Crackin cheesecake

I have no idea how to prevent my cheesecakes from cracking! I've triesd putting the pan in a bigger pan with a little bit of water while it cooks. I've also left it in the oven (with the oven off) to cool off when it was finished baking. Any other tips??

Re: Crackin cheesecake

Stay out of the kitchen!!! Vibrations can cause cracking. Mom always told me this and her cheesecakes come out perfect!

Re: Crackin cheesecake

there are 2 reasons cheesecakes crack....

#1 - baked too long. Sure fire way to prevent that is to poke the center with an instant read thermometer, and pull it out from the oven when it reaches 150 degrees. (also, the water bath should be at least 1/3 way up the pan)

#2, it cracks while cooling, becuase the cake is contracting, yet it's stuck to the walls of the pan. another simple solution: run a knife around the edge of the pan as soon as you remove it from the oven.

I think leaving it in a warm oven may lead to overbaking, so I'd avoid that...
hope this helps

Message edited 11/25/2007 3:03:19 PM.

Re: Crackin cheesecake

Ok...another response from mom:
if it is beaten in the mixing process too long it causes air bubbles.....that might tend to make it crack....
yu hav e to leave it in another hour with the oven off.....
then you can take it out but dont open the door.....sometimes it can crack in the oven but by the time you take it out the cake has settled so you don't always see the crack.....
I think the best way to bake a cheesecake with no cracks is to bake it in a slower oven for a longer period of time.........I have several receipes for the same cheesecake.........
One takes a little longer but it never cracks............ I just know that when a cake cracks it is usually in the rise and fall of the cake..........Sometimes it happens to me and sometimes it doesnt......
I think the whipping process has a lot to do with it.....
some people put the cake in a water bath.....and that might help it not to crack............
But the 325 oven seems to work for me............
If my cake ever cracks, it is usually not too visible....and if it were, I would just put cherries on top of it.....