Do Brownies Go Bad?

Question; Do brownies go bad? Read on to find out.
Fudgy, chewy and dense, brownies are the most popular treats especially when it comes to children (who wouldn’t like them anyway?) who prefer sweet deserts. Although brownies can be found in bakeshops, cafes and supermarkets, they can’t be compared to those tasty homemade brownies that are freshly baked from the oven.
What happens when you’ve baked a huge batch and would like to save the leftovers for future use? I bet you’re wondering, do brownies get spoiled?
Or you might have ordered a lot of them online, and when the package reached you discover that what you ordered is twice as much as what you expected. You’re now debating on the best way of preserving the brownies and how long they can be stored before they become dry or spoiled.
If either is the case, this article will be perfect for you. Here, we discuss the shelf life, storage and getting spoiled of brownies. If you want more information on this great treat, then you came to the right place.
How to Store Brownies
Though there are different kinds of brownies available, the storage instructions are pretty much the same.
The first and most important thing about brownies is to prevent them from drying out. That’s why when you order brownies online, they are usually packed individually, and why most bakeries sell their brownies plastic wraps or containers.
If you prefer baking your brownies from home or buy some that weren’t packed in a container or plastic wrap, you can just transfer them into a freezer bag, an airtight container or wrap them using plastic wrap.
As for homemade brownies (a great piece of advice), instead of dividing the slab into smaller squares once it has cooled down a little, you can just leave it as it is. Or you can even divide it into several large pieces and store every one of them in an airtight container.
This ensures that there’s less surface area in the storage container and that the brownies will dry out very slowly. You will then have to cut it into smaller squares before giving them to your kids.
Now that we’ve looked at how they can be stored, let’s discuss where they can be stored. Generally, you can decide to store them in the pantry or the fridge. Each method has some pros and cons and you’ll find that either might work better for a particular kind of brownies than the others.
Let’s begin with the kitchen and pantry. Keeping them at room temperature works well for brownies that are airier and lighter and contain very little moisture content. This means that they don’t have heavy frosting or a very moist filling.
Dense brownies containing too much moisture content will do well when stored in the fridge. The fudgy-like variety basically has more eggs and the filling used on them is usually creamy and thick. Brownies containing dairy-based frosting or filling must be refrigerated because the ingredients used to make them are temperature-sensitive ingredients.
If you’re buying yours online, the order always comes with storage instructions, so you won’t really need to guess. Alternatively, you can check out the bakery or store’s website for instructions. This is vital as there are companies that instruct the customer to not put their brownies in the fridge.
If you’re baking your brownies from home and are using a recipe you got online, ensure that you look for the storage instructions too.
Can You Freeze Brownies?
If you think that you won’t be able to finish all your brownies in time, your best bet would be to freeze them. Remember that different kinds of brownies normally freeze differently.
Cake-like and classic brownies normally don’t freeze completely since they contain low density and moisture content. They tend to get grainy and crumby once they finish thawing. However, fudgy-like, dense brownies freeze pretty well, the same way cheesecake does.
When looking for the best way to freeze brownies, the most vital thing that needs to be done is that they need to be well protected from the cold air in the refrigerator as much as possible. You can do this by using freezer bags. Alternatively, you can wrap the squares or slabs in cling film or aluminum foil. You can as well label them with a date and name if necessary.
When you’re ready to thaw the frozen brownies, the best way to do so is in the fridge.
[insert brownies photo]
How Long Do Brownies Last?
When looking at the shelf life of brownies, they really aren’t any fast and hard rules. Generally, homemade brownies can stay for about 3 to 4 days when stored in the pantry, and for almost a week when in the fridge. Note that there are some cases, as we mentioned earlier where brownies need to be refrigerated immediately. This pretty much applies to brownies bought from the bakery.
Of course, these rules are just guidelines, and there are brownies that will stay for a much longer time, while others will taste off after only 3 days of being stored. Generally, the more sensitive the brownies are, the lesser their shelf life will be.
If you purchased your brownies online, the storage periods aren’t very clear. Some companies suggest that they should be stored for about 5 days, while others say that it’s safe to store them for 30 days in the refrigerator and 7 days in the kitchen or pantry. This is why you need to read the storage guidelines whenever you buy yours online.
If you’d like to keep the brownies for a longer time, it’s best to always freeze them. As we mentioned before, different kinds of brownies yield different results. Thus, if you tend to use the same recipe for your brownies or buy them from the same bakery, it’s best to freeze them if you’re planning on baking or buying in bulk.
Pantry | Fridge | |
Homemade brownies | 3 – 4 days | 7 days |
Bakery-bought brownies | 3 – 4 days | 7 days |
Brownies ordered online | 5 – 14 days | 7 to 30 days |
Note that the periods given are just estimates, and there being several different brownie recipes, the periods might be pretty off in some cases.
How To Tell If Brownies Have Gone Bad
Fresh brownies will lose their quality with time, especially when you store yours in the pantry or refrigerator for a prolonged time. Look out for any kind of changes in appearance or color. If the aroma or color in your brownies seems a bit off, take caution and discard them. Since moist brownies tend to get moldy and you notice mold growing on them, make sure to throw them away.
Finally, if the brownies have been in storage for a longer time than you normally do, it would be safer for you to throw them away. Don’t risk it, even if the treats are your favorite dessert.