Why is cream of tartar so expensive? ›

The tartaric acid crystals that go into cream of tartar are sometimes called “wine diamonds” because of their value and scarcity. That makes cream of tartar more expensive than baking supplies like baking soda and baking powder.

What happens if you don't use cream of tartar? ›

A frosting without crystalized sugar is a lot creamier, and any batter or meringue with stabilized egg whites yields a fluffier end result, The Spruce Eats explains. Without cream of tartar, you'll get the same baked good in the end, but the consistency may not be as flawless.

What else is cream of tartar good for? ›

Cream of tartar has many uses, including:
  • Making fluffier cakes. ...
  • Lifting and stabilizing whipped cream and meringue. ...
  • Preventing sugar crystallization. ...
  • Adding a tangy flavor to cookie recipes. ...
  • Preserving fruits and veggies.

What does cream of tartar do to your 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.

Can I skip using cream of tartar? ›

Lemon Juice

Because cream of tartar is an acid, lemon juice makes a good cream of tartar replacement for many recipes. If you need a cream of tartar substitute for meringue, lemon juice is your best choice.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 6028

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.