7 Tips for a Perfect Cheesecake

1. Use cream cheese at room temperature
   Instead of using cream cheese directly out of the refrigerator, let the cream cheese soften for 2-3 hours so that it is easier to whip. Your cheesecake batter needs to be creamy and smooth, and you'll get this consistency more easily with pre-softened cream cheese.
2. Take it out of the oven when the middle is still soft
   To avoid cracking and overbaking, you'll need to pull the cheesecake out of the oven before it cooks all the way through. This is probably the toughest part of baking this dessert to perfection, but you can easily see the softer center about ten minutes before the end baking time.
3. Add a spot of cream
   Cream and eggs are what bind the cheesecake together, and adding a spoonful of whipping cream can ensure your cheesecake is dense enough to pass as a classic New York style dessert.
4. Use real graham crackers for the crust
   While a box of graham cracker crumbs is convenient, you'll get that 'homemade' taste when you actually crumble your own crackers. Try flavored graham crackers for variation - cinnamon and chocolate can fare well for those deluxe cheesecake flavors.
5. Don't open the oven until the end of the baking cycle
   While it's tempting to check up on your cheesecake during the baking cycle, letting the heat escape can make your cheesecake fall too quickly. Wait until 10 minutes before the time on the recipe where you do a quick check of the center (See #2).
6. Chill the cheesecake for at least 24 hours
   Your enthusiastic cheesecake fans will need to steer clear of the kitchen during your baking escapades, because the dessert won't be ready for at least another day. Chilling the cheesecake allows the cream cheese to sink into the crust and ensures the dessert is firm and easy to cut. Diving into the cheesecake too early can ruin the experience.
7. Use a springform pan
   Unless you have super-baker capabilities in releasing the cheesecake from a regular cake pan, a springform pan will ensure your dessert slides right off the pan in one piece. Spring form pans are ideal for cheesecakes, and investing in a quality pan will help you bake up that cheesecake evenly and prevent any cracks from forming