An Undercooked Cheesecake – How To Know and Fix It

The best way to check for an undercooked cheesecake is to place an electronic thermometer in the middle of the cheesecake once it’s baked. If it is at 150 degrees Fahrenheit that means it’s finished. If it doesn’t, place it back into the oven to bake for 45 mins - 1 hour.

Who doesn’t love cheesecake? If it’s the traditional New York-style cheesecake or the delicious strawberry-filled one, there are not many who would say no to this tasty dessert.

Making your own cheesecake at home can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience but it can be complicated, especially when trying to figure out when the cheesecake is cooked.

A cheesecake that is not cooked properly is too liquid, will fall to the bottom, and will simply not maintain its shape.

To achieve the soft, smooth, and melting-in-your-mouth taste that cheesecakes are renowned for, it is necessary to learn a few techniques and the best cheese for your cheesecake.

The best part is that aside from easily testing the cake’s cooking time there are simple methods to correct it when it’s undercooked.

Learn information about the best methods to detect whether your cheesecake is cooked properly and easy fixes to make it firmer.

How To Know Its An Undercooked Cheesecake

As with any baked dessert, cheesecakes need to be cooked in a way that is perfect. This is a matter of the correct ingredients, the right measurements, and baking time, all of which are vital for the final product.

A cheesecake that has been cooked poorly is hard to serve, spongy as well as unappetizing when looking at, and, frankly, unpleasant to take a bite of.

Additionally, there is a very fine line between undercooking or overcooking the cheesecake and you must be able to distinguish a cheesecake that has been baked properly from one that is undercooked (or too cooked) one.

Sometimes when you are using an alternative cheese to cream cheese it can be harder to bake.

Here’s how to determine if your cheesecake has been undercooked:

1. Use A Thermometer

The temperature of the cheesecake with the instant thermometer is one of the simplest and most foolproof methods to know the temperature of your cheesecake if it is not cooked properly.

This article will give you step-by-step instructions on how you can use a thermometer to verify whether the cheesecake is cooked perfectly or not!

(Note: It’s helpful to obtain an instant-read thermometer for cooking to accomplish the task so that you don’t have to wait for a long time to find out the temperature.

This won’t just help you save time, but it will also stop the cheesecake from burning while baking.)

• Clean the thermometer thoroughly then calibrate the thermometer by measuring the temperatures of water that are boiling. The thermometer must be able to read 212 degF.
• Then, stick the thermometer about halfway into the middle of the cheesecake. Don’t pull it all the way down the bottom of the pan. Its edges will be more firm and warmer when cooked so you should take into consideration the temperatures of the center of the cake.
• It is important to look for a temperature in the range of 150degF in the middle of the center of the cake. When it is at the temperature you want, remove it out from the oven and allow it to cool completely on an air-cooling rack.
• If it’s not then put the cake back into the baking oven for a few minutes, and repeat the procedure until you’ve got the proper reading.
• The placement of a thermometer between the layers of cake can cause it to break and break, therefore, make sure to run this test just once. If you have to test the temperature once more, put your thermometer into the exact place the way it was before instead of making another one to prevent the risk of causing damage.

2. Jiggle, Jiggle, Jiggle!

If it is bouncing too much. It’s not ready. A perfectly cooked cheesecake has to be just the right amount of jiggle. here’s how to test it:

• Put on oven mitts, put your hands on the opposite side of the baking dish, then gently give the cheesecake a gentle shake. Be careful not to be too rough, or your cheesecake that is still wet could break. Be sure to avoid putting water into the pan, if you’re using a bath with water.
• After that, take a look to see how much the middle of the cake moves. If a tiny area about 2 inches across the middle, is slightly jiggled it means that the cheesecake has been cooked. Remove the oven from the oven and let the cake sit for a few hours.
• If the jiggly surface is greater than 2 inches or the cooked batter breaks through the surface or spills out to the edge of the baking dish, it is undercooked and you must place it back into the oven for an additional couple of minutes.
• If the cheesecake is solid and doesn’t move even a bit, it’s probably overcooked. Remove it from the oven prior to it beginning to crack.

3. Toothpick Test

A toothpick is an easy method to test the level of doneness of the cake, but it’s not the most precise.

This is why it is often regarded as an emergency solution for those who don’t have a thermometer to cook with. But, seriously jump onto Amazon and buy one for a couple of bucks!

Like a thermometer for cooking as well, a toothpick can also be placed in the middle of the cheesecake. The difference is that instead of having to rely on a specific read, you have to be relying on your observation and assessment abilities.

Here are step-by-step directions on how to use a toothpick to verify if your cheesecake is undercooked:

• Put a clean toothpick into the center of the cheesecake. In the event that your toothpick happens to be a tiny one, you can put on the top of the cake. If it’s long, you should poke it about halfway. Take it out within a couple of minutes.
• Examine the toothpick to check whether there is any remaining cake batter. If there is liquid drippy on it, or feels a bit wet, it’s an indication that the cake is being undercooked.
• When the toothpick appears dry and is clear then the cheesecake has been made.
• When the cheesecake appears to be undercooked then bake it for about a couple of minutes and then give it another go. To prevent the cheesecake from getting damaged be sure to make the same hole you would for the thermometer.

4. Test of Pressure Test

This is a straightforward test that does not require any tools and can be done with your fingertips. Although it’s a very easy test, however, this test demands you be cautious, as you may end up damaging or breaking the cheesecake’s surface.

These are step-by-step directions for performing the test of pressure on cheesecakes:

• Since the test requires your fingers without gloves, make sure they are free of dirt prior to getting into the cake. Clean them using detergent and water, then clean them thoroughly.
• Then, use one or two fingers to gently rub the cheesecake’s middle to test the degree of doneness. Don’t press too hard.
• If the middle of the cheesecake seems solid with a bit of flex, it is cooked perfectly.
• If your finger sinks to the center of the cake and emerges with a little bit of cake over it your cake maybe isn’t cooked enough and will require a longer baking time.
• Put it back in the oven to bake for an additional five minutes before checking it again with the same method.

5. Browning Edges

This is the last method you can tell if the cheesecake you bought is cooked to perfection or not just by taking a look. Here’s how:

• The edges get cooked prior to the middle of the cake. That is the reason when a 1/2-inch circle around the edges begins becoming golden-brown and puffy, be assured that your cheesecake has been baked to perfection and waiting to be served.
• In contrast, the center must remain light and slightly flabby. If it’s hard and begins to show a bit of hue, that means it has been cooked too long.
• On the contrary, if the edges appear to be pale while the center remains in a liquid state that it is undercooked and requires a longer baking time.

Another method to tell whether the cheesecake is cooked is to check the shine of the surface. The cheesecake that has been cooked is likely to have an attractive surface, while the one that is cooked to perfection is not as shiny.

So, ensure you’ve made sure that your cake including its edges and the middle, is no longer shiny prior to taking it out of the oven and placing it on the cooling rack.

How To Fix An Undercooked Cheesecake

Finding the perfect cheesecake perfect can be difficult and could take a few attempts to make it perfect. The good thing is that even if it does end in a dish that’s not cooked properly it is possible to remedy it:

1. Let It Rest

Sometimes, all that is needed is time and some rest. Contrary to most baked desserts that can be ready for serving within a few minutes of taking them from the oven, cheesecakes take some time to set and also have an extended cooling time.

The most effective way to cool down a cheesecake is to put it in the fridge for a few hours, but preferably overnight prior to being cut into pieces and served.

As it cools it gets firmer at the center without assistance. Sometimes, this is all it takes to repair a sloppy cheesecake.

2. Water Bath

The water bath is a typical method of baking that is used for ensuring that the cake is cooked evenly and that no cracks develop on the baking surface.

If you’re looking for the perfect cheesecake, with the right texture, we suggest you make use of an immersion bath. The first step is to cover your baking pan with aluminum foil and then place it inside larger pans filled that are filled with warm water.

Make sure you don’t overfill it with water. Typically, 1 inch of hot water will be enough.

This innovative method is employed not only to make the most creamy cheesecakes but as a way to repair undercooked ones.

But, be aware that even though this method has proven successful in some instances, however, it is not advised to bake the cheesecake over again since the odds of it being damaged are extremely high.

If, after putting it in the refrigerator overnight, you discover that it’s not been set, remove it and let it cool to the temperature of the room. Make your water bath and place the cake into it.

The oven should be turned on and adjusted to a low to moderate temperature, as you don’t want to cook the cake too much and cause cracks on the edges.

To get the best outcomes, use an instant thermometer for cooking. It will check the middle in the center of the cheesecake. Once it has reached 150°F and it’s perfectly cooked and ready to serve.

3. The Slow Cooker

If you don’t want to bathe it in water then you can bake the cake back to bake, but you’ll need to be careful not to overcook it.

To cook it, turn on the oven to a lower temperature and let the cheesecake slowly cook until it reaches the correct temp (150degF).

The process shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes however, to be extra vigilant be sure to examine it every five minutes.

Don’t just wait for the cake’s center to fully solidify or to turn brown because these are signs of the cheesecake being cooked too long.

4. Frozen Dessert

Sometimes, to avoid ruining the cake it is best to admit your error and find alternative methods to make use of the uncooked dessert.

Another option is to transform the cheesecake into an ice-cream dessert. Simply place your cheesecake in the freezer and let it sit for a few hours and you’ll be able to enjoy an excellent fresh cheesecake.

It is possible to let your imagination be at play with this one and transform it into a delicious dessert that will be enjoyed by yourself and your guests. You can also add toppings or fruit and even make it into chocolate!

FAQs

What’s The Difference In Baked and Non-Baked Cheesecake?

The primary distinction between them is that, in essence, one is baked in the oven, while the other is left to set in the refrigerator. We have written a longer guide on the difference.

In addition, a baked cheesecake contains eggs as ingredients in the cake batter as well as baking in the oven prior to being transferred into the refrigerator to set.

A no-bake cheesecake however is based on ingredients like gelatin to create a shape and is stored in the fridge for cooling and for the cake to solidify.

There’s a distinct texture between the two and the baked version with a smoother and creamier texture, which is hard to achieve using the no-bake method.

How Long Will Cheesecake Last In The Refrigerator?

It is possible to store your cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to five days. It should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly inside the plastic wrap.

To ensure the best outcome and best results, keep the frozen cheesecake until the evening before you want to serve it or eat it for dinner. Place it in the refrigerator to let it thaw overnight, so your cheesecake has perfect taste and texture.

How Long Will Cheesecake Last Out Of The Refrigerator?

The maximum amount of time cheesecakes can last without refrigerating is two hours.

The components in cheesecakes including milk and eggs contain high levels of water and protein content. These can be left in a room at room temperature, creating ideal conditions for bacteria to grow.

So, it is best to store your cheesecakes in the fridge when it’s enough cool to chill after baking or after everyone has had slices to enjoy.

If you happen to place it in the refrigerator for more than the suggested amount of period, it could be better to throw it away and begin from scratch.

If you’re seeking a visual aid on how you can bake your cheesecake yourself, take a look at this video by the people at Tasty!