What is a "cake tester" and why is it better than a knife or toothpick?

[Anonymous]

Several cake recipes I've used lately have said, "Done when cake tester comes out clean." When I bake, I've always used either a knife or a toothpick. I don't mind getting a cake tester if it is better, but could someone please explain to me what exactly a cake tester is, why it might be better than a knife or toothpick, and where to get one if so? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It's basically a metal version of the toothpick (but longer so you don't lose it). A seller of a cake tester will tell you it is better than (1) a toothpick because it is resuable and will pull out of a cake easier than a wooden toothpick that may have splinters or very tiny jagged pieces of wood on the side, and (2) a knife because it is smaller so makes less of a hole in your cake. But a toothpick or a knife works fine. I think some recipes use the term generically to mean whatever you have on hand to test the cake.

[Anonymous]

I stopped using my cake tester and went back to toothpicks. The metal was so thin that it often was hard to see how much of the cake was stuck to it and how wet the crumbs were, so it was hard to know how much more time the cake needed.

[Anonymous]

Who knew when I started using an old turkey lacing skewer when I was out of toothpicks that I was being trendy? That is a riot. Can't wait to tell my DH it's a cake tester.