How to correctly use baking soda at home to preserve its qualities for as long as possible
Professional chefs know that tartar sauce and cream of tartar have nothing to do with each other except for their similar names. Cream of tartar is a white powdery substance that does not resemble a spicy seasoning. So why do you need it?
The Daily Mail writes about this product: "Obtained as a by-product of the winemaking process, potassium bitartrate or potassic acid tartrate, colloquially known as tartar, is a powdery white substance used to stabilize egg whites. It is also a real lifesaver when preparing such delicate products as macaron shells, Angel Food cake, or meringues.
We would like to add that tartar also stabilizes whipped cream well and makes cookies more crumbly. In addition to these useful culinary qualities, it is also an excellent cleaning agent.
In general, cream of tartar is a very popular ingredient in baking and in everyday life, so it is important to know how to store and use it properly so that it retains its qualities for as long as possible.
Doesn't Cream Of Tartar have an expiration date?
It may seem that cream of tartar (like baking soda) never spoils and has no specific expiration date. In fact, this useful ingredient for baking does not last forever and begins to lose its qualities as soon as you open the package. Of course, this happens slowly, but...
It should be noted that on average, tartar retains its properties for four years after the date of manufacture, but this period can be reduced by moisture and heat.
What is a tartar stone afraid of?
Crème tartare is usually sold in various types of containers - plastic, cans, paper, and cardboard. Ideally, after purchase, it should be transferred to an airtight container to minimize moisture ingress.
For the same reason, it is not recommended to store it in cabinets above a stove or other heat-generating appliances or in places exposed to direct sunlight.
It also should not be kept in the refrigerator, as cold condensation creates unwanted humidity, not to mention the fact that the tartar stone absorbs all the odors of foods nearby.
How to tell if the tartare cream has gone bad
In fact, it is more appropriate to talk about a loss of quality and efficiency than about product spoilage as such. In this case, you will see that it begins to stick together. And if these are not small lumps from exposure to moisture but large lumps with a yellowish tint, this is a sure sign that the tartar has expired and needs to be replaced.
Given that cream of tartar can be used for another 6 months after the expiration date, you may wonder how effective it is.
You can check this by adding a little baking soda to half a teaspoon of tartar in a small cup of warm water.
If the mixture begins to bubble, then the substance is still usable. If there is no chemical reaction, you can safely throw away this tartar and buy a fresh one.
