Introduction
Brownies are a form of sheet cookie. They are really prevalent in the US and have existed as a favorite cake for a long time. Today, with the sufficiency and convenience of the kitchen equipment, many people can make brownies easily at home or for those who are busy, they can buy some at any bakery or restaurant.
Brownies are typically eaten by hand and often accompanied by milk. It tastes far way better when being warm and served with ice cream or sprinkled with powdered sugar and fudge. The gentle sweet and soft cake and the crispy almond blend together treat you the best and can make an unforgettable impression.
Since they are so yummy, you must have not wanted to waste any brownies but what if you bought or bake a lot of brownies, you need to know how long they can be safe before going bad and how to store them properly in order not to throw in the trash. We will show you right now in this article.
How long do brownies last?
Different storing methods will result in the different shelf life of brownies. Normally, a freshly baked brownie can last 3 to 4 days at room temperature and up to a week if being refrigerated. This time can typically be applied for both homemade brownies or the store-bought ones.
If you expect your brownies to last in the long term, you can keep them in your freezer so the brownie life can reach 4 to 6 months but still maintain the best quality.
However, the estimated time mentioned above can vary in some cases since each brownie has its own recipe with certain special ingredients that have their own shelf life so you should be flexible in every situation.
How to tell if brownies go bad?
Generally, brownies won’t have any severe spoilage like meat or veggie as the main ingredients which are butter and chocolate can last quite some time. However, all the baked goods will obviously diminish in their qualities over time including brownies.
When the brownie turns from moist to dry and crumbly, you better toss it because there is no reason to treat yourself with a really bad cake. Regarding brownies with dairy filling or frosting, keep an eye on them as they are likely to be ruined rather than other kinds.
If there are any signs of mold, discoloration or an extreme change in the texture of the cake itself or the filling, discard your brownies immediately to avoid any foodborne illness.
You must have asked yourself once that “Can I eat old brownies?” The answer will be yes, as long as there are no spoilage identifications on the leftover brownies.
But, don’t expect that much on the taste after a long storage time, you might want to taste a small portion first before making your decision.
If you are a picky person, we think you should buy or bake another batch and get rid of these old brownies.
How to store brownies?
One of the reasons that make your brownies become less yummy is drying out, therefore, no matter what the storing method is, you need to keep the brownie moist.
In fact, different ingredients and their proportion can lead to different types of brownies. A storing way can work with this type better than other types so the first thing you need to do is determine your kind of brownies.
Moist brownies or brownies with dairy-based icing and filling shouldn’t be unrefrigerated. The most proper place for them is in the fridge or freezer. But always make sure that they are fully covered to prevent drying out or absorbing odor from the surrounding food.
You can keep the drier type in your pantry if you intend to consume them within a few next days without any worries. However, if your pantry is too humid or you store the brownie improperly, there will be the opposite result.
Can you freeze brownies?
Yes, you can freeze brownies for prolonged storage as most brownies freeze fairly well. It seems that the moist type will be the more suitable one, but it doesn’t mean you are not allowed to store the other types in the freezer, it’s still the best option if you wish to extend the brownie life.
How to freeze brownies?
Now you are going to learn how to freeze brownies properly in just some simple steps.
Tips to freeze brownies
- If you bake your own brownies at home, make sure they are completely cool before freezing
- If your square of brownie is not too large, you don’t need to cut it into slabs, just wrap the entire with plastic wrap then freeze. If you prefer thawing a small amount each time, you can freeze individual brownies as instruction below
- When you intend to make brownies with topping, just freeze the cakes only and make the topping when you are ready to eat brownies, it doesn’t take much time for a bowl of frosting or filling
Things you’ll need to freeze brownies
- A vacuum-sealed bag or an airtight container
- Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
How to freeze brownies in just 3 steps
- Wrap your brownies with aluminum foil or plastic wrap
- Place the wrapped brownies in a vacuum-sealed bag or an airtight container
- Label the bag or container with the storage date then stick in the freezer
How to defrost/ thaw brownies?
When it comes to defrosting your frozen brownies, the fridge is the way to go. Just simply transfer them from the freezer to the fridge and let them thaw for several hours or overnight.
How to reheat brownies?
Tips to reheat brownies
- Check the reheating time carefully since they are customized depending on what kitchen appliances you use
- To prevent the brownies from drying out, you can moisten a towel and lay it over the brownies for a few seconds before or while reheating them
- Using a microwave is always quicker but tends to make the brownies soggy, meanwhile, the oven tends to create a crunchy surface with a longer time
- To treat your mouth the best dish, serve the reheated brownies with a scoop of ice cream or spray some chocolate sauce over the dish
Things you’ll need to reheat brownies
- A conventional oven (or a toaster oven)/ microwave
- Aluminum foil
- A microwave-safe dish
How to reheat brownies with an oven
- Wrap the brownies with aluminum foil before putting them in the oven
- Turn the warm setting on and let the brownies warm for 8 to 10 minutes depending on the number of brownies
- Remove the cake from the oven and serve
How to reheat brownies with a microwave
- Place the brownies in a microwave-safe dish then put into the microwave
- Choose low or medium power and heat for about 15 seconds
- Take the brownies out and serve
How to reheat brownies with a toaster oven
- Cover the brownies in aluminum foil and place on the rack of the oven
- Put the rack into the oven
- Choose the warm setting to heat up brownies for about 5 minutes