Cream of Tartar

Potassium bitartrate, used to stabilise egg whites and in baking powder.

About Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate, a dry acidic powder used in baking and confectionery. It helps stabilize whipped egg whites, contributes acidity to some baking mixtures, and is one of the traditional acidic components paired with baking soda in homemade leavening. It is generally used in small amounts.

The powder has a sharp, acidic taste and a fine, slightly gritty texture before dissolving or dispersing. In a finished recipe its flavour is usually subtle, while its acidity can brighten sweetness or affect the structure of foams and baked mixtures.

Cream of tartar is usually sold as a fine white powder in a jar or other kitchen container. It can be whisked into egg whites, sifted with flour and other dry ingredients, or mixed with baking soda. Dissolving and cooking remove its powdery form as it becomes part of the finished preparation.

Ingredient type: powder

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Where cream of tartar appears

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Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for cream of tartar

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

Language

English

cream of tartar

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Cream of Tartar nutrition & diet

Cream of Tartar nutritional value

Cream of tartar, dry powder

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the stated food form.

Calories: 0.5kcal
Protein: 0.0g
Carbs: 0.0g
Fat: 0.0g

Reference values apply to the named food form, not every preparation, variety or brand. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand. AFCD Release 3, food F003250. Available carbohydrate excludes sugar alcohols; energy converted from kJ to kcal (÷4.184). Australian data may not be appropriate for use in other countries. There are limitations associated with food composition databases. Food composition data used in the database or databases may represent an average of the nutrient content of a particular sample of foods and ingredients, determined at a particular time. The nutrient composition of foods and ingredients can vary substantially between batches and brands because of a number of factors, including changes in season, processing practices and ingredient source, and methods of calculation. Data licensed under the FSANZ Data User Licence Agreement, based on CC BY-SA 3.0 AU: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science-data/monitoringnutrients/afcd/datauserlicenceagreement.

Portions & preparation

Use the reference for food-grade potassium bitartrate powder, measured as an ingredient rather than as a prepared baking mixture. It is commonly used in small recipe quantities to stabilize whipped egg whites or support leavening. Distinguish it from tartar sauce, cream powder, or other products with similar wording.

Compare the right form: Match food-grade potassium bitartrate powder itself, not tartar sauce, baking powder, or a blended leavening product containing additional ingredients.

Diet considerations

Cream of tartar is a processed mineral salt rather than a whole plant or animal food. Compatibility changes when it is part of baking powder, meringue, confectionery, or another recipe containing eggs, dairy, cereals, or animal-derived ingredients. Assess the finished preparation and portion, since the powder alone is not the complete food.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

Vegan
Not established
Vegetarian
Not established
Pescatarian
Not established
Keto
Not established
Paleo
Not established
Low-carb
Not established
Halal
Not established
Kosher
Not established

What these diet assessments mean

Vegan · Not established: The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established: The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established: The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established: A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established: The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established: A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established: Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established: Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3, 2025 — Cream of tartar, dry powder ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: 26 September 2026.