What Does Grape Juice and Cream of Tartar Have In Common?

Have you ever wondered what the beautiful crystal that forms in the bottom of
homemade grape juice is?

Potassium bitartrate, also known as potassium hydrogen tartrate, has formula KC₄H₅O₆. It is a byproduct of winemaking. In cooking it is known as cream of tartar. It is the potassium acid salt of tartaric acid.

In food

In food, potassium bitartrate is used for:

• Stabilizing egg whites, increasing their heat tolerance and volume;
• Preventing sugar syrups from crystallising;
• Reducing discolouration of boiled vegetables;
• Frequent combination with baking soda (which needs an acid ingredient to activate it) in formulations of baking powder.
• Commonly used in combination with potassium chloride in sodium-free salt substitutes

A similar acid salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate, is confused with cream of tartar due to their similar function in baking powder.

[edit]Household use

Can be used with white vinegar to make a paste-like cleaning agent. It is a common ingredient in Playdoh and gingerbread house icing.

(This concoction is sometimes mistakenly made with vinegar and sodium bicarbonate, which actually react to neutralise each other, creating carbon dioxide and salty water, plus any excess amount of either substance.)

You Can Read All About it HERE

Here's a RECIPE using Cream of Tartar:

Baking Powder Biscuits:

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

4 teasp. baking pwd.

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 Tbl. sugar

1/2 cup shortening

2/3 cup milk (buttermilk is divine, water also works for dairy free)

Sift the dry ing together in a large bowl.

Mix shortening in with fingers until well blended into coarse crumbs.

Add the milk.

Stir until the dough just comes together. DO NOT BEAT! Be GENTLE.

Turn onto a lightly floured board. Gently knead a little turning dough over.

Roll out 1/2 inch thick.

Cut with biscuit cutters, cookie cutters, lids, whatever.

Bake on parchment paper or ungreased cookie sheet.

Oven 450

10-15 min

These Biscuits are DIVINE! So soft and delectable.

Now don't you feel smarter?