Water bath for cheesecake: more even baking

Useful to know

A cheesecake water bath places the baking tin inside a larger vessel containing hot water. In King Arthur’s comparison, it supports slower, more even baking and helps limit cracking. [1]

It cannot guarantee a crack-free cake. Follow the recipe’s doneness and cooling instructions, and protect against water entering the tin where necessary. Consider the stability of both vessels when moving them. If the centre seems too liquid, check the intended texture before arbitrarily extending the baking time.