Cream of tartar is one of nature’s best bleaching agents. Also know as, crusted wine, it is mixed with baking soda to create baking powder. While it is an acid, it’s not harmful. It’s an acidic salt which comes from grapes. It is harvested from wine casks after the wine is done.
Cream Of Tartar is used to stabilize cream, it prevents sugar from caramelizing, cleans stains, and to make play dough.
Use a few tablespoons of cream of tartar with hot water or hydrogen peroxide and clean any aluminum pans which have discoloration or any rusty drains, pans, or stains.
Need a great nonabrasive cleaner? Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a small dish (use 3 or 4 teaspoons of vinegar and 3 or 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar if you have more items to clean). Apply with your cleaning rag or scrub brush and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub. Wash with hot soapy water.
How about a porcelain sink, tub, commode? Rub the porcelain surfaces with cream of tartar and watch the stains disappear.
Cooked Flour Play Dough
- 3 cups flour
- 1.5 cups salt
- 6 tsp cream of tarter
- 3 tbsp oil
- 3 cups water
Pour all ingredients into a large pot and stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms. Knead the play dough until the texture matches conventional play dough (1-2 minutes). Add food coloring if you want colored play dough.
Store in plastic container. Should last for at least 3 months.
Want to bake something, check out this recipe for Brown Sugar Sinckerdoodles using cream of tartar
To know more about cream of tartar? Click here.
Love this. A lot of people aren’t familiar with it! I use it in my cookies, it gives them a nice crackle effect.
Received the tip from a pro chef, they learned it in cooking school!
It’s also great for cleaning shower doors. 🙂
Thanks for the tidbit. I will try it on my shower door next time I clean.