cream of tartar
Additives & Leavening
Is cream of tartar high in nitrites?
Find out whether cream of tartar is high or low in nitrites, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why nitrites food checker matters
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
- Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- Fresh meat is nitrite-free
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for cream of tartar
Cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate, the crystal that precipitates out of wine barrels and gets purified into a white powder. It is one of the cleanest ingredients in a baking cupboard on every trigger we track: no gluten, no lactose or dairy protein despite the name, no FODMAPs, no histamine, no salicylates, no sulfites, no nickel. The one number that is genuinely worth knowing is potassium. At roughly 20 percent potassium by weight it delivers about 495 mg per teaspoon, more than a banana, from a spoon of white powder that reads as inert.
Watch for
Extremely potassium dense: around 495 mg in a level teaspoon. Irrelevant when a quarter teaspoon is split across twenty-four cookies, and not irrelevant at all if you are on a potassium-restricted renal diet, a potassium-sparing diuretic or an ACE inhibitor / There are published cases of life-threatening hyperkalemia after people deliberately swallowed large quantities as a home cleanse, presenting with vomiting and peaked T waves on ECG. Baking amounts are not the issue, spoonfuls-in-water internet remedies are / It comes from winemaking but rates clean on sulfites: the finished powder is purified potassium bitartrate, not wine, so a sulfite or wine reaction should not carry across / Rated only neutral on the anti-inflammatory axis, which is a refined-additive note rather than a sensitivity trigger. It is not doing you any good, it is just not doing anything
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Nitrites Guide
Everything you need to know about nitrites sensitivity and smart food choices.
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Nitrites sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in nitrites and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Nitrites, consider these strategies:
- 1Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- 2Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- 3Fresh meat is nitrite-free
- 4Bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats are common sources
- 5Vegetables like celery and beets contain natural nitrates
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is cream of tartar high in Nitrites?
Nitrites: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat cream of tartar if I'm sensitive to Nitrites?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Inflammation, Histamine, and Histamine Liberators next for a fuller picture.