# Cream of Tartar!  What is it good for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 12, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985 "2013-08-12T00:36:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/21 "2013-08-12T19:51:19Z")

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> [@samclem](#):
>
> While I know you’re asking about baking properties, I have to tell you that we coin dealers use it as a mild abrasive, rubbing a horribly tarnished coin with a paste of it with water. The hairlines it leaves are almost invisible to the average person.

I saw a PBS program of household hints that suggested a 1:1 mixture of cream of tartar and vinegar for cleaning a dirty cooking pot, particularly of the really hard cooked-on stuff. I tried it for cleaning the pans below the burners on my stove and it worked OK, but not great.

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**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/22 "2013-08-12T20:36:04Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> You could substitute vinegar, or lemon juice, or sour cream, but those aren’t as convenient because they’re not a dry powder.

Vinegar, lemon juice and sour cream (don’t forget buttermilk, too!) also all have distinct tastes of their own. Not so good if you’re stabilizing egg whites for a delicate souffle or something.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/23 "2013-08-12T20:41:20Z")

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What does “stabilising egg whites” mean? Does it involve scaffolding and some guy named Mack wearing a yellow hard-hat?

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**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/24 "2013-08-12T21:05:01Z")

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Makes them stiff so they don’t break down when cooked, like in meringue.

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**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/25 "2013-08-13T01:26:54Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> What does “stabilising egg whites” mean? Does it involve scaffolding and some guy named Mack wearing a yellow hard-hat?

[Yes. Yes, it does.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16565375#post16565375)

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/26 "2013-08-13T02:12:32Z")

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It’s good for making little Tartars. [rimshot]

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**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-of-tartar-what-is-it-good-for/665985/27 "2013-08-13T02:35:16Z")

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I frequently use citric acid in place of lemon juice. It’s dry; some call it “lemon salt.” Could that sub for cream of tartar?

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