The Kitchen Tools You Need to Make Cheesecake

If you've ever found yourself needing a cheesecake while watching your favorite show or TV show at home, you certainly have a lot of options. Between delivery from Postmates or Uber Eats, fresh or frozen options available at your local grocery store or bakery, or takeout. The biggest drawback to any of these options is price, unless your eating the frozen cheesecake, which tends to leave eaters with the feeling of "Eh, it was okay."

Making your own at home is easier than you think. A simple search on Google will turn up hundreds of recipes (if not more), but there are some essential tools that you'll need to get it ready. Some of which you may already have a kitchen staple, like mixing bowls or hand mixer, but one or two that aren't nearly as common, like cheesecake's best buddy, the springform pan. Here's an overview of some products that they may not be the cheapest option, but may provide you with some decent flexibility.

Springform Pan

Sure you can make a cheesecake in a different type of pan, but let's face it; it's not going to look right unless it's made in a springform pan. One set I found that has everything you may need and then some is the 115 PCS Heart Shaped Cake Pans Springform Pans Set. Even though the set is inexpensive, it may cost more than buying a cheesecake. But be real, once you find the recipe you like the most, you're not going to stop at just making one and done. This set includes three non-stick pans - a 9-inch heart shape, 10-inch round, and 11-inch square - as well as piping bags, various tips, scrapers, and spreaders. Really, you just need the pans in this set, but all of the baking and decorating tools are a great addition.

Standing Mixer / Hand Mixer

Most folks have an electric mixer of some sort in your kitchen, and the lucky ones have the standing mixer. I'm particularly fond of the standing mixer (and yes, I am a lucky one who got a hand-me-down). The top selling brand and the one I also have is a KitchenAid. It can be as heavy as an anchor, but that's a good thing - especially when you start making bread doughs.

Their standard base model is the KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. It's available in a bunch of different colors - I have a white one, but I'm really fond of the red. In addition to making cheesecake and the afore mentioned bread dough, this sucker is very versatile. You want whipped cream? Put on the whisk attachment and let it rip! Pizza dough? Get the dough hook on and get ready to party! Cheesecake? (Well, that's why you're here, right?) Put that beater attachment on and go to town. It does the work for you. And you'd be shocked at the additional attachments you can add separately - pasta makers, meat grinders, food processesors, vegetable spiralizers (?!), ice cream makers - I'm probably forgetting more than a few.

If you need something smaller, and frankly less expensive, the KitchenAid KHM512WH 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer is a reasonably-priced option. This far-more-common kitchen gadget will satisfy the "need" versus the "want" when it comes to mixers. But before you try to make the cheesecake filling by hand alone, be forewarned that it can technically be done, but it's a lot of effort. You're better off using a hand mixer because while softened cream cheese is easier to work with than cold, it can still be a pretty stiff batter.

Mixing Bowls

Guess what? If you have a standing mixer, you don't need a mixing bowl. It's already attached. Okay, I'll stop gloating about the standing mixer. But just one more thing: standing mixer. Alright, now I'll stop. All kidding aside, you will obviously need to mix the cheesecake filling in something. And you can go cheap - most of us, me included, have bought large bowls from the local dollar store and used them as mixing bowls. The drawback there is they usually aren't sturdy enough to handle properly - they bend, buckle, and eventually break.

Your best bet is to go with Stainless Steel. I've used glass bowls for years, like the ones made by Pyrex or Anchor Hocking, and while they're certainly versatile - an important word here - with their ability to go in the oven or microwave, they do get beat up over time. Visible scuff marks from mixers, the outer print can wear off (measuring cups), and of course they can break when dropped. A really neat set that's not a bank breaker is the Rottay 20-piece Mixing Bowl Set. It has a great variety of bowl sizes (1 qt to 7 qt) and some welcome features like airtight lids - more necessary than you realize, a basting brush, spreader spatula, flexible spatula, and a hand whisk. With the right care, these can last a very long time, even after taking beating after beating from hand mixers.

So that's it. Those are the tools you need to make your own cheesecake. So sure, I made it sound at the beginning that if you had your own stuff to make a cheesecake, it'll be ready in a jiffy. Well, that's not really the case. It's like making any other cake. It takes time. And you have to add in chilling time for cheesecakes as well. However, if you learn how to make them - and there's a ton of recipes to choose from - chances are you might have a piece sitting in your fridge right now. And it'll be the best you've ever had. Why? Because you made it! That's why.