Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is a fun kitchen item to have around. A byproduct of wine production, the odorless acidic powder has quite a few uses.
You can make your own baking power with cream of tartar by combining 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to get the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of baking powder. It’s best to use homemade baking powder immediately instead of storing. However, homemade baking powder can be stored in the refrigerator if you add 1/4 teaspoon of cornstarch to absorb moisture prevent reaction. The simple recipe you can remember for homemade baking powder is two parts cream of tartar to one part baking soda and one part corn starch. An advantage of making your own baking powder is that you can avoid the aluminum typically found in commercial baking powder.
Cream of tartar may also be used to stabilize egg whites and increase their volume. I used some recently in a jelly roll recipe from a new favorite cookbook of mine.
To clean your sink or tub, make a thick paste from hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar, then scrub. For stubborn stains, allow the paste to rest on the area before scrubbing. For removing rust stains from pans, make a paste from lemon juice and cream of tartar. For making aluminum pans look shiny new again, boil water in them and add a coupe of tablespoons of cream of tartar. Boil for around eight minutes.
Cream of tartar may also be used to deter ants! Sprinkle the powder near the entry points.
Finally, when all the work is done, use cream of tartar to make homemade play clay. Visit FamilyFun for the recipe.
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Post from: Blisstree