Brownies in my house rarely make it past day one but in the rare case that you have brownies leftover, you may need to know whether or not they go bad.
Once brownies have been baked, if properly stored can last from about four days to a week. Baked brownies can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Uncooked but mixed brownie batter will only last up to three days. The key to making brownies last longer is proper storage. Airtight containers will prolong the life of brownies whether you keep them on the counter, in the refrigerator, or the freezer.
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Do Brownies Go Bad? How Long Do Brownies Last?
Brownies can be kept on the counter, in the refrigerator, or the freezer. Each type of storage promotes a different length of shelf life. Read on to learn more.
How Long Do Brownies Last Outside?
You can keep the freshly baked brownies on the counter anywhere from about 4 days up to a week. Room temperature will be fine to keep brownies.
Brownies left on the counter should be tightly covered whether they are in Ziploc bags, airtight containers, or covered tightly with saran wrap.
Uncovered brownies won’t necessarily go bad faster, but they will get hard and be a little less enjoyable. If this happens, get them covered and warm them up to soften before enjoying.
How Long Do Brownies Last In The Fridge?
You can store brownies in the refrigerator but it makes the condition of the brownies deteriorate faster if they are not stored properly. The starches will crystallize when they get cold.
Brownies in the fridge will last a couple of weeks in the fridge if they are stored properly. To store them properly they should be wrapped tightly. Plastic wrap would be the best to prevent the cold air from damaging them.
If you want to enjoy a brownie from the fridge, it is best to let it come to room temp before you eat it so it can return to its fresh and chewy state.
How Long Do Brownies Last In The Freezer?
You can freeze a whole pan of brownies uncut or freeze individual brownies. Whichever way you choose; you need to make sure they are tightly sealed to prevent freezer burn.
Brownies properly stored in the freezer can last for about four to six months. After that, they will remain safe to eat but may lose some of their quality.
Additionally, you can freeze brownie batter for a time similar to freezing brownies. It will last up to six months and should be properly sealed to prevent freezer burn.
You now know that should you have any leftover brownies, the best way to store them to maintain the quality is at room temperature for up to a week.
How To Tell If Brownies Have Gone Bad/How To Know Brownies Are Fresh
There are always signs that tell you your brownies have gone bad and should be thrown away.
Baked brownies stored at room temperature: Brownies on the counter that are starting to near the end of their shelf life will become dry and crumbly. If they have sat out too long, the edges will be especially dry and get very hard. You can also tell they are going bad by smell or taste. If they smell or taste off at all, it would be best to get rid of them.
Brownies stored in the freezer: While frozen brownies won’t technically go bad, they can be damaged. Freezer burn is the number one cause of brownies going bad in the freezer. Signs of freezer burn are white splotches or ice crystals on the brownies. Freezer burn will cause the brownies to lose their quality and their delicious flavor. Once freezer burnt, they are a lost cause and should be thrown away.
Additionally, there are some surefire ways to spot fresh brownies.
Fresh brownies: Brownies can be fudgy or cakey. Cakey brownies should be light, moist, and airy. The inside of the brownie should be fluffy and resemble a cake. Fudgy brownies are dense, moist, and gooey with a texture that resembles fudge. Moist brownies are a sure sign they are fresh.
How To Store Brownies
As previously mentioned, the best way to store brownies is on the counter at room temperature.
Don’t cut them right away: Cutting the brownies exposes more of the brownies to air which can cause them to dry out faster.
Keep them away from the air: Make sure your brownies are protected from the air. This can be done by placing them in an airtight container such as a plastic storage container with a lid. Other options to keep air out are plastic wrap or foil.
Add a slice of bread: Bread inside a container with brownies will absorb the moisture keeping your brownies fresh and soft for longer.
Can You Freeze Brownies? How?
If you want to freeze an entire pan of brownies, follow these instructions.
Don’t cut them: Freezing the whole slab is the best way to protect them from oxidation and freezer burn. Once they are cut, more of the brownie is exposed to air which causes them to dry out. Oxidation can also cause color changes in the brownies.
Line the pan: If you are going to freeze the whole sheet of brownies, it would be best to line the pan with parchment paper so you can easily remove them from the pan.
Let them cool: This is very important! Before you wrap them up for storage, they need to be cooled completely.
Wrap them up tightly: After they are cooled, take the brownie slab out of the pan with the parchment paper. Wrap them up tightly with plastic wrap. For best protection, you should cover the plastic wrap with foil. As an added measure, it wouldn’t hurt to put the twice wrapped brownies into a freezer bag.
How To Thaw Brownies
Thawing out brownies is a piece of cake and there’s a couple of ways to do it.
Let them thaw naturally: Take them out of the freezer and unwrap the plastic wrap and foil. Set them on a plate or cookie sheet and let them come to room temperature.
Put them in the microwave: If you can’t wait for them to thaw naturally, you can stick them in the microwave at half power for 15-second increments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brownie’s Shelf Life
We never want to eat anything that has gone bad so there are some questions about the shelf life of brownies. Read on to find answers to those questions.
Can I use a brownie mix that is past the expiration date? Yes. If the box and package inside are undamaged and have been properly stored, you can use them. Most packaged mix will contain a “Best By” date and should not be confused with an expiration date. The date is an estimate by the manufacture of how long the brownie mix will maintain its highest quality.
Is it safe to eat freezer-burned brownies? Yes. Freezer burn does not make the brownies unsafe to eat and you will not get sick from eating them. Freezer burn will affect the taste, texture, and color of the brownies. There is no way to reverse freezer burn but you can remove the more affected areas of the brownies and eat the less damaged part.
Wrap-Up
In the event you have brownies leftover or you want to save them to enjoy later, I hope this article has helped you know the best way to prolong the life of your brownies so you can enjoy their chocolatey goodness for longer.
