How to Identify a Qualified Cheesecake

Cheesecake, whether made in New York or Italian style, is a soft and delicious dessert. Since this cake has milk or cream with soft cheese, it can be difficult to tell when the cake is baked properly. However, there are a few ways you can determine if a cheesecake is done, such as checking the temperature, gently shaking the mold, and touching the top of the cake.

Table of Contents

Check temperature

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Buy a kitchen thermometer for quick results. You probably don’t want to wait a few minutes for the thermometer to determine the temperature; So, choose to buy a kitchen thermometer for fast results. Besides, do not forget to clean the thermometer after use. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You should calibrate your thermometer from time to time to ensure accurate readings are always obtained. To do this, simply pour water into a small pot and bring to a boil. Next, use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water – it should be 100°C. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Tighten the hex bolt below the analog thermometer to calibrate if the thermometer gives inaccurate readings. Refer to the manual to calibrate the electronic thermometer. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Check the temperature at the center of the cake. The edge of the cake is usually warmer than the center of the cake; To know if the cake is done, you need to check the temperature in the center of the cake. However, don’t push the thermometer all the way down to the bottom of the pan, simply place the thermometer halfway through the center of the cake. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Note, placing a thermometer can leave an opening on the cake; so you should try to check the temperature once instead of many times. If you have to check more than once, put the thermometer in the previously set position to avoid creating more holes in the cake. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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See if the thermometer shows 66°C. When the center of the cheesecake reaches 66°C, baking is complete! Take the cake out of the oven and place it on the griddle until it cools. If the cake is still not up to standard, bake the cake for another 5 minutes, then check again. Repeat the operation until the cake has a temperature of 66°C. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Shake the cake

Gently shake the cheesecake mold. While the cheesecake is still in the oven, simply put on kitchen gloves to gently shake the mold. Do not be too harsh with the cake is still hot or the cake will crack. Gently shake the cake mold. Avoid letting water get into the pan if you’re baking the cheesecake with a tray of water underneath. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Check the wobble in the center of the wheel. When you shake the mold and only see an area of about 5cm in the center of the cake, it means that the cheesecake is done. If you see a wide wobble area, or if liquid cracks the top of the cake or spills from the edge of the pan, the cake is still undercooked. Bake the cheesecake for about 5 more minutes and then check again. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Cakes made with sour cream shake more than cakes with cream cheese. If you make a cheesecake with sour cream, it will wobble more than a cake made with cream cheese or ricotta. Usually the cake will have a large soft area in the middle; Therefore, you need to note that the bulging edge is light brown to identify the cheesecake has been baked. In addition, you should also note that the middle will ripen and become firmer as the cheesecake cools. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you continue to bake the cheesecake until the center is firm and no longer wobbly, the cake will overcook.

Touch the surface of the cake

Wash and dry your hands. Before touching cheesecake, you need to wash your hands with warm water and soap. Remember to wash off the soap and dry your hands thoroughly.

Touch the center of the cake with one finger. Gently tap the center of the cheesecake with 1 or 2 fingers. Don’t press hard! You’ll check for doneness in the middle of the cake instead of near the edge. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Check if the surface of the cake is hard or not, If the cheesecake surface is slightly sticky but feels hard, the cake is standard. If your fingers are submerged in the cake or covered in cream, you need to bake the cake for a while. Bake the cake for about 5 more minutes before checking again. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Watch the cake

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Check to see if the edge of the cake is slightly puffed and browned. You can tell the cheesecake is done when you see the 1cm edge of the cake turn brown and slightly puffy. The cream part of the cake has not yet turned brown. At this point, you should not continue to bake the cake to avoid overheating. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Notice the firmness around the edge of the cream. If this edge remains loose instead of becoming thick and hard, the cheesecake is still undercooked. When the cheesecake is fully baked, only 5cm in the center of the cake is still wobbling instead of hard. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Remove the cake when the surface is no longer shiny. When you see that the cheesecake is no longer shiny, it means the cake is done! Make sure the entire cake, including the middle, has lost its shine before you take it out of the oven. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Some bakers like to let the cheesecake cool in the oven. Turn off the heat and leave the cake in the oven with the door open about 2.5cm for 1 hour. Next, you will remove the tray from the oven, remove the base pan from the water (if applicable), and let the cheesecake cool completely before removing the removable base pan. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Advice

Avoid opening the oven door while baking the cheesecake. This may lower the oven temperature and the cake will not bake evenly. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Warning

Do not test cheesecake for doneness using a toothpick or knife. This will not give you an accurate assessment and can also leave a gap in the cake. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Steps