What is Cream of Tartar and How is it Used? 0 21

Cream of tartar forms during the fermentation of wine from the acids present in grape juice and settles at the bottom of barrels. Although this precipitate consists of two colorless salts — potassium tartrate and potassium bitartrate, during the aging process of wine, it acquires amazing wine-colored crystals. However, in stores, cream of tartar can only be found in the form of a white crystalline powder that has neither taste nor smell.

This product has many names — potassium hydrogen tartrate, potassium bitartrate, and cream of tartar. In other countries, it is known as cream of tartar, which has no relation to tartar sauce — in English, tartaric acid is referred to as tartaric acid.

So who needs this white powder and for what purpose? Cream of tartar is actively used in cooking! It is an excellent natural stabilizer for egg whites and whipped cream, increasing their volume. It can also be used as a leavening agent for flour or an acidic ingredient to activate baking soda. Additionally, cream of tartar prevents the crystallization of sugar syrups and jams, as well as preserves the color of vegetables during boiling.

When whipping cream and egg whites, adding a pinch of cream of tartar makes their texture dense and high, ensuring the fluffiness of meringues and soufflés. When preparing baked goods without yeast, cookies, or pancakes, sift the cream of tartar powder together with the flour and baking soda — as a result of the chemical reaction, carbon dioxide will be released, making the baked goods light and airy.

Another important and beneficial property of cream of tartar is that it contains a large amount of potassium, which is necessary for normalizing heart rhythm, lowering blood pressure, and preventing inflammation, including on the skin. Advocates of a healthy lifestyle recommend drinking a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of cream of tartar powder once or twice a day. It is also believed that cream of tartar helps eliminate nicotine from the lungs of smokers, and when combined with orange juice, it aids in breaking this harmful habit by inducing aversion to the taste of tobacco.