Tricks for knowing when a cheesecake is correctly done [duplicate]
I have just made a cheesecake, (not my first), but will admit that for me it is a bit of a guessing game to know when it is perfectly done. I know that the sign is when the middle still jiggles, but how big of a middle? Dime size, nickel size, quarter size, or salad plate size? Fortunately, luck was on my side and it turned out perfect, but not without worrying about its doneness! Other than the "jiggle", is there any concrete way of knowing when it is done? Is it possible to use a thermometer for the middle and what would the temperature be? Luckily, even if a cheesecake is under or over done, it's still delicious, but when serving it to company, it an added bonus if it turns out perfect! Any tips?
Best Answer
I use a therometer.
King Arthur flour suggests measuring 1 inch away from the edge of the cheesecake and looking for a temperature between 165F and 170F.
Americas Test Kitchen/Cooks Illustrated has recommended 165F in the center (checked in 20 minute intervals, provided that you're not close to 165F). However, I remember on the television show that they said 150F many years ago (their blog uses 150F in the center for some recipes too; others say 150F but don't say where to measure it).
I find that the King Arthur method comes out a little bit overdone, so I generally err a bit lower to 160F for 1 inch away from the edge of the cheesecake.
This is all assuming a 9 inch springform (certainly, this will make a difference for the edge based methods, not sure for the center based methods if you change the size of the pan); Your desired temperature will vary based on recipe, but I've tried this with a few recipes and had good results. I generally use recipes which have just cream cheese, eggs and sugar (and maybe a bit of flour) along with add-ins (pumpkin puree+spices for pumpkin cheesecake or lemon zest + berries for a berry cheesecake) for the filling (no sour cream or ricotta or other stuff). Some of the recipes I've tried don't use water baths, others do.
As for aesthetics, I always poke in the same place, and make sure when slicing that I cut through the hole. People don't notice -- they're too busy stuffing their face with cheesecake.
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How do you check the doneness of a cheesecake?
The secret to testing a cheesecake for doneness: Jiggle it. Define jiggle, you say. Gently shake the cheesecake (wearing oven mitts, of course). If the cheesecake looks nearly set and only a small circle in the center jiggles slightly, it's done.How do I know if my cheesecake is undercooked?
If the jiggly area is larger than 2 inches or the uncooked batter breaks the surface or spills over to the edges of the baking pan, it is undercooked and you need to put it back in the oven for a couple more minutes. If the cheesecake is completely firm and doesn't jiggle at all, it's probably overcooked.Is it possible to overbeat cheesecake?
When making your filling, overmixing can lead to incorporating too much air into the batter. Once baked, the air bubbles will burst, and the cheesecake will fall and crack.How long should you beat cream cheese for cheesecake?
Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. It will take about 5-7 minutes. Note: Keep the mixer on a low setting throughout the beating and mixing process; so that, the cream cheese will be smoother and fluffy.How to tell if cheesecake is cooked with Curtis Stone
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