This is how the chopstick test works when baking a cake
With the chopstick method, stick a chopstick into the cake to see if it’s cooked through. Kebab skewers, toothpicks, and thin knitting needles are particularly suitable for this. Pay attention to the FSC certification for wooden sticks.
- Before inserting the skewer into the cake, inspect it for splinters or loose wood fibers. Also, make sure the chopstick is clean.
- Now insert the chopstick as deep as possible into the highest part of the cake. If after pulling out the dough is still stuck to the stick, the cake needs to be baked for at least another ten minutes.
- After ten minutes, repeat the method in a different spot. If no dough but only solid crumbs stick to the stick, your cake is ready and you can take it out of the oven.
The chopstick test is suitable for these types of cake
The stick test is not suitable for all cakes, but only and especially applicable for sponge cakes. These include marble cake, shortcrust pastry, muffins, and lemon cake.
- Other types of cakes that should be firm after baking are also suitable for this method. These include cheesecake and cheesecake with semolina.
- Cakes with cream fillings and moist cakes such as brownies are less suitable. With these cakes, you can determine whether your pastry is done by gently shaking the baking molds.
- For bread, the effectiveness of the chopstick method depends on the ingredients. It can be particularly helpful with soft bread dough. Otherwise, gently pressing on the loaf or tapping on the bottom will help determine if the bread is done baking. If the knocking sounds hollow, the bread must be taken out of the oven.