How to Remove Brownies from Pan in 4 Simple Steps (2024)

When I first started baking, I would bake my brownies and start scooping out bites with a fork – right from the pan. When it came time to remove the rest of the batch, I took a spatula and went to town. Of course, my brownies looked like a crumbly mess by the end.

I thought, there has to be a better way (or should I say a batter way – get it?).

If you want to remove brownies from the pan without the mess or disaster, all you need to do is a bit of prep work. Greasing, flouring, and using a liner is the greatest way to achieve brownie removal greatness.

Hey! My name is Michelle, and I love brownies! Ooey-gooey delicious brownies are great whether it’s a weeknight treat or served with ice cream and toppings for a special occasion. Either way, removing them from the pan is an important step in brownie consumption.

Let’s bake and remove some brownies, chefs!

How to Remove Brownies from Pan in 4 Simple Steps (1)

Contents

  • How to Remove Brownies from Pan
    • 1. It Starts With the Right Pan
    • 2. Grease, Grease, Grease!
    • 3. Line the Pan
    • 4. Cook, Cool, and Remove
  • FAQs
    • What is the easiest way to remove brownies from a pan?
    • How long should brownies cool before removing from pan?
    • What to do if you forgot to spray the brownie pan?
    • Why are my brownies sticking to the pan?
  • Final Thoughts

How to Remove Brownies from Pan

Ok, don’t panic. While there are multiple steps for removing brownies from the pan, they are not difficult. In fact, you can add these simple steps into your normal brownie baking routine without skipping a beat. Let’s take a closer look.

1. It Starts With the Right Pan

Have you ever tried baking brownies in different pans? I have. And each pan rendered different results. The glass pan had a lot of sticking, while the metal pan did swell. So what pan should you be using?

Non-stick and metal pans are your best option for baking brownies. They will produce less stickiness, thus making your brownies easier to remove. Don’t worry if you only have a glass pan, though. There is a way to reduce stickiness no matter what pan you’re using.

Keep reading.

2. Grease, Grease, Grease!

No, I’m not talking about the movie. (Unless you want to talk about the movie, then comment below!). No, instead, I am talking about thoroughly greasing your brownie baking pan. It doesn’t matter if it’s nonstick, metal, glass, or even a disposable foil brownie pan.

It is critical to grease your pan before any other steps. You can use a cooking spray, butter, shortening – anything you have on hand or prefer to use.

Then, sprinkle the bottom of the pan with flour or cocoa powder. Both will serve to reduce stickiness and allow for better brownie removal. The bonus of using cocoa powder is that you will add to the delectable chocolate flavor of your baked treats.

Shake off excess flour or cocoa powder into the sink. There shouldn’t be so much that it impacts the texture, flavor, or anything else regarding your final product.

3. Line the Pan

I know what you’re thinking – I still have to line the pan? Yup, you do. Why? Because even with ample greasing, there is still room for sticking. Not only that but lining the pan will make it infinitely easier to simply pull your brownie block right out of the pan.

What kind of liner should you use? Well, parchment paper is always a baker’s fave. But you’re not limited to parchment paper. Aluminum foil can also work wonders.

Leave a bit of ‘extra’ liner, so you have something to grab onto and pull when your brownies are done baking.

Keep in mind, lining the pan isn’t exactly essential. If you don’t have any in your cabinet, don’t panic. Just make sure you grease a bit more. Know that it might be a bit more challenging to remove brownies.

4. Cook, Cool, and Remove

Now that you’re greased, lined, and filled, you can start baking. When the timer goes off, remove the brownies from the oven with your oven mitt. Let the brownies cool entirely before trying to remove them. I know I’m impatient with my baked goods, too, but it’ll be worth it!

When they’re cooled down, grip the liner and simply pull the brownies out from the pan.

If you did not use a liner, then work a rubber spatula gently around the edges of your brownies. Then, simply flip the brownies upside-down onto a plate. If this doesn’t work, then warm the bottom of the pan for a few minutes on a low-heat stovetop.

Doing this will allow the greaser, whether butter, shortening, or another agent, to moisten and allow the brownies to slide out with ease.

How to Remove Brownies from Pan in 4 Simple Steps (2)

FAQs

Removing brownies from a pan is a cinch when you have a properly greased pan and a good liner. Still have some prying questions about brownie removal? Keep reading to find out the answers.

What is the easiest way to remove brownies from a pan?

The easiest way to remove brownies from a pan is to grease the pan heavily and place a liner on top. Leave a few extra inches of the liner so you have something to grip onto for removing.

How long should brownies cool before removing from pan?

The longer, the better, but 30 minutes minimum. This works best for those using a liner. If you’re not using a liner and rely on grease alone, you might have to heat the pan once more to remove the brownies.

What to do if you forgot to spray the brownie pan?

While this is a big no-no, don’t worry. You can stick the brownie pan inside a larger bowl filled with hot water. Let the brownies sit for a few minutes and try to remove them.

Why are my brownies sticking to the pan?

You likely did not grease the entirety of the pan or use a liner. However, you may also have used the wrong type and size of pan for brownies.

Final Thoughts

Brownies may have notoriously stuck to the pan in the past, but now you know how to combat this sticky situation and remove brownies from the pan with ease. Just make sure you grease heavily and line the right size and type of baking pan for the best results.

How do you remove your brownies from the pan?

About Michelle

How to Remove Brownies from Pan in 4 Simple Steps (3)

I have been a lover of sweets since day one. This led me on a self-taught baking journey starting at the age of 13. It's been over 10 years since the start of my baking adventures, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Now, people rave about my delectable treats, whether it’s a chocolate cake or a strawberry crepe.

How to Remove Brownies from Pan in 4 Simple Steps (2024)

FAQs

How do you remove brownies from a pan? ›

Let the brownies cool entirely before trying to remove them.

If you did not use a liner, then work a rubber spatula gently around the edges of your brownies. Then, simply flip the brownies upside-down onto a plate. If this doesn't work, then warm the bottom of the pan for a few minutes on a low-heat stovetop.

What is the easiest way to remove a cake from a pan? ›

How to Get a Cake Out of the Pan When It's Stuck
  1. Let it cool. Unless your recipe specifies otherwise, let the cake cool completely to allow the structure to solidify. ...
  2. Loosen the edges. ...
  3. Invert the cake. ...
  4. Give it time. ...
  5. Heat it or chill it. ...
  6. Squeeze out the cake. ...
  7. Serve it in the pan. ...
  8. Grease the pan.
14 Jun 2022

How do you make brownies in a pan? ›

Be sure to select a light-colored, shiny pan, which will conduct heat evenly. Glass or dark-colored pans can cause the edges to overbake or even burn. Always grease the pan thoroughly with shortening, softened butter, or cooking spray. (Do this even if the recipe doesn't specify.)

What is the first step to do when making brownies? ›

  1. Step 1: Prep Chocolate for Brownies. Of course, you can't make chocolate fudge brownies without chocolate. ...
  2. Step 2: Melt Chocolate and Butter. ...
  3. Step 3: Add Sugar. ...
  4. Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla. ...
  5. Step 5: Add Flour. ...
  6. Step 6: Mix Brownie Batter. ...
  7. Step 7: Bake, Cool, and Frost Brownies.
19 Jul 2022

How long do brownies need to cool before removing from pan? ›

We know it's oh-so tempting to dive into a pan of just-cooked brownies. But if you're looking to cleanly slice your brownies, let them cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into them.

How do you get a cake out of the pan without it sticking? ›

She starts by greasing the pan with butter and then cuts a piece of parchment that is slightly smaller than the size of the pan you're baking with. Place the parchment inside the greased pan and tuck it in so that it is flush with the bottom of the cake pan.

How do I get a cake out of a pan without breaking it? ›

How to Get Cake Out of Pan?
  1. Cooling Cake. No matter what cake it is you're baking, cooling your cake is likely a necessary procedure before you remove the cake. ...
  2. Tap the Cake. ...
  3. Slide a Knife Through. ...
  4. Warm the Sides. ...
  5. Nuke it. ...
  6. Freeze it.
22 Oct 2021

What are the steps for removing cakes and breads from pans? ›

Remember to grease the pan well. You may need to run a knife around the edge of the bread to loosen it. Then gently shake the pan so the bread loosens and invert onto a wire rack. Turn right-side up and let cool completely before slicing.

How do you remove a cake from the base? ›

Completely cool the cake in the pan. Run a non-serrated knife or nylon spatula around the edges of the pan. Then place the pan into the freezer and freeze for about 1 to 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and run the knife around the edges of the pan one more time.

How do you remove a cake from the top? ›

Lightly press the palm of your hand on the top of the cake to prevent it from moving. Using a slow sawing motion, slice the dome off with a thin serrated knife. Try to cut off as little as possible to maintain the height of your cake. Make sure to keep the knife level.

Should I remove brownies from pan? ›

Pour the batter into the pan, spreading evenly before baking. After baking, I let the brownies cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing it all with the parchment paper and placing on a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, the parchment paper should easily remove from the brownies.

What is a brownie pan? ›

Types of Brownie Pans

Square and rectangular pans are the most common brownie baking dishes. Simply bake your brownie then cut it into smaller pieces after it's done. Some of these pans come with divider inserts to help with distributing heat and portioning the brownies.

What pan do you need for brownies? ›

For classic brownies, we like to use a metal baking pan instead of a glass or ceramic one. Metal will cook evenly, prevent over-browning, and yield straight edges. Since you're going to butter your baking dish, nonstick isn't necessary, either.

How long should brownies cook? ›

Bake the brownies for 20-25 minutes. The brownies should still wobble slightly in the middle, as they will continue to cook for a little while when removed from the oven. An over-baked brownie is dry and crumbly, rather than moist and fudgy, so keep an eye on them. Let the brownies cool completely in their tin.

What is the secret of a good brownie? ›

Ideally, we want all of the ingredients to be around the same temperature so they combine well and create a nice, thick, hom*ogenous batter. Using melted butter in brownies is also the way to go! Melted butter creates a more moist, chewy and fudgy brownie texture.

How soon after baking something should you remove it from the pan? ›

Let the cake cool.

It should spend at least twenty to thirty minutes on your cooling rack or countertop before you even attempt to remove it from its pan.

How do you know when to pull brownies out? ›

For cake-like brownies, take them out of the oven when they just begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, or when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For fudgy brownies, bake within the time range stated in the recipe. For very moist brownies, take them out toward the minimum baking time.

What to do with brownies after baking? ›

Categories. After you cut the brownies, either cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil or remove the brownies and place them in an airtight container. If they contain perishable ingredients such as cream cheese, place them in the refrigerator.

How do you get brownies out of a pan without breaking it? ›

The best way to get brownies out of a pan is to cool them on a cold rag. If you are still struggling, then you can heat the pan a bit before trying to remove them.

Should brownies be left in pan to cool? ›

As the brownies are gooey it is difficult to remove them from the baking tin quickly as they can break up easily when warm. We suggest leaving the brownies until they are completely cold, then lifting the sheet of brownies out of the tin using the baking parchment (parchment paper) and cutting them into squares.

Do you leave brownies to cool in the tin? ›

Cutting brownies too soon after baking is a messy business. To portion brownies neatly, leave them to cool completely in the tin, then pop them in the fridge for an hour or so. You'll be able to slice the squares perfectly.

What is the best way to cut brownies? ›

To cut brownies cleanly, use a straight-edge blade rather than a serrated knife or a plastic knife. I like to use a chef's knife that's at least 8-inches long so I can make 6 even cuts into an 8-by-8-inch pan of brownies for a total of 9 generously sized brownies.

How do you get something unstuck from a pan? ›

Soda & Vinegar

If soaking does not work, use some readily available baking products that most kitchens have on hand – baking soda and vinegar. You'll need half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar, and hot water. Sprinkle the baking soda on the surface of the pan and pour some vinegar on top of it.

Do you put brownies in the fridge after baking? ›

Do Brownies Need to Be Refrigerated? Brownies don't need to be refrigerated, but they'll hold up a few more days if they are. Unless your brownies include more perishable ingredients like fresh fruit or cream cheese frosting, they'll be fine at room temperature as long as they're stored in an airtight container.

Should you cover brownies after baking? ›

You can let your brownies cool overnight. In fact, your brownies will taste even better the next day when all the flavors have locked in. Just make sure that you wrap them tightly or put them in airtight containers before storing them in the fridge as the fridge tends to dry food out.

Why did my brownies sink? ›

When you beat the eggs and butter you incorporate air into them, and the flour stabilizes the air bubbles. But if too much air is in the mixture for the amount of flour, the brownies "over-expand" as they bake, but collapse, or cave in, as they cool and the unstable air bubbles deflate.

How long should brownies sit? ›

The minimum waiting time for letting brownies cool down is not less than thirty minutes for it to be suited for cutting. But the standard time of cooling the freshly baked brownies is at least one hour to achieve that perfect cut.

Why are my brownies dry? ›

Why are my brownies too crumbly - There are several reasons for crumbly brownies - either you over baked the brownie, or underbaked and cut it way too soon and there is less fat and liquid ingredients in the brownie batter.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Last Updated:

Views: 5720

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Birthday: 1993-03-26

Address: 917 Hyun Views, Rogahnmouth, KY 91013-8827

Phone: +5938540192553

Job: Administration Developer

Hobby: Embroidery, Horseback riding, Juggling, Urban exploration, Skiing, Cycling, Handball

Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.