Who is not a cheesecake lover? Cheesecake is a well-liked treat that has won over dessert connoisseurs all over the world.
If the cheesecake you baked at home is undercooked, what should you do? But occasionally, a culinary disaster can happen to even the most seasoned bakers, leading to an undercooked cheesecake.
Just picture your despair as you cut into a seemingly flawless dessert to find a mushy, unset core. But do not worry! I know how to bring it back to life and turn it into an exquisite beauty because I’ve been there.
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What Does Undercooked Cheesecake Look Like?
There are a few visual cues that an undercooked cheesecake has been baked too briefly. Its surface appears glossy or moist at first impression. It has a softer or lighter tone throughout and hasn’t yet developed into a golden-brown color on top.
Its center may seem mushy, runny, or have a noticeable wobble when you cut into it. It lacks the correct rise and firm, set consistency that are usually associated with cheesecake that is prepared to perfection. The sticky texture of the cake remnants sticks to my finger as I gently push it on my defective cake.
How to Know If Your Cheesecake is Undercooked
Cheesecakes must be prepared to perfection, just like any other baked treat. The best outcome depends on using the right ingredients, measuring them correctly. And baking them for the appropriate amount of time.
Observe these signs to determine if the cheesecake was overdone:
1. Use A Thermometer
One of the simplest and most reliable ways to determine whether your cheesecake is cooked through is to take its temperature using an instant thermometer.
After giving the thermometer a thorough cleaning, calibrate it by taking readings from boiling water. 212 degrees Fahrenheit must be read on the thermometer.
Next, insert the thermometer, not the edge, about halfway into the cheesecake. In the middle of the desert, look for a temperature that is between 150 and 160 degrees. Fahrenheit. Once the cheesecake reaches the desired temperature, take it out of the oven and let it cool fully on an air-cooling rack.
Should the cake not be cooked, return it to the oven for a few more minutes and continue the process until the desired reading is obtained.
2. Toothpick Test
Although it’s not the most accurate way, using a toothpick to test the cake’s doneness is simple.
Insert a spotless toothpick into the cheesecake’s middle. If you have a little toothpick, you can use it to decorate the top of the cake. You should poke it approximately halfway if it’s lengthy.
Take a look at the toothpick to see if any cake batter is left. Should it exist, it suggests that the cake is being undercooked.
Cheesecake is done when a toothpick inserted into it comes out clean and dry. If the cheesecake seems underdone, bake it for a few more minutes and then try it again.
3. Pressure Test
This is a very simple test that you may complete with your fingertips and no instruments. Even though this test is fairly simple, you should use caution because you could shatter or damage the cheesecake’s surface.
To check the cheesecake’s doneness, lightly indent the center with one or both fingertips. Don’t press too much force.
The cheesecake is cooked through when the center still has some give to it. Your cake is most likely undercooked if your finger goes all the way to the bottom and comes out with some cake on top.
Check it once more using the same technique after putting it back in the oven to bake for five more minutes.
4. Browned Edges
This is your final option for determining whether the cheesecake is perfectly baked without having to take a closer look. Here’s how to do it:
The edges bake before the center of the cake does. Your cheesecake is cooked through and ready to cool and serve when a 1/2-inch circle around the sides begins to get puffy and golden brown.
On the other hand, the center ought to stay airy and a little bit buoyant. It has been cooked for too long if it is tough and starts to take on color. It is undercooked and needs more baking time if the borders seem pale and the middle is still liquid.
Tips For Fixing An Undercooked Cheesecake
Add a few extra steps to help set up your cheesecake if it still doesn’t cook through after you’ve given it more time to bake.
1. Allow It To Sit
Since creating cheesecake involves steps, it’s understandable that the majority of people would prefer to purchase a large slice from The Cheesecake Factory than attempt to make their own!
Letting the cheesecake cool is one step in the cooking process. Cheesecake might become firmer in the center and easier to cut into slices thanks to this step in the recipe.
You should refrigerate your jiggly undercooked cheesecake for at least five hours, but ideally overnight!
2. Recook The Cheesecake
This advice is debatable because it is not a guarantee. But when followed correctly, it may produce better results than consuming an undercooked cheesecake.
You can reheat your cheesecake in the oven on low heat if it has already been cooked and cooled. The greatest setting to avoid burning or scorching the cake’s edges is low heat.
You may either reheat your cheesecake on the rack in the oven or submerge it in a water bath. Continue cooking on low for five minutes at a time in the oven.
Take the cheesecake out of the oven right away if the center starts to brown. The cheesecake is now overcooked based on this indication.
3. Turn It Into Pudding
Pudding is a favorite food of all, right? Any flavor of uncooked cheesecake can be used to make the rich and creamy cheesecake pudding.
Put the uncooked cheesecake in the blender with a few tablespoons of milk and process until it becomes smooth and creamy, rather than throwing it out.
You can create a delectable pudding pie by mixing your cheesecake pudding with a premade pie crust. Add maraschino cherries, chocolate fudge, or banana slices to the top of your pie!
4. Make A Cheesecake Milkshake
A thick, flavor-filled milkshake is something I adore. Cheesecake is the ideal combination of creamy and sweet for a great milkshake!
Place the uncooked, cooled cheesecake in a blender with ice and cold milk, then process until smooth. Add some crushed graham cracker crumbs and a drizzle of strawberry syrup to the top of your cheesecake milkshake!
5. Freeze The Cheesecake
Freeze the cheesecake and serve it as a frozen dessert if everything else fails. The cheesecake can be divided into cubes or slices, or it can be formed into tasty cheesecake balls with a melon baller.
The cheesecake pieces should be placed in the freezer to solidify before being served. Add whipped cream, caramel sauce, or chocolate syrup on top of the frozen cheesecake slices.
How to Tell When a Cheesecake Is Done
Measuring the internal temperature of a cheesecake at its center with a cooking thermometer is the most secure and advised method of determining when it is done.
Actually, a cheesecake’s center frequently stays soft and undercooked and may require a longer baking time to reach the perfect temperature of 150 °F (about 65 °C), even though the cheesecake’s edges typically firm up faster.
It is also advised to utilize the water bath baking method to cook a cheesecake to perfection. In this manner, surface cracks will be prevented, and the cheesecake will cook gradually and evenly.
Errors are inevitable while making cheesecakes at home because they require special skills. Try baking the cheesecake again the next day using a fresh water bath if it turns out to be undercooked. It’s also an option to freeze your cheesecake, which will taste just as good.
Read also: Why Is My Bread So Dense?
Conclusion
Keep in mind that even the most experienced bakers occasionally make mistakes in their baking. The good news is that using the strategies discussed in this post, you now have the capabilities to identify and correct any undercooked cheesecake that comes your way. Now go on and impress your loved ones with your delectable dessert.