Bake cheesecake carefully to know when it is set.
A cracked cheesecake is the bane of many bakers. Because it can be difficult to determine when a cheesecake finishes baking, often bakers overcook a cheesecake to the point of large and unattractive cracks running through the top of the cheesecake. The secret to preventing cracks in cheesecake is in not baking it too long. Know that your cheesecake has set with careful watching at the end of the baking period.
Instructions
1. Monitor the baking process carefully while the cheesecake is in the oven by watching through the oven window if possible. Opening the oven door during the first 30 minutes of baking will create drafts that may make your cheesecake crack.
2. Open the oven door carefully when approximately 15 minutes of baking time remains. Shake the cheesecake pan gently and watch the center of the cheesecake. The center should be mostly firm but when you move the cake you should see slight movement, suggesting the cheesecake is not completely set in the center.
3. Remove the cheesecake from the oven when it is predominantly firm in the center but moves slightly when you shake the cake pan. The cheesecake center will firm during the cooling process and it will be set completely by the time you cut it.
Tags: cheesecake center, minutes baking, oven door, your cheesecake
