What is the point of a water bath for cheesecake?
A water bath, also known as a bain marie, is simply a pan of hot water that protects your delicate cheesecake while it’s baking in the oven. This method not only helps the cheesecake not crack on top, but also ensures the cheesecake will come out smooth and creamy.
Does water bath take longer to cook cheesecake?
When you bake in a water bath, the water surrounding the pan will never get hotter than 212 degrees, no matter how hot the oven is. This gives the center of the cheesecake time to cook without overcooking the outside.
What happens if you overbake cheesecake?
Overbaked cheesecake will cause unattractive cracks and a dry, crumbly texture. Because cheesecake is a custard, it won’t be completely firm when done. The easiest way to make sure you don’t overbake it is to give it a little jiggle.
Should cheesecake be jiggly in the middle?
How jiggly should the cheesecake be? Well, it should wobble just slightly (you can see in our video). An underbaked cheesecake will ripple and jiggle noticeably. The key to a perfect cheesecake is a subtle wiggle—not a sloshy jiggle.