So you just made a pan of perfect brownies. They are yummy, and they are delicious. They are the most luscious brownies you have ever eaten.
You may want to eat the whole batch, but you may also want to save some for later. This means you want your brownies to be just as delicious the next day.
This article explains how to store brownies so that they will retain that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.
Chewy, cakey, and fudgy brownies are the best treats, especially for people who love delightful desserts!
While brownies are generally available at bakeshops, cafes, and even supermarkets, nothing beats the flavor of homemade brownies fresh out of the oven.
So what if you made a large batch of brownies? How do you store the remains? Do brownies spoil?
Maybe you ordered a batch of brownies on the net, and only after you received the package, you realize you ordered twice as much as you meant to. And now you’re wondering how to preserve them and for how long you will store the brownies before they dry out or go bad.
If any of these sound familiar, this article is what you need. In it, we go through how to store brownies, how long the brownies will stay, and when to know if your brownies have gone bad. If you would like to learn a thing or two about this favorite treat, you’re in the right place.
7 Reliable Ways on How to Store Brownies and Keep Them Fresh
Below are a few tips and hacks on how to store brownies and ensure those tasty brownies are just as inviting the next day!
1. Do Not Cut Them
If you plan on storing brownies other than eating them right away, it is ideal not to cut them till you are ready to eat. It’s better to let them cool completely to get a clean cut.
When you cut brownies before use, you expose more sections of the brownie to the air. This practice can cause the brownies to dry out very quickly.
The result is that a yummy chewy brownie will become a crunchy dry brownie quite fast. You sure wouldn’t want that.
The solution to saving your brownies from drying out is easy, keep them whole in the pan they baked in until you are ready to have them!
You can even cut off a portion of brownie at a time just for your consumption. Maybe keep a knife close by so you can have a snack when you need one.
2. Keep Out the Air
No matter where you plan to store your brownies, one of the clues to keeping them fresh is to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Air is your brownies’ enemy, so use any means you can to prevent air from touching your brownies.
Wrapping brownies in plastic wrap is the best method to keep your brownies fresh. Since you can lay plastic wrap directly on top of the brownies and pull it tightly around the brownies, you can effectively block that drying air.
Foil is the second-best choice for how to store brownies as you can bend it to be right on the brownies.
You can also decide to keep brownies fresh by placing them in an airtight container. Plastic storage containers with covers work well as they snap together and block air circulation.
Another option that will serve is cookie tins or cookie jars. However, they are not always as airtight as plastic wraps, foil, or plastic storage containers.
If you are looking for a quick means to wrap individual brownies, just lay them directly inside Ziploc bags. Not only will this keep the brownies from drying out, but it will also make them easy to eat. Want to eat a brownie? Just grab one of the pre-packaged packs! Isn’t it amazing?
As you can see, the aim is to keep the air at bay. The more the brownies stay wrapped and away from drying air, the fresher it is!
The tighter you wrap them, the better for the shelf life of the brownies! An important measure in how to store brownies is absolutely to wrap them properly.
3. Add a Piece of Bread
If you are saving brownies for a few days inside any container, place a piece of bread on top of the jar. The moisture from the bread will preserve the brownies and keep them fresh for a few more days.
If you figure that the bread is getting dry, replace it with another piece of bread. It may sound absurd, but this bread hack definitely works to keep your brownies fresh and soft!
4. Coat Brownies with Chocolate
If you’d like to make some extremely decadent brownies that will remain fresh longer, try to dip your brownies in melted chocolate, covering them entirely. This is just one of the various ways to improve a brownie mix.
When you cover your brownies in chocolate, you create an airtight crust around them, stopping the air from getting to that fine brownie surface.
Not only will your brownies be protected from air exposure, but they will also be so chocolaty with lots of flavors, almost like a brownie truffle!
5. Keep Them at Room Temperature
Almost all chocolate-baked food tastes great when stored at room temperature. Chocolate is best when it is close to its melting temperature. When you eat a brownie stored at room temperature, it will melt instantly in your mouth.
Storing brownies at room temperature also keeps them fluffy and chewy, nearly as though they just came right out of the oven!
If you prefer to store the brownies at room temperature, they will remain nice and fresh for about three to four days. Follow the directions above on how to store brownies properly by wrapping them, and then just let them hang out on your kitchen counter!
However, when stored on your counter, there is a possibility they will be not last beyond four days.
6. Refrigerate for Longer Storage
If you want to retain your brownies fresh for longer than some days, wrap them tightly and then put them in the fridge. When stored in this manner, brownies will remain fresh for about two weeks.
If you want to eat a brownie, simply grab one from the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature before consuming so you can achieve nice, chewy, and fluffy brownies. You can also microwave them for a few seconds to warm them up after staying in the cold.
If you take a piece of brownie or two from your lot in the fridge, ensure you wrap them up immediately after. The refrigerator can be a very airy place, so you want to ensure you keep air away!
Please take a few out, wrap them, and your brownies will remain fresh the next time you want to grab one.
7. Freeze for Even Longer Shelf Life
If you make a large batch of brownies and want to retain the freshness for a long period, the freezer is your best bet.
As a reminder, ensure you wrap the brownies very tightly, ideally in plastic wrap (that is a clue to keeping brownies evergreen!). Then, save the brownies in the freezer for as long as three months. That’s right, they will stay in the freezer for up to three months!
When you are prepared to eat the brownies, bring them out of the freezer and let them defrost (still wrapped) at room temperature. If you want them to be ready a little quicker, simply microwave them for a few seconds, and you’ll be enjoying fresh-tasting brownies in little time!
Utilizing the freezer is also a great way to treat yourself to a ‘fresh’ brownie at any time. Make a large quantity of your favorite brownie recipe and then cut and wrap them as individual servings.
Stash them all in the freezer, and whenever you crave your brownie, it is right there, ready for you!
How to Revive Brownie
Sometimes you bake brownies and don’t have time to store them correctly, and they dry out. Or maybe you just did not wrap them quite tightly enough, and some of that annoying air got to them, making them crispy and stale.
Don’t panic! You can easily refresh your brownies by using the microwave.
Now, you wouldn’t want to microwave the brownies for too long as you wouldn’t want to cook it further, and foods can burn shockingly fast in the microwave.
Place your brownie in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time, just sufficient to heat it up and make it fluffy again. Then, eat it right away! Your brownie will feel fresh and delicious once again!
How to Store Brownies Perfectly
Now, you must note that the absolute best method to store brownies and to ensure you only eat fresh brownies is to enjoy all of them right away.
That’s right. Your belly is the perfect “storage” area for just-baked brownies. Make them, devour them and never worry about storing them again!
What Is the Shelf Life of Brownies?
There aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to the shelf life of brownies.
Ordinarily, your homemade brownies should stay at least three days to four days in the kitchen pantry and up to one week in the refrigerator. Please remember that in some circumstances described earlier, you should refrigerate the brownies immediately. Pretty much the same basic methods apply to bakery-purchased brownies.
Of course, these rules are general, and some types of brownies will stay much longer. At the same time, others will taste bad after three days of storage—usually, the more sensitive the ingredients, the lower the shelf life. Brownies without eggs may last longer.
When it comes to brownies bought online, the storage periods are everywhere. Sometimes the recommended storage time is around five days. Other times, it’s seven days in the kitchen pantry and 30 days in the fridge. That’s why it is beneficial to read storage instructions if you’re purchasing online.
If you would like to store brownies for a lengthy period, you can always freeze them. As already mentioned, different types of brownies yield different results. Thus if you’re always baking the brownies with the same recipe or buying from the same place, it makes sense to try freezing them if you need to buy or bake the brownies in bulk.
| Pantry | Refrigerator | |
| Homemade brownies | 3 to 4 days | 7 days |
| Bakery-bought brownies | 3 to 4 days | 7 days |
| Brownies ordered online | 5 to 14 days | 7 to 30 days |
Please note that the duration above are estimates only. Since there are lots of recipes for brownies, those periods will be off in some circumstances.
How To Know if Brownies Are Spoilt
Brownies will deteriorate over time, so if you keep a batch of this dessert in the fridge or pantry for a lengthy period.
Look out for little changes in color or look. If the color or odor of the brownies looks off, take caution and dispose of them.
Moist brownies can get moldy so if you see the appearance of mold, throw the brownies in the bin.
Finally, if you already store brownies for much longer than you normally do, it’s probably better to throw them away. Better safe than sorry.
Brownies would be easier to cut if you set the pan in the freezer for several minutes. Slide a sharp knife in hot water, wipe the water off, and move it across the baking pan in an up-and-down sawing motion.
FAQs: How to Store Brownies Long Term
How Long Will Brownies Last in the Refrigerator?
Generally, your homemade brownies should last at least 3 days to 4 days in the kitchen pantry and up to one week in the fridge. Please remember that in some cases described earlier, you should refrigerate the brownies right away.
How Long Do You Leave Brownies to Set?
We know how difficult it is to resist fresh-from-the-oven brownies, but they are delicate. They will almost always break apart if you slice into them right away! Let the brownies cool fully, about 30 minutes, in the pan before slicing into them.
What Makes Brownies Fudgy vs. Cakey?
Fudgy brownies have a more fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat u002du002d in this case, butter, vegetable oil u003ca href=u0022https://yumandyummer.com/can-you-substitute-olive-oil-for-vegetable-oil-in-brownies/u0022 class=u0022rank-math-linku0022u003e(or olive oil alternatively)u003c/au003e, and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour ratio and relies on baking powder for rising. The amount of sugar and eggs remains the same whether you’re going fudgy or cakey.
How Do You Keep Brownies Fresh Longer?
Store cut brownie pieces in an airtight container at room temperature; they’re best consumed within 1 to 2 days. A whole pan’s worth, uncut and well wrapped in plastic, will keep at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the freezer for as long as three months. Cut into squares before serving.
Do You Need to Cover Brownies?
It’s not advised to cover hot or warm baked food using traditional wrappings (for example, plastic, tin foil, etc.). Fog and/or contraction will form – even if there’s just a bit of warmth emitting – and the result is soggy cookies/brownies/pie.
How Do You Store Brownies in the Freezer?
Wrap each separate brownie in food-storage plastic or cling film. Place the wrapped brownies inside a large freezer bag that seals locked. Place it in the freezer. The brownies will now be perfect for freezing for up to 3 months.
Do Boxed Brownies Go Bad?
If properly stored, a brownie mix pack will usually stay at its best quality for about 12-18 months at room temperature. The best step is to sniff and look at the brownie mix: if the brownie mix develops an off odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
Should I Cut Brownies Hot or Cold?
No matter which style of cutting brownies you decide to use, you should always let your brownies cool completely before cutting them. When the brownies are hot, they are even more likely to be messy and gooey, making for sloppy ends and misshapen brownies. Let the brownies cold in the pan, untouched.
Final Words: How to Store Brownies
Finally, when you take the time to bake a delicious quantity of brownies, you want to ensure that they last for a few days or a few months even. After all, there is no sense in baking brownies if they will go bad or be wasted!
Yet when you apply these tried and true methods on how to store brownies, you’ll never have to eat a dried and crunchy brownie ever again!
So go ahead, bake a large batch of brownies, wrap them tightly and store them as instructed- then enjoy a fresh and fluffy brownie anytime.
Enjoy your baking!