Cream of tartar vs Lemon juice

A side-by-side guide to substituting Lemon juice for Cream of tartar (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 2 tsp of Lemon juice for every 1 tsp of Cream of tartar.

Side-by-side

Cream of tartar

Base unit: tsp

Read the full guide: Cream of tartar

Lemon juice

Conversion: Use 2× as much (2 tsp per 1 tsp)

Tags: vegandairy-free

Notes: Use 2 tsp lemon juice per 1 tsp cream of tartar when stabilizing egg whites. Works in meringues and whipped cream but adds slight tartness.

Read the full guide: Lemon juice

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When to use Lemon juice instead of Cream of tartar

Use 2 tsp lemon juice per 1 tsp cream of tartar when stabilizing egg whites. Works in meringues and whipped cream but adds slight tartness. The conversion is use 2× as much (2 tsp per 1 tsp).

Common questions

Can I substitute Lemon juice for Cream of tartar?

Yes — Use 2 tsp lemon juice per 1 tsp cream of tartar when stabilizing egg whites. Works in meringues and whipped cream but adds slight tartness. Ratio: Use 2× as much (2 tsp per 1 tsp).

What's the conversion ratio for Cream of tartar to Lemon juice?

Use 2× as much (2 tsp per 1 tsp). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Cream of tartar and Lemon juice interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Use 2 tsp lemon juice per 1 tsp cream of tartar when stabilizing egg whites..

Is Lemon juice a better substitute than other options for Cream of tartar?

Lemon juice is one of the options SubSwap lists for Cream of tartar. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Cream of tartar substitutes.

Looking for more Cream of tartar substitutes beyond Lemon juice?

See all Cream of tartar swaps →