Freshly baked brownies are one of life’s simple pleasures. Their fudgy, chewy texture is nothing short of pure bliss. How can you keep homemade brownies tasting soft and moist for days after baking, though?
With a few simple storage tips and tricks, you can prevent your brownies from turning into dried out hockey pucks and keep them tasting fresh for a while, and I’m here to show you how.
I’m also going to share a few storage troubleshooting tips, as well as a number of creative ways to use leftover brownies.
Stick around!
1 – Avoid Cutting Them
If you plan on storing brownies rather than eating them right away, it is best not to cut them until you are ready to eat.
When you cut brownies, you expose more parts of the brownie to the air. This can make the brownies dry out very quickly.
That means that a yummy chewy brownie is going to turn into a crunchy dry brownie quite fast. No one wants that.
The solution to preventing your brownies from drying out is simple, just keep them in the tray they baked in, uncut until you are ready to eat them.
You can even cut off one brownie at a time just for yourself. Maybe keep a knife nearby so you can conveniently have a snack when you want one!
2 – Keep the Air Away
No matter where you plan on storing your brownies, one of the keys to keeping them fresh is to wrap them tightly. Air is your brownies’ enemy, so any way you can prevent air from touching your brownies is something you should definitely do.
Wrapping your brownies in plastic wrap is the best way to keep brownies fresh. Since you can place plastic wrap directly on top of the brownies and really pull it tightly around them, you will be able to block that drying air completely.
Foil is the second best option for storing brownies as you can bend it to be right against the brownies.
You can also choose to keep brownies fresh by placing them in an airtight container. Plastic storage containers with lids work well as they click together and block air circulation (no dry brownies in there!).
Cookie tins or cookie jars are another option that will suffice. However, they aren’t always as airtight as plastic wrap, plastic storage containers, or foil.
If you are looking for a quick way to wrap individual brownies, just place them directly into Ziploc bags. Not only will this help keep the brownies away from the drying air but it will also make them convenient to eat. Need a brownie? Just grab one of the pre-packaged bags!
The longer brownies stay wrapped and away from that evil, drying air, the better. By the same token, the tighter you can wrap your brownies, the longer they’ll last!
3 – Add a Slice of Bread
If you are storing brownies for a few days inside any type of container, place a piece of sliced bread on top of the jar. The moisture from the bread will help keep the brownies soft and keep them fresh for a few extra days.
If you notice that the bread is starting to get dry, just replace it with a new piece of bread. It may sound crazy, but this bread trick really works to help keep your brownies nice and soft!
No matter where you plan on storing your brownies, one of the keys to keeping them fresh is to wrap them tightly. Air is your brownies’ enemy, so any way you can prevent air from touching your brownies is something you should definitely do.
Wrapping your brownies in plastic wrap is the best way to keep brownies fresh. Since you can place plastic wrap directly on top of the brownies and really pull it tightly around them, you will be able to block that drying air completely.
Foil is the second best option for storing brownies as you can bend it to be right against the brownies.
You can also choose to keep brownies fresh by placing them in an airtight container. Plastic storage containers with lids work well as they click together and block air circulation (no dry brownies in there!).
Cookie tins or cookie jars are another option that will suffice. However, they aren’t always as airtight as plastic wrap, plastic storage containers, or foil.
If you are looking for a quick way to wrap individual brownies, just place them directly into Ziploc bags. Not only will this help keep the brownies away from the drying air but it will also make them convenient to eat. Need a brownie? Just grab one of the pre-packaged bags!
The longer brownies stay wrapped and away from that evil, drying air, the better. By the same token, the tighter you can wrap your brownies, the longer they’ll last!
3 – Add a Slice of Bread
If you are storing brownies for a few days inside any type of container, place a piece of sliced bread on top of the jar. The moisture from the bread will help keep the brownies soft and keep them fresh for a few extra days.
If you notice that the bread is starting to get dry, just replace it with a new piece of bread. It may sound crazy, but this bread trick really works to help keep your brownies nice and soft!
4 – Dip Them in Chocolate
If you want to make some extremely decadent brownies that will stay fresh longer, try dipping your brownies in melted chocolate, covering them completely. This is just one of many ways to improve a brownie mix.
When you dip your brownies in chocolate, you create an airtight shell around them, preventing the air from getting to that delicate brownie surface.
Not only will your brownies be sealed from air exposure, but they will also be oh-so chocolaty, almost like a brownie truffle!
5 – Keep Them at Room Temperature
Almost any chocolate-baked good tastes best when stored at room temperature.
Chocolate is ideal when it is close to its melting temperature, and when you eat a brownie that was stored at room temperature, it will melt quickly in your mouth.
Keeping brownies at room temperature also keeps them soft and chewy, almost as if they just came out of the oven!
If you choose to store the brownies at room temperature, they will stay nice and fresh for about 3-4 days. Follow the directions discussed about how to properly wrap the brownies and then just let them hang out on your counter!
However, when left on your counter, there is a good chance they will be gone before day 4 rolls around!
6 – Refrigerate for Longer Storage
If you want to keep your brownies fresh for longer than a few days, wrap them tightly and then place them in the fridge. When stored this way, brownies will stay fresh for about two weeks.
If you need to eat a brownie, simply grab one from the fridge and let it come to room temperature before eating to make sure it is nice and chewy.
You can also microwave the brownie for a few seconds to heat it up after being in the cold.
If you take a brownie or two from your batch in the fridge, be sure to wrap them back up afterward. The refrigerator can be a very drying place so you want to be sure to keep that air at bay!
Take a few out, re-wrap, and your brownies will be fresh the next time you go to grab one.
7 – Freeze for Even Longer Storage
If you make a huge batch of brownies and want to keep some fresh for a long period of time, the freezer is your best option.
Once again, you are going to want to wrap the brownies tightly, preferably in plastic wrap. Then, store the brownies in the freezer for up to 3 months.
That’s right, they will keep in the freezer for 3 months!
When you are ready to eat the brownies, just take them out of the freezer and let them thaw, still wrapped, at room temperature.
If you need them to be ready a little faster, simply pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and you’ll be eating fresh tasting brownies in no time!
Using the freezer is also a great way to be able to treat yourself to a ‘fresh’ brownie every day. Make a large batch of your favorite brownie recipe and then cut and wrap them as individual servings.
Store them all in the freezer and whenever you need your own brownie, it is right there waiting for you!
Troubleshooting Common Brownie Storage Problems
Uh oh, you stored your brownies but they still dried out. What went wrong?
Here are some common brownie storage mistakes and how to avoid them:
- Stored Them Unwratted: Any exposure to air will dry out your brownies, so always wrap them tightly before storing them.
- Wrapping Too Loose: You want the wrap to hug every contour of your brownies to seal in the moisture.
- Used the Wrong Wrap: Plastic wrap clings tightly and foil molds to shape. Either way, they do a great job of blocking air. Avoid wax paper and paper towels as they allow too much air exposure.
- Cutting Before Storing: Slicing into the brownies creates a more exposed surface area for drying.
- Stored for Too Long: Store your brownies at room temp for up to 4 days max. After that, refrigeration and freezing are your best bet.
- Opening Storage Repeatedly: Each time you open your stored brownies, you allow air to get in and moisture to escape. So, minimize openings.
How to Make Brownies Fresh Again
Sometimes you make brownies and don’t have time to store them properly, so they dry out. Or maybe you just didn’t wrap them quite tightly enough and some of that pesky air got to them, making them crunchy and stale.
Don’t worry! You can easily make your brownies fresh again by using the microwave.
Now, you don’t want to microwave the brownies for too long as you don’t want to cook them further and foods can burn surprisingly fast in the microwave.
Put your brownie in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time—just enough to heat it up and make it soft again. Then, enjoy it right away.
Your brownie will taste fresh and delicious once again!
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Brownies
Got lots of leftover brownies?
Rather than eating them plain or trying to freshen them up, you can get creative with these fun ways to use leftover brownies:
- Brownie Sundae Bar: Set out some leftover brownies, ice cream, and toppings for an invert-it-yourself treat.
- Brownie Truffles: Crumble some brownies, mix them with cream cheese, roll them into balls, coat in chocolate or nuts, and you have brownie truffles!
- Brownie Milkshake: Blend some brownie chunks with ice cream and milk for a thick, chocolatey drink.
- Brownie Crumbs: Use leftover dried-out brownies as an ice cream topping. You can also mix the crumbs into cookies.
The Best Way Ever to Store Brownies
Now, it must be pointed out that the absolute best way to store brownies and to make sure you only eat fresh brownies is to eat them all right away.
That’s right; your stomach is the perfect “storage” place for just baked brownies. Make them, eat them, and never worry about storing them again!
All kidding aside, when you take the time to make a delicious batch of brownies, you want to be sure that they last for a few days or even a few months.
After all, there is no sense in making brownies if they are going to spoil or be wasted!
Yet, when you follow these tried and true methods for storing brownies, you will never have to eat a dried-out brownie again!
So go bake a huge batch of brownies, wrap them up tightly, and store them as directed- then enjoy a fresh brownie anytime.
Happy baking!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.
Susan
Wednesday 26th of July 2023
Thank you so much for the detailed information.
Please help me with storing brownies in the bakery unit, recently i ststed selling my brownies tona local restaurant, they stored the brownie in a warmer for display reason, but the brownie has become so thick, I feel really bad seeing that, what can be done, how can I advise them to store, pls help
Sarah Bridenstine
Tuesday 1st of August 2023
Hi Susan!
You might be able to get them to store the brownies at room temperature in a large jar on a counter, maybe? That way, they are on display, and they are also not being stored in a warmer. I hope that helps!