Gestura Noyau Cake Tester

We found the only cake tester you’ll ever need: the Japanese-designed Gestura Noyau. Most cake testers are made of flimsy plastic—they melt, snap, break or separate in just a few uses. (And how many times have you used weak wooden skewers to check food temps before chucking them in the bin?) Built with durable steel, the Noyau tester is strong and thoughtfully balanced, resulting in accurate piercing of ingredients, every time. The tester’s head is stamped flat into a tab shape—similar to a guitar pick—so it’s easy and comfortable to grip; this design is inspired by cocktail pins you’d find in bars in Kyoto. The tip has a sharp point that slides smooth into meat, fish, cake and veggies without damaging the flesh, fiber or crumb. It leaves less noticeable holes than any knife or skewer we’ve tried. And yes, despite the name, Milk Street uses the Noyau “cake tester” for more than just cake: you can check the doneness of turnips, beets, potatoes and carrots with a simple stab or test the resistance of the crispiest, slow-roasted pork belly to see if it’s cooked through. Cake testers are a simple but critical tool to help home cooks practice intuitive cooking.