10 Simple Ways to Make Your Cheesecake Perfect Every Time

It’s no wonder that preparing cheesecakes may be daunting. Discover ways to make it easier.

The thought of your cake denting in the centre, cracking, or having a leaking pan might make you want to never cook another cheesecake again, but we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to!

After you’ve mastered the skill of creating homemade cheesecakes, you’ll realize it wasn’t such a huge issue after all, just a bit time-consuming. We’ve compiled a list of 10 simple tips and strategies to help you produce excellent cheesecake every time.

The secret is to be patient and confident enough to bake. That being stated, let’s get right into the useful hints and suggestions, shall we?

1. Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese

Making sure your cream cheese is at room temperature is a great way to ensure that your cheesecake turns out perfectly.

If you’ve been experiencing issues with a lumpy cake or difficulty mixing the ingredients, it’s because your cream cheese was too stiff.

When you’re pressed for time, take the cheese out of the foil and chop it into smaller pieces. Heat them for approximately 10-15 seconds at a time until done.

When purchasing cream cheese, it is recommended to choose full fat varieties. The higher the fat content, the creamier your cheesecake will be, and it will also assist to give your cheesecake the correct texture.

Here are some healthy cream cheese substitutions you may try!

2. A Little Cornstarch or Flour Goes a Long Way!

While creating a cheesecake, a little amount of flour or cornstarch may make a big impact. The starch will assist to keep the proteins in the eggs from becoming too firm. As a result, your cheesecake will have a creamier texture and will be free of cracks.

Similarly, if you’re seeking for a gluten-free substitute, cornstarch may help! Just remember to use half the amount of flour and you’ll be fine.

After you’ve tried this trick, you’ll never make a cheesecake again without it. This little change may make a big impact, because who doesn’t want their cheesecake to be creamy and devoid of cracks?

3. For Taste, Add Some Sour Cream

This does not guarantee that your cheesecakes will be excellent, but we feel that adding a tangy flavor to the creamy texture of a cheesecake enhances the taste.

If you don’t want to use sour cream, you may simply substitute Greek yogurt. The only difference will be in the taste. If you haven’t tried this tip before, now is the time to do so and experience how it tastes.

4. Avoid Over-Mixing and High-Speed Mixing

High-speed mixing or over-mixing your batter will just add air to it, which is not what we want when preparing a cheesecake. Too much air in the mixture may generate fractures in your cake that resemble craters on the surface of Mars or the moon.

Why It Doesn’t Work

For example, large air bubbles may rise to the surface of the cake, causing fractures or small craters. Since air causes the cake to rise, having a cheesecake that rises excessively is not a good idea.

It rises too rapidly or too much, causing cracks and falling directly in front of your eyes. Thus, while you’re adding eggs, don’t forget to mix in the components on low speed.

Another reason why your cream cheese should be soft and at room temperature is to ensure that it is soft and pleasant. Stiff cream cheese will simply need you to mix more until the lumps are removed, which is time-consuming!

5. The Inevitable Use of Water Bath

This is something that many of us would want to avoid at all costs, yet it is an important suggestion. We advise you to overcome your worries and embrace the notion of baking a cheesecake in a water bath!

There are several advantages to utilizing a water bath, and you’ll understand why after you’ve tried it. To begin, the water bath will aid in the generation of steam, which will prevent your cheesecake from cracking and drying out.

Second, it prevents the edges of your cheesecake from baking faster than the center. The water bath aids in the uniform baking of the cheesecakes and prevents craters from forming.

If you decide without using a water bath, expect a cheesecake that has dents in the centre, has browned too much around the edges, and has cracked.

6. Making Your Water Bath Leak Proof

It’s not a nice feeling to find a soggy crust cheesecake after putting in so much work to make it. Springform pans are very handy, but they might be untrustworthy when it comes to baking cheesecakes.

Sadly, each springform pan is unique, and many of them leak.

How to Make Your Pan Leak Proof

Hopefully, your pan will not leak. Here are a few tips to help avoid the leak and guarantee a successful cheesecake-making experience every time:

First, make sure you have a well-fitting springform pan. Next, double (or treble if you choose) cover the cheesecake pan in heavy-duty foil. You may wrap more and go higher than 2 inches if you like.

If you don’t have any foil on hand, use a heat-safe slow cooker liner to prevent any water leaks. After the cake is safely within the liner, pull and knot the excess plastic snugly beneath the top lip of your springform pan.

7. Invest In a Reliable Springform Pan

Well, we know we chewed our springform pans in the last tip, but the detachable sides of the pan are still necessary for baking cheesecakes. It is essential in making your cake seem flawless when you have finished baking it.

If you’ve made cheesecakes before, you already know how important these pans are. All you have to do is experiment until you discover one that works just for you.

8. Absolutely NO Peeking!

There will be no peeping. As you open the oven door to check on the cheesecake, all the nice steamy air will escape. Because of the quick temperature shift, your cake may bake unevenly or fall in the center.

Overbaking a cheesecake, like overbaking a custard pie, may cause it to fracture in sections. Check to see whether the borders and the interior few inches of your cake are well set or not to determine if it has cooked to perfection. Don’t be concerned if your insides feel jiggly; this is a healthy indication!

9. Let Your Masterpiece Cool Naturally

After you’ve determined that your cheesecake is done, it’s time to begin the chilling process.

Everyone has their own way for cooling cakes, but to ensure a flawless cheesecake, leave the cake in the oven with the door closed for around half an hour.

After 30 minutes, open the oven door halfway and allow the cake to cool further. This handy tip allows the cake to cool slowly, finish baking to perfection, and avoid cracking.

To prevent adhering to the sides, run a knife along the edges before placing it in the fridge. You may also just shake the cake from side to side to release the borders.

10. Embrace the Cracks, Let Go of the Stress!

Lastly, if you follow all of the suggestions and still wind up with cracks in your cheesecake, don’t worry! In the end, what counts is the flavor. Just top it with some delicious chocolate ganache, fresh fruits, jams, or plain old-fashioned whipped cream.

Similarly, if you’re creating cheesecakes for a party, we recommend baking them ahead of time and storing them in the fridge. By putting your cake on a baking sheet, you may keep it for up to three days or even longer.

They will freeze until hard. Then cover them in heavy-duty plastic wrap and place them in the fridge to defrost. That’s all! Your cake will remain fresh and undamaged regardless of when your gathering occurs. So don’t worry about it too much; you’ve already nailed it.

Final Thoughts

Finally, we’d like to emphasize that we hope our recommendations help you not only prepare your cheesecake but also make it flawless every time. Cheesecakes may seem to be time-consuming, but they are delicious and well worth the effort.

We hope you can prepare the tastiest cheesecakes and wow your friends and family. Please remember to share the love with your other baking mates. So, get out there and start thinking about utilizing water baths!