What’s a Pie Tester?

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A cake tester is a kitchen tool designed specifically for use in baking to test the sweetness of cakes, a crucial step in the baking process. The design is very simple: a rounded ring or paddle handle holds a long, thin wire that should be inserted into the cake like a probe. While testers aren’t vital for every cook, they can certainly be useful.

After being inserted into a cake, if the tester comes out clean, the cake is done and should be taken out to cool. If crumbs or wet batter are left on the cake tester, the cake is not quite done and should be allowed to bake a little longer. There are some exceptions to this rule; banana bread, for example, tastes best when there’s still some residue on the probe.

All cakes should be tested for doneness before being taken out of the oven. Many things can affect the baking time for a cake, starting with the type of pan used, the actual temperature of the oven, and minor variations in ingredients. A recipe’s published cook time is often a close guide, but it’s rarely perfect. For this reason, nearly all recipes encourage cooks to test the cakes for goodness, specifying whether or not the residue should be left behind.

There are many substitutes for a cake tester often found in the kitchen. Many cooks use toothpicks, which have the disadvantages of not being reusable and sometimes too short. Other long thin utensils such as skewers, knives and straightened paper clips can also be used. Some of these tools are also more likely to leave holes in the finished product, so caution is needed when using them.

As a general rule, a cake tester should be made out of metal, so it’s washable and reusable. Many are designed to be dishwasher safe, although in practice, their small size sometimes means they slip out of the silverware rack and settle in the bottom of the dishwasher. Hand washing could be easier. It’s also a good idea for cooks to look for a tester with a big, bright handle so it can be easily found in a kitchen drawer.

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