The Secret Trick to Make Your Tomatoes Taste So Much Better (2024)

For those of us who think we know what cream of tartar is, we may be calling to mind the jar that sits in the back of grandma's spice cabinet. We may have seen her use it once or twice when making pies, or cake, but other than that, it just collects dust. This powdery substance looks like baking powder and nothing like cream. Wherever the name comes from, it definitely sounds better than its scientific name, "potassium hydrogen tartrate."

This cooking ingredient has more use than providing aid in forming and stabilizing foam in baking. It seems it has another use in the kitchen. Imagine putting this on tomatoes. You may be scratching your head, thinking "This is preposterous!" Before you question this application, let us explain.

What Exactly Is Cream of Tartar?

Well before grandma started using this, let's go all the way back to the 19th century. According to McGill University, the godfather of food science, Louis Pasteur, worked with the substance in studying the structures of molecules. Through his interest in winemaking (yes, cream of tartar is a byproduct of winemaking), he discovered this mild acid's many properties. We won't go deep into the science, but we sure are glad this substance is readily available and cheap because of a research lab.

Seasoning Tomatoes With Cream of Tartar

Well, if you really want to amp up the taste of your tomatoes, cream of tartar is your answer. Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic. Just imagine a tomato bruschetta with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on top. Yummy! Tomatoes may seem flavorless at times (especially when they're snagged out of season from the grocery store), but actually, with the right preparation, they can exude immense umami flavor. Just think of sun-dried tomatoes, or cooking tomatoes in olive oil. Certain cooking methods enhance tomatoes' acidity and flavor.

However, some additions have flavor profiles of their own and can mask the flavor of the tomatoes too much. Cream of tartar can do the job without masking the natural goodness. You can still enjoy the wonderful summer tomato flavor with cream of tartar.

The best way to prepare your tomatoes is to dice them, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle about a teaspoon of cream of tartar. Toss the tomatoes so everything is well mixed, and serve!