Brownies are a delicious dessert, and are a popular choice for many due to their gooey texture, moreish chocolate taste, and the sheer ease of the recipe.
However, when it comes to serving and storing brownies, many people can be left unsure about how to proceed. So this begs the question, how should you cut brownies?
Preparation
Before it comes time to cut the brownies, (see also ‘Can You Freeze Brownies‘) there are a couple of preparatory steps that you need to follow before you can proceed.
Check The Temperature
First things first, you will need to make sure that the brownies have completely cooled (see also ‘How Long to Let Brownies Cool‘) down before cutting.
If they are still hot in the middle, then it is highly unlikely that you will get a neat, clean cut through the brownies, potentially risking mashing them up or ruining the final display.
The Right Equipment
It is also important to make sure that you have the right tools for the job. This means a sharp knife that is capable of cutting through the gooey, thick surface of the cooled brownies.
You don’t want a serrated knife for this, as they could cause damage to the brownies.
Instead, a medium sized kitchen knife would suffice, and will ensure that you can cut/press your way through the brownies in neat rows.
Mark The Lines
You can also use a ruler to measure the dimensions you want to cut, and use the knife edge to score shallow lines in the brownies before you actually begin cutting.
This can ensure that you get equal sized brownies, and that none of the mix goes to waste.
Prepare The Knife
To get the best cut, you can also heat the knife beforehand to make it cut through the brownies more easily.
For this you can use boiling water, letting the knife rest in the liquid for a few minutes, before taking it out and beginning the cut.
The Best Cutting Techniques
When it comes to cutting the brownies, there are three main methods you could use.
Method One – “Basic Brownies”
The first method is the basic way to cut brownies. This is how most people would go about accomplishing this task, and in many ways is the simplest method to do so.
If you have a square or rectangular shape, then take the knife and cut them directly down the middle, creating two equal sized halves.
Once you have two halves, take your knife and half them each again (lengthwise) to create four long segments.
Once you have got these vertical segments, turn the board around, and using your knife, cut three equidistant lines going the opposite way, thus creating (roughly) twelve individual brownies.
Method Two – “Perfect Brownies”
For this method, you need to decide on your initial dimensions, and base this on how many brownies you want to make.
This could correlate with how many guests you are catering for, or how long you would like the brownies to last (if for family consumption).
Once you have done this, the next step is to trim the edges accordingly, making sure you have a perfect square.
These can either be thrown away, or consumed by you when no one is looking *wink wink*.
Once you have your perfect square, the next step is to score on the edges where you want your next lines to be made.
This depends on how large the brownies are designed to be, and how many you want to cut.
Once you have scored your lines, use your hot knife to make clean cuts.
The markers will make it easier to match up and get straight cuts, and this is much easier with a longer knife that can cover more of the brownie in one cut.
Method Three – “Special Equipment”
The third and final method could be considered cheating – as, technically, you do not need to cut them at all. Okay, I’ll explain…
The third method involves specially purchased brownie pans, which have designated square holes to put in your brownie mix.
This means that once cooked, the brownies will rise to the shape of the hole, creating a pre-cut square that needs to be simply prized out of the tray.
This differs from the classic ‘tray bake’ style of brownies, and is very much a modern, no nonsense take on this classic dessert.
However, for those with limited prep time, this can really make things easier.
There are different ways you can go about doing this, and there are numerous types of pans available for purchase, depending on your required needs.
For example, you can get molded, silicon pans that you can turn inside out to remove the baked brownies, or alternatively, you can use muffin pans, which like the above mentioned method, have individual holes for the mixture.
How Long Can Brownies Be Refrigerated?
A freshly baked tray of brownies, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for roughly one week.
For this they need to be properly sealed and covered, either under saran wrap or in a container, as this will ensure that no bacteria, germs, or food liquids splash onto the brownies before they are eaten.
It is important to make sure that the brownies are sufficiently chilled before they go into the refrigerator, as anything else could result in them becoming unsafe to eat, soggy, or just plain undesirable.
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, everything you need to know about brownies (see also ‘How to Know When Brownies Are Done‘), and the best way to cut them for serving.
Brownies are a great dessert, and one that can be enjoyed at any occasion, and with these handy methods, you will always impress your friends with a consistent presentation that perfectly matches your baking.
So if you are looking for the perfect dessert to share with family and friends, then why not give brownies a try? Something tells me you won’t regret it!
