Can you freeze brownies? Brownies are perhaps some of the most popular sweet treats and if you’re wondering if you can freeze brownies, you can! Freezing is no doubt the most effective way to preserve brownies for later use. Why? The method causes little change to the food. As long as the brownies are prepped well prior to freezing, the original texture and moisture content of the brownies will remain the same. This goes especially if you’re trying to avoid freezer burns.
Now, before thinking of ways of how can you freeze brownies, it’s important to note what sort of brownies require freezing. Brownies come in different varieties; some are fudge-like while others are similar to biscuits. The type of frosting, bits and other ingredients added into the brownies will affect the overall texture and flavor of the dessert after thawing.
Most types of brownies could be frozen successfully but those with cheesecake swirls will require more prep. Why? These brownies sometime sweat during thawing. They are fine to eat when they sweat but the extra moisture could turn the brownies into mush. When frozen, brownies could keep up to 3 months in the freezer. Here is a step-by-step guide on can you freeze brownies properly:
How to Freeze Brownies?
If you made brownies from scratch, leave the slab of brownies you’ll freeze to cool completely prior to storage. Remove the brownies from the pan and leave it to sit on a wire rack for an hour or two. If you’re planning to freeze most of the brownies, it’s best not to cut the brownies into squares. Instead, stick the whole slab in the freezer. Whenever you need a couple of squares, just cut the slab up to desired pieces and thaw the brownies bit by bit.
To do this, get a plastic wrap or durable aluminum foil and wrap the whole brownie slab. Fold or roll the edges of the plastic wrap or aluminum foil tightly around the brownie slab, making sure not to crush the dessert inside. Once the wrapping is sealed, put the slab of brownies in a resealable and food-safe plastic bag. The bag will prevent moisture loss and freezer burn. Finally, label the bag or container with the content, the date of storage and stick in the freezer immediately.
If you don’t have room in the freezer for a whole slab of brownies, go ahead and cut the slab into manageable pieces prior to freezing. Just make sure you’re using an airtight container when freezing smaller pieces of brownies to retain the flavor and texture!
How to Defrost and Reheat Frozen Brownies?
Ready to make good use of the brownies you kept in the freezer? The good news is, it’s easy to defrost and reheat frozen brownies. But there are certain steps you need to take to maintain the heavenly texture of the brownies. The last thing you want is to ruin a batch because of improper thawing!
To thaw the frozen brownies, take the brownie out of the storage bag and carefully unwrap the aluminum foil or cling wrap cover. Cut yourself several squares in the desired size using a sharp, serrated knife. Brownies won’t be hard as a brick even when completely frozen so it’s fine to cut it up straight away. Wrap the rest of the brownie slab carefully and stick it back into the freezer.
Now, leave the cut up brownie squares to thaw at room temperature for two to three hours. Then, reheat the brownies using a microwave or a toaster. If you’re using a toaster, keep a close eye on the brownies because the sugars could scorch! Once reheated, you can now serve the brownies as a quick snack or topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with hot fudge topping for a fancy dessert!
Summary
Just like any type of baked goods, brownies can be frozen and reheated with little to no change in its texture and appearance. Of course, it helps if you store the brownies properly so every batch you reheat turns out better. Nothing is worse than mushy brownies with watered down taste. We hope that this step-by-step guide helped you learn the right way to freeze brownies for future uses.