Tips: How to check a cake or bread for doneness.
There are a few ways to check a cake or bread to see if it is finished baking. The most common and certain way is to use a long toothpick, skewer, or butter knife. You stick the skewer near the middle of the cake or bread and remove it. If the skewer has raw batter on it, then the cake needs to bake a little longer. If the skewer is clean or has a few cooked crumbs on it, the dish is done.
Another way to check if a cake is done is to gently give the baking dish a little shake. Most cakes and breads become firm when they are fully cooked. If you notice the center still looks wet and jiggles, then the cake needs more time to bake. I don't recommend doing this until the cake or bread has been baking at least three-quarters of the time suggested in the recipe. For example, if I'm following a recipe that suggests I bake a cake for 60 minutes, I would start checking the cake around 45-50 minutes. The reason for this is that every oven is different, so cook times vary. If I bake banana bread in my toaster oven, which is larger than most toaster ovens, but smaller than a traditional oven, I'd have to adjust both my cooking time and temperature to get desirable results.
For the really brave and experienced, you can gently touch the top of the cake or bread near the center with your clean hand. If it jiggles or if you get a little batter on your fingertip, the cake needs more time to bake.
There are obvious visual cues to indicate doneness, like a burnt crust. If the sides of the cake or bread begin to pull away from the pan while it is still in the oven, then it is probably done and most likely overcooked.
With time and practice, you can eventually be able to just look at the cake and smell it to be able to tell when it is finished baking. Personally, I use a combination of visual cues and a butter knife or toothpick to check my cakes and breads.
I hope you find these tips helpful!
