Only a few desserts can compare to creamy cheesecakes, especially with the way they melt on the tongue after dinner. The tricky bit of business here baking the cake by yourself. You now have to worry about how to tell if cheesecake is done, a task many novices fail at.
If you have been baking for a while, you will agree that precision is very important. Knowing when your cheesecake is tricky but possible and very important.
You don’t want your cheesecake to be undercooked or too soft. This post will show you how to tell if cheesecake is done and common mistakes when baking cheesecakes.
What color should cheesecake be when done?
Cheesecakes are delicious but figuring out if they are done can be a problem. For example, many people want to know what color cheesecake should be when it is done.
Your cheesecake should change color once it gets done. This is a professional method of checking if your cheesecake is done or not.
Usually, the color at the top of the cake should be pale ivory. If it doesn’t have this color, then your cheesecake might be overcooked. For best results, your cheesecake should have a pale ivory top. Also, the outer part of your cheesecake should not be glossy or sticky.
Asides from the color of the cheesecake, there are other ways to tell if your cheesecake is done. We will outline some of them below:
Jiggle test
The most popular way to tell if a cheesecake is done is the jiggle test. While you can carry out this test in several ways, the idea centers on your cheesecake jiggling in the middle.
Open your oven door and tap the pan gently with a spoon to see if the cheesecake jiggles or wobbles. If it jiggles slightly, then the cake is ready. However, if it shakes considerably, leave it to bake some more.
Toothpick test
Another simple evaluation test that helps you to know if your cheesecake is done is the toothpick test. Get a toothpick and stick it into your cheesecake, wait some seconds, then pull it out.
If it drips liquid, then the cake is undercooked. On the other hand, if it is too dry, then your cheesecake might be overcooked. The toothpick should be moist but come out clean when your cheesecake is ready.
Finger test
Clean your hands properly and place a finger on your cake at the center. Press carefully to see if it is done or not. The cheesecake should be firm to touch if your cake is done.
However, your finger will likely sink in or come up with some residue if the cake is undercooked. In this case, put it back in the oven and let it stay a few minutes more.
Temperature test
This test is the easiest for beginners and it is one of the most accurate on this list. Your eyes might not observe the color or the cake properly or you may not know the difference between jiggle and wiggle. However, all you need for this test is a good thermometer and you will get accurate results.
Stick your thermometer into the center of your cheesecake then pull it out after some seconds. If the temperature is between 150F and 155F, your cheesecake is done. There’s just one problem with this method, it leaves your cake with a hole at the center.
Can you overcook cheesecake?
By now, you know how to tell if cheesecake is done. Well done, but that’s not all. One question that is very common among novices in cheesecake baking is, “Can I overcook cheesecake?”
The answer to this question is pretty simple and we have stated it over and over in this post, “Yes, you can.” Overcooking your cheesecake makes it crumbly and dry as well as gives it unattractive cracks all over. The truth is that firmness is not a sign that your cheesecake is done, it shows overcooking.
Cheesecake falls under the class of custard cakes and these cakes are still jiggly when they are done. Do you now see why there is a jiggle test to know how to tell if cheesecake is done? One common mistake that novices make is that they leave the cheesecake to be firm before removing it from the oven. Let’s look at a few other common mistakes below:
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Crust mistakes
There are different kinds of mistakes that you can make with your cheesecake’s crust. One of them is adding the batter first instead of pre-baking the crust.
Your crust should spend between eight and ten minutes in the oven before you add the batter to seal and set it. Also, ensure that you don’t add the batter until the crust is completely cooled.
Another common crust mistake is not allowing the crust to come up the side of the baking pan. The crust should go all the way to cover the seam of your pan to prevent leaking. It also ensures that each slice of your cheesecake has some crust on it.
Using cold ingredients
Never use cold ingredients to make cheesecake, never! Using cold ingredients means that you will be mixing for longer than you should. The result of this is whipping more air into the batter making the cake rise excessively. When your cake rises in this manner, the middle sinks massively once it cools.
Always use ingredients at room temperature and add them based on the order in the recipe. Your cheesecake could bake poorly if you add the ingredients wrongly or at once.
Avoid going low-fat
Going low-fat on everything is a huge temptation these days. But should you go low-fat on the cream for your cheesecake? Absolutely not. Always go for full fat as it helps your cheesecake and gives it that signature creamy texture.
How to tell if Cheesecake is Done-Conclusion
That’s it for how to tell if cheesecake is done. This post went on to explain some common ways to check for cheesecake doneness. It also showed some common mistakes that may affect the quality of your cheesecake. If you have any issues, you can reach out in the comments section and we will send help.