How to Tell if a Cake is Cooked

Knowing how to tell is a cake is cooked can save you from presenting a dessert that sinks the moment you take it out of a tin, or worse, is as dry as the Nevada dessert (pun intended). The following ‘how to’ gives 3 easy ways to help you decide when to take it out of the oven.

Photo Credit: Designlazy.com

Steps

1- Wait the minimum amount of time advised on your recipe/directions before checking your cake (every time you open the door, the temperature drops). If it’s not done yet, check back every two minutes or so to make sure it doesn’t overcook, but keep time down allowing it to cool during checks to a minimum.

2- The most basic way to judge whether or not a cake is done is to put your hands on it and test its springiness. If you can feel it spring back (like a sponge) when you press a little, then the cake is probably done. If it feels mushy, give it a little more time.

3- If you have a cake tester or toothpick, place it in the cake and pull it back out. If it comes out clean, then the cake is done. If you don’t have an actual tester, you can substitute a piece of straw from a broom, skewer, or chopstick. Metal implements do not work well as they’re not porous enough to attract pieces of cake.

Tips

If you’re worried about the outsides of your cake burning whilst awaiting for the inside of the cake to cook, first of all turn down the head, secondly, cover the cake in tin/aluminium foil.