Whenever I want a warm, chocolatey, decadent dessert, brownies are a solid go-to to satisfy my cravings.
The problem is that when you make brownies, you can never make just one.
You have to make a whole pan.
I have no problem eating room-temperature brownies, but there’s something extra special about a freshly-baked brownie.
I guess you think the same, which is why you’re here.
I’ve tested five ways to reheat brownies to determine which one gives me (and you) the best “fresh from the oven” results.
A note on my experiment
To begin, I made two batches of brownies.
One batch was the standard, original style brownies that have more of a cake-like texture.
My other batch was what you’d call fudgey brownies – a little gooier, denser, and richer than regular brownies.
After indulging in – I mean “quality testing” – more brownies than I probably should have eaten, I set several brownies from each batch aside to test out some methods for reheating them.
I tried:
- The oven/toaster oven (my favorite)
- The microwave (my partner’s favorite and good for stale brownies)
- An air fryer
- On a toaster (a surprise contender for the top spot)
- In a skillet (worst method, not recommended)
I wanted to recreate the moistness of a freshly-baked brownie and the little bit of crunch you get around the edges.
Reheating brownies in the microwave
To reheat brownies in the microwave, place one or two brownies on a microwave-safe plate. If the brownies are stale, cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave on HIGH in 10-second intervals until warmed through, about 20 to 30 seconds for one brownie.
How to reheat brownies in the microwave:
- Place one or two brownies on a microwave-safe plate.
- If the brownies are on the stale side, cover them with a damp paper towel.
- Microwave on HIGH in 10-second intervals, for about 20 to 30 seconds total.
- Let the brownies rest for 30-60 seconds before eating.
I only recommend reheating one or two slices at a time.
Too many slices will result in uneven heating.
Using a damp paper towel will prevent stale brownies from drying out further and can also add back some moisture.
If you use a damp paper towel on not-so-stale brownies, you’ll get super soft and gooey brownies.
Watch your total cooking time.
It’s easy for the brownies to overcook if you let them go too long in the microwave.
My verdict
The original, “normal” brownies came out soft and moist – they were good.
The fudgey brownies came out extremely gooey, almost as if they had melted a bit. I didn’t care for them, but my partner loved them.
Top tip: the microwave works really well for stale brownies.
Reheating brownies in the oven or toaster oven
Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Place the brownies on a baking sheet and heat for 5 minutes. If reheating a large slab or an entire batch, cover the baking sheet loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil and bake for 10 to 20 minutes, removing the foil for the last 5 minutes.
If you use a toaster oven you can shave a few minutes of the total heating time.
How to reheat brownies in the oven or toaster oven:
- Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
- Place brownies on a baking sheet. Cover with foil if reheating a large slab.
- Heat for 3 to 5 minutes for a single slice, 15 to 20 minutes for a large slab.
- Remove foil for the last 5 minutes if heating a large slab so the top can crisp up.
Using aluminum foil for a large slab of brownies helps prevent the brownies drying out too much.
You don’t need to use it if you’re only reheating a single slice because it won’t be in the oven long enough to dry out.
The total heating time will vary depending on how thick or thin your brownies are.
Also, if you’re reheating brownies from the refrigerator, they’ll take slightly longer than room temperature brownies.
My verdict
This was my favorite method.
It was slower than the others methods (although a toaster oven is quicker), but the results were worth it.
The regular brownies developed a nice crust on the top and still had some moisture.
The fudgey brownies still had some bite to them and they weren’t as melty as the ones from the microwave.
Note: I reheated slices. If you’re doing a whole slab, the results may be a little drier.
Reheating brownies in an air fryer
To reheat brownies in an air fryer, set it to 350ºF (180ºC). Place brownies in the fryer basket and heat one minute for a single slice, longer for multiple slices. Check on the brownies often to avoid overheating them.
How to reheat brownies in an air fryer:
- Set air fryer to 350ºF (180ºC).
- Place brownie(s) in fryer basket.
- Heat for one minute for a single slice, additional time for multiple slices.
Air fryers can be tricky, and it’s easy to overcook something.
Even 30 seconds too long could ruin a small brownie.
I find using a piece of parchment paper under the brownie makes it easy to get out once it’s hot.
No one wants to burn their fingers on a scorching hot brownie.
My verdict
This method was okay, but there’s very little room for error. Proceed with caution.
I found the regular brownies were a little dry, but the fudgey brownies were gooey and quite tasty.
Because they were moister to begin with, the air fryer didn’t dry them out as much.
Reheating brownies on a toaster
This method works best for toasters with a built-in heat rack. Place the brownie on the toaster’s heating rack, set the toaster to high, and allow the brownie to heat to your liking. You can also place a wire rack over the toaster, but this carries risks.
How to reheat brownies on a toaster:
- Set a wire rack or heating rack over the toaster.
- Place your brownie on the rack above the toaster slots.
- Set toaster to HIGH and warm brownies to preferred results.
This method requires some care if you set a wire rack on top of a toaster (like I did in the picture), as you run the risk of electrocution if the wire rack falls into the toaster slots.
Be very careful.
The timing of this totally depends on your toaster, which is why I don’t have a suggested time here.
Just keep feeling the brownie until it’s warm enough for you.
My verdict
This method gave surprisingly good results for both types of brownies, especially as it’s a somewhat unusual way to reheat a baked good.
I think the brownies turned out well because they were warmed by indirect heat, so they didn’t cook any further and there was no textural changes.
Reheating brownies in a skillet
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and sprinkle a few tablespoons of water around the edge of the pan. Place the brownie in the middle of the pan and cover with a lid to create steam. Cook until heated through.
How to reheat brownies in a skillet:
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Sprinkle 3 to 4 tablespoons of water around the edge of the pan.
- Place the brownie in the center of the pan.
- Cover with a lid.
- Heat/steam brownie until warmed through.
Using a non-stick pan is your best option if you’re going with this method.
If you’re still worried about the brownie sticking to the pan, add a little bit of cooking oil to the pan before heating.
My verdict
This method just did not work for me at all.
The brownies tasted okay (I mean, it’s kind of hard to mess up the taste of brownies).
But the bottom of the brownie heated faster than the rest and actually started cooking. This created an uneven texture in both types of brownies that I didn’t enjoy.
I don’t recommend using a skillet.
How to store brownies
You can keep brownies in their original baking pan covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Or, you can transfer the brownies to an airtight container. Be sure to let them cool completely before storing them. Original brownies will last for 3-4 days at room temperature.
If you want to keep the brownies past 4 days, you need to refrigerate them. Brownies will last up to 5 days in the fridge, but after that will become very stale.
Brownies with perishable ingredients, like cream cheese, should be refrigerated as soon as possible, preferably within two hours.
Brownies keep better if you don’t cut them first.
Cutting brownies exposes them to more air, causing them to dry out faster.
If you’ve already cut your brownies or need to cut them to store them, aim to eat them within two days.
An interesting way to keep your brownies from drying out too fast is to add a slice of bread to the container. The bread gives off extra moisture, which is then absorbed by the brownies.
Can you freeze brownies?
Brownies, like other baked goods, can be frozen for up to three months before they start to dry out or experience any textural changes. You can freeze cut or whole brownies. With either type, it’s important to minimize air exposure to prevent freezer burn.
How to freeze brownies:
- Wait for brownies to cool to room temperature (so no ice crystals form in the freezer).
- Remove the brownie from its pan.
- Wrap individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil (or wrap the whole slab).
- Place wrapped pieces in an airtight freezer bag or airtight container.
- Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag before closing (skip this step if using a container).
- Freeze for up to three months.
Slices of brownie are more susceptible to freezer burn because there are more points of exposure.
The triple layer of protection I suggest here will ensure no air can get to the brownies and tarnish them with freezer burn.
If you’re going to eat the brownies within 2-3 weeks, you can skip the plastic wrap and aluminum foil and instead flash freeze the brownies on a baking tray before putting them in the freezer bag.
Flash freezing the brownies will make sure they don’t stick together in the freezer bag.
How to reheat frozen brownies
It’s best to thaw your brownies before reheating them because they’ll heat more evenly. Take them out of the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature, leaving them wrapped. From there, you can reheat them in the oven or the microwave.
You can also reheat your brownies straight from frozen.
This is one area where the microwave works pretty well.
Unwrap your brownies and place them on a microwave-safe plate, then heat on 50% power in 15-second intervals until they’re soft and warm.
The oven is another option.
Completely unwrap your brownies and place them on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and heat the brownies for 8-10 minutes for a slice.
You will want to cover them with foil for most of the reheating time to prevent the top from over-browning or even burning.
Read Next: How To Fix Undercooked Brownies
The BEST Way To Reheat Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 portion brownie
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
- Place brownies on a baking sheet. Cover with foil if reheating a large slab.
- Heat for 3 to 5 minutes for a single slice, 15 to 20 minutes for a large slab.
- Remove foil for the last 5 minutes if heating a large slab so the top can crisp up.
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