L+Tartaric acid is commonly combined with baking soda to function as a leavening agent in recipes. It is added to other foods to give a sour taste, and is used as an antioxidant. Also used in the production of effervescent salts and in combination with citric acid to improve the taste of oral medications.

Tartaric acid also has several applications for industrial use for cleaning metal surfaces consisting of aluminum, copper, iron, and alloys of these metals.