Also known as Potassium Bitartrate or Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate.
Cream of Tartar
The very best value in pure Cream of Tartar.
It is used in so many ways. One way cream of tartar is used is to give meringues and angel food cake their "fluff " and elevation. Another new, popular use for it is for making Bath Bombs or other bath fizzies, the cream of tartar is often the perfect cure for hardening bath bombs and Bubble Bars.
In food, cream of tartar is used in a variety of ways:
- Stabilizing egg whites, - increasing their heat tolerance and volume
- Making Meringues
- Thickening and Anti-Caking
- Stabilizing whipped cream, to maintain texture and volume
- Preventing sugar syrups from crystallizing
- Reducing discoloration of boiled vegetables
It is also used as a sodium-free salt substitutes in combination with potassium chloride
Used in baking powder as an acid ingredient to activate baking soda. To mix your own baking powder, combine 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar.
Cream of tartar, when mixed into a paste with hydrogen peroxide, can be used to clean rust from tools, like hand files. After mixing, apply the paste and let it sit for a few hours and then wash it off with with a baking soda/water solution to neutralize it. Then rinse again with water , and allow to dry. Afterwards add a light application of oil to protect the tool(s) from further rusting.
Used in Cleaning -Cream of Tartar can be mixed with a simple acidic liquid like lemon juice or white vinegar. This will a paste-like cleaning agent for metals such as brass, aluminum or copper.
Cream of Tartar can also be mixed with water for other cleaning jobs- like removing light stains from porcelain. DON'T make the mistake of mixing vinegar and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). These react and neutralize each other, creating carbon dioxide and a sodium acetate solution (it foams like crazy).