After all the effort you've made to make a cheesecake, try not to let it break when you take it out of the mold. Before removing it, make sure it has completely cooled down. When you remove the sides of the springform pan, you can also remove the base by sliding it or using spatulas to gently lift it. If you haven't put the cheesecake in the oven yet, consider putting parchment paper on the pan and the removal procedure will be much easier. See step 1 and the following to learn the possible methods.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Slide the Cake off the Base of the Zipper Pan
Step 1. Allow the cake to cool overnight
This is a crucial step and you will notice the difference in the appearance of the cake when it is ready to be served. If it is still hot or at room temperature, when you try to take it out of the springform mold, you risk it will create cracks and other imperfections. If you want your cake to be perfect, don't skip this step.
Step 2. Loosen the sides with a knife and hot water
When you're ready to serve the cake, the knife and hot water trick is the best way to remove the sides of the springform pan. Take a butter knife and run it under hot water or dip it in a cup of boiling water. Run the knife along the edges of the cake against the sides of the mold. This will make the cake loosen, keeping the sides soft.
- You will need to re-wet the knife from time to time to prevent it from drying out and dragging the edges of the cake away.
- Do not use cold water, it is not as effective as hot water. Using it increases the chances of the cake cracking or breaking.
Step 3. Use heat to loosen the cake at the base
Removing the base of a cake from a springform pan is much more difficult than removing the sides. Using a heat source to slightly warm the bottom of the cake can be of great help. This will soften the butter in the crust and make the cake easier to remove. Use one of the following techniques:
- Blowtorch for kitchen. If you're lucky enough to have one in the kitchen, this is a great utensil for warming up the cheesecake base. Hold the mold with a pot holder. Turn on the flame and carefully pass it under the base of the cake. The butter will heat and the cheese will soften and sliding the cake will be simple. Be careful not to heat it too much.
- Gas burner. Hold the mold with a pot holder. Turn on the gas burner and carefully hold the cheesecake over the flame to warm the bottom. If you don't have a gas burner, try a lighter. Always be careful not to overheat the mold. It will get too hot.
- A wet knife with hot water. This is the last alternative as if you get the cake wet, the texture will change. If you don't have tools to directly heat the bottom of the mold, this is still a good option.
Step 4. Remove the sides of the springform pan
Unhook the mold and gently remove the sides. A cake that has been properly cooled will stand upright and will not move from side to side. If you see small cracks and spots that need fixing, dip a knife in hot water and gently smooth the parts to be fixed.
Step 5. Slide the cake onto a serving plate
Immediately after you have heated the bottom, very gently slide the cake onto a serving dish that you have already placed next to the cake. If you have trouble getting it off the bottom, gently squeeze it with the flat side of a knife to make it move from the bottom more gently. Press the crust and not the soft part of the cheese which could spoil.
Many cooks leave the cake attached to the base instead of trying to remove it from the bottom. It's up to you, you can decide whether to put it on the plate or not. You can hide the edges with decorations, such as strawberry slices or raspberries
Method 2 of 3: Use Spatulas to Lift the Cake
Step 1. Allow the cake to cool overnight
A cake that is still hot or at room temperature will be destroyed if you try to remove it from the mold. It must be completely solid before you try to move it.
Step 2. Remove the sides of the mold
Dip a knife in hot water and run it along the edges of the cheesecake to release it from the sides of the mold. Dip the knife back into hot water if necessary and to prevent parts of the cake from falling apart. After this, unhook the side of the mold and lift the sides.
- Don't use cold water as it won't work.
- You can cover any cracks or hollows in the sides of the cake by smoothing them with a knife dipped in hot water.
Step 3. Remove the side parts of the mold
Unhook the mold and gently remove the sides. A cake that has been properly cooled will stand upright and will not move from side to side. If you see any small cracks or spots that need fixing, dip a knife in hot water and gently smooth the parts to be fixed.
Step 4. Take 3 large spatulas and ask a friend for help
The spatula method requires the help of another person, as if you try to hold the cake with only two spatulas instead of three, it could break. Three spatulas should be enough to lift the cake and transfer it to a serving plate or tray. Use large, flat, thin spatulas that slide easily under the cake.
Before moving on, it is best to let the bottom warm up. The cake will come off more easily from the bottom of the mold
Step 5. Slide the spatulas under the cake
Carefully slide them between the crust and the bottom of the mold. Keep sliding them as much as possible, especially under the cake. Move the spatulas evenly around the cake being careful to go all the way across the bottom.
Step 6. Lift the cake and place it on a serving plate
Hold two spatulas and ask a friend to hold the third. Count to three with your friend and gently lift the cake and place it on top of the serving dish that you will have placed next to the cake. For best results, perform this step quickly but carefully.
- Make sure you lift the cake at the same time and with the same speed or the cake could break.
- Once the cake is on the plate, gently remove the spatulas by sliding them under the cake.
Method 3 of 3: Bake the cake on the parchment paper
Step 1. Cover the mold with circular baking paper
If you haven't baked the cake yet, this trick will make it easier to get the cake off the bottom. Cut a circle of parchment paper, slightly larger than the mold you will be using. Press the paper into the bottom of the mold. You will bake the cake on parchment paper instead of directly on the tin. This will remove the bottom of the cake with the paper, which will be much less noticeable than the metal base.
- Some chefs prefer to use cut cardstock to give the cake more support. Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as the base of the mold. Put some baking paper on it making it adhere well.
- If you want you can also put baking paper on the sides of the mold, cut a strip long enough to cover the entire circumference of the mold. Furthermore, it must be slightly larger than the depth of the latter. Now you can proceed normally with the preparation of the cheesecake and when it cools you can remove it from the mold with ease.
Step 2. Bake the cheesecake as directed in the recipe
The presence of baking paper will not change the cooking process. Bake it as usual.
Step 3. Allow the cake to cool overnight
Even baking paper won't be able to save a cheesecake that's still hot. Make sure it has cooled completely before lifting it.
Step 4. Remove the sides of the mold
If you haven't lined the sides with parchment paper, run a knife in hot water around the edges of the cake to loosen them. Unhook the sides and lift them up. If, on the other hand, you covered them with parchment paper, you can skip the knife step and remove them easily. Very carefully, remove the strips of paper to see the whole cake.
Step 5. Slide the cake off the base of the mold
Grab the edge of the parchment paper and gently slide the cake onto a tray or serving plate. The paper will easily lift off the bottom of the mold.
Warnings
- Do not try to move the cheesecake unless you first allow it to cool overnight or for at least 12 hours.
- Use parchment paper and not other types of paper as they may not be strong enough. Some may melt or even burn.
- If you use knives on the mold, you could ruin it.
- When using a blowtorch for cooking, hold the mold with a pot holder.
