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Even if you’ve never made brownies before, you can bake brownies like a pro. Don’t know how to prepare the pan, how long to cool the brownies, how to properly cut them, or how to store them? No problem. Follow these seven helpful tips, and you’ll get the best brownies— ooey-gooey and super chocolatey— every time.

How Do You Prepare the Pan for Brownies?

For the best brownies, we usually line our pan with parchment paper or foil. Here’s how you do it: Lightly grease the pan with butter or shortening, then line the pan with parchment paper or foil. The butter or shortening will hold the paper in place. Make certain that the paper protrudes up the sides of the pan.

How Do You Get Your Brownies Extra Chewy?

Do you like your brownies extra chewy? Try using bread flour instead of all-purpose flour. Bread flour has a higher gluten content than does all-purpose. Gluten creates the chewy texture that we find in good bread and will make your brownies chewier. Be sure and mix your brownie batter for several minutes to develop the gluten strands.

What’s the Proper Way to Measure My Flour?

To properly measure your flour to make the best brownies, carefully spoon the flour into your measure. If you just dip and scoop, you will pack the flour and the brownies will turn out more cake-like.

How Can I Double My Batch?

A recipe calling for an 8 x 8-inch pan can be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan. A recipe calling for 9 x 13-inch pan can be doubled and baked in half-sheet pan, 12 x 18-inches. If you take a recipe that calls for a 9 x 13-inch pan and multiple it by 1.5, you can use a 10 x15-inch pan.

How Long Do I Need to Let My Brownies Cool?

On a wire rack in the kitchen, brownies should cool for four or five hours. We cheat and often put our brownies in the refrigerator to cool for an hour. We’ve even been known to put them in the freezing compartment for a half hour. The brownies should be completely cooled before cutting or trying to lift them from the pan.

How Do You Make Nice, Clean Cuts When Cutting Brownies?

After the brownies are baked and have partially cooled, grab the edges of the parchment paper and lift the brownies to a cutting board. Cut them into nice, neat squares on the cutting board using a ruler. We usually trim the edges so that the cookies will be uniform. Use a sharp knife and wipe the blade with a damp cloth after each cut.

How Do You Store Brownies?

For short-term storage, layer them between wax paper or parchment sheets inside of a container with a tight-fitting lid. You can store your brownies this way for up to five days. For longer-term storage, freeze them. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and put them in a heavy plastic bag. They will last for several months.

Best Brownie Recipes and Ideas

(Updated from May 22, 2014)

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