It seems unfathomable that you might have leftover brownies because they are normally so tasty. But you’ll want to know exactly how to store your brownies so they don’t get stale if you do end up with part of your pan left (or if you’re smart enough to bake a bunch to enjoy later).
For most baked items, including brownies, air is the enemy of freshness. Whether you plan to freeze your brownies so you can always have a fresh one on hand, or you’re storing them at room temperature for short-term storage, the secret to keeping brownies fresh is to use airtight wrappings (even pressing plastic wrap directly against the brownies).
Methods for Room Temperature Storage of Brownies
To prevent brownies from drying out and becoming stale, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. (To further shield them from air exposure, you can also place a layer of aluminum foil around the plastic wrap layer.)
For the most part, brownies can be stored at room temperature for up to five days.
Warning
It is not advisable to store ganache or swirl cheesecake frosting at room temperature. If brownies have ingredients that should be refrigerated, store them in the refrigerator.
Brownies: How to Keep Them Refrigerated
Brownies keep well in the fridge for up to two weeks. To help minimize the exposure to air and flavors from your refrigerator, wrap it again in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container. Nobody desires brownies with onions!
When you’re ready to eat, remove them from the oven or microwave and let them come to room temperature for approximately an hour before serving.
How to Freeze Brownies for Storage
Brownies keep well in the fridge for months, but it’s recommended to eat them within two months of freezing for optimal freshness. Once more, it’s critical to keep air away from your brownies to prevent freezer burn. Press the air out of the bag and wrap the brownies snugly in plastic wrap made for freezers or in a freezer-safe bag. For an additional layer of protection, you may either put it in a freezer-safe container or cover it in another sheet of foil.
Once more, take the brownies out a few hours before you’re ready to eat them, or reheat them in the oven or microwave to restore their original, freshly baked quality.
Freezer burn can occur on any surface that is in contact with the air. To avoid freezer burn, you can freeze the brownies in bigger chunks and then thaw them before cutting them into single pieces for reheating.
How to Get Your Brownies Warm
If kept correctly in an airtight container, brownies will keep their freshness for several days, although their flavor will not be as nice the next day. Thus, if you want to regain that warm, oozy texture in your brownie, it’s worth spending a few minutes heating it up.
Warm up one or two brownies at a time for the greatest and most reliable results; larger slabs of brownie may begin to dry out around the edges before they warm up enough in the center.
Use a microwave to reheat a brownie.
To reheat brownies from the refrigerator or freezer, cook them in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, erring on the side of caution. Cover your brownie with a damp paper towel during cooking if you want to make sure it stays moist or if you want to add more moisture to a dry or stale brownie.
Use the oven or toaster oven to reheat a brownie.
The best way to reheat more brownies is in the oven or toaster oven. (To ensure more consistent heating, cut the brownies ahead of time and spread them out slightly on the pan.) For a small batch of brownies, bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, or for a bigger batch, for 15 minutes.
How should I store brownies at room temperature?
Wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. You can also place a layer of aluminum foil around the plastic wrap layer for extra protection. Brownies can be stored at room temperature for up to five days.
How should I store brownies in the refrigerator?
Wrap the brownies in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. Brownies can be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks.
How should I freeze brownies for storage?
- Wrap the brownies snugly in plastic wrap made for freezers or in a freezer-safe bag. For an additional layer of protection, you may either put it in a freezer-safe container or cover it in another sheet of foil. Brownies can be kept in the freezer for months, but it’s recommended to eat them within two months of freezing for optimal freshness.
How can I reheat my brownies?
To reheat brownies from the refrigerator or freezer, cook them in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the oven or toaster oven. For a small batch of brownies, bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, or for a bigger batch, for 15 minutes.
