Ultimate Cornbread Cookbook: Cornbread, Cakes and Muffins for Every Occasion

These recipes use a tester of some sort to check whether or not they are fully cooked. The tester is usually a toothpick or a knife that is inserted in the center of the baked good. If the tester comes out clean, then the bread is ready to come out of the oven. It is important to check the bread more than once to prevent over-baking. Some ovens are hotter than others, so a good rule of thumb is to insert your knife or toothpick 5 minutes before the baking time finishes. If the tester is clean or close to clean, then you know you don't need to bake for the entire time.