Best Brownie Hacks: No-Stick Solutions For Baking Pans

Baking brownies is fun, but cleaning up after them is not. The worst part is when the brownies stick to the pan, and you're left with a mess to clean up and less brownie to eat. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent this from happening. Firstly, you can line your pan with parchment paper or aluminium foil. This not only makes for easy cleanup but also keeps the brownies from sticking. You can also grease the pan with butter, oil, or cooking spray. If you want to be extra sure that your brownies won't stick, you can put cocoa powder over the grease. Another option is to use a non-stick pan.

Use parchment paper

Lining your brownie pan with parchment paper is a great way to ensure your brownies don't stick to the pan. It's a simple, yet effective method that will save you time and energy. Parchment paper is a baker's best friend, and it's especially useful when making brownies, as it makes removing your brownies from the pan a breeze and speeds up the clean-up process.

Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Cut the Parchment Paper

First, you'll need to cut your parchment paper to the right size. For an 8-inch by 8-inch pan, cut the parchment paper to be approximately 14 inches long. This will give you a 3-inch overhang on each side of the pan. If you're using a larger pan, simply adjust the length of the parchment paper accordingly, ensuring you have enough overhang to cover all sides of the pan.

Step 2: Fold the Parchment Paper

Once you have your parchment paper cut to size, it's time to fold it. Start by folding 3 inches of one side of the parchment paper onto itself. Then, repeat the process with the opposite side. Continue folding in each of the remaining sides in the same way until you have a square-shaped piece of parchment paper that fits snugly inside your brownie pan.

Step 3: Place the Parchment Paper in the Pan

After you've folded your parchment paper to the right size, place it into your brownie pan. If needed, adjust the folds slightly to ensure a proper fit. You want the parchment paper to sit smoothly in the pan without rumpling or bunching up.

Step 4: Lift and Press the Corners

Now, lift the two top folds of the parchment paper (on the left and right sides of the pan) so that they stand up facing each other. Then, lift one corner of the remaining side of the parchment paper that is still lying flat in the pan. As you raise it up to the side of the pan, allow it to naturally fold into a triangular shape. Firmly press and crease the folded corner into place. Repeat this process with the remaining three corners.

Step 5: Bake Your Brownies

With your brownie pan lined and ready, it's time to bake! Pour your brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake according to your recipe instructions.

Step 6: Remove and Cut Your Brownies

Once your brownies are baked and cooled, removing them from the pan is easy. Simply lift the edges of the parchment paper to pull the entire batch of brownies out of the pan. From there, you can carefully peel off the parchment paper and cut your brownies into portions. No more struggling to get your brownies out of the pan or risking damage to your baking dish!

Using parchment paper to line your brownie pan is a foolproof way to ensure your brownies don't stick. It's a simple technique that makes baking and clean-up a breeze. So, the next time you're preparing to bake a batch of brownies, be sure to reach for the parchment paper!

Grease the pan with butter or oil

Greasing your pan with butter or oil is a great way to ensure your brownies don't stick. This method works for both metal and glass pans, although glass pans will require a more thorough greasing and flouring.

To grease your pan, use a pastry brush or paper towel to spread the butter or oil, ensuring that you cover all areas of the pan, including the corners. You can also use cooking spray, which is a convenient alternative.

After greasing, you can add a tablespoon of flour, shaking the pan to coat it evenly. Turn the pan over and shake out the excess flour. This will create an extra layer of protection against sticking.

If you're looking for an extra chocolatey flavour, you can substitute the flour with cocoa powder. Mix a tablespoon of cocoa powder with a teaspoon of white sugar and sprinkle it into the pan after greasing. Shake the pan to coat it evenly, and then tip out the excess.

Once you've baked your brownies, let them cool completely before turning the pan over and inverting the brownie cake onto a plate. This will help ensure that your brownies come out cleanly and maintain their shape.

Use a non-stick pan

Using a non-stick pan is a great way to ensure your brownies don't stick to the pan. Non-stick pans are designed with a coating that prevents food from adhering to the surface, making them ideal for baking brownies. The non-stick coating creates a smooth, slick surface that allows the brownies to release easily once baked.

When using a non-stick pan, it is still important to prepare the pan properly to ensure the best results. Here are some tips to follow:

First, ensure your non-stick pan is the right size. Brownie recipes typically call for an 8 or 9-inch pan. Using a larger pan can cause the batter to spread out and bake too quickly, resulting in overbaked brownies that are more likely to stick. On the other hand, a pan that is too small will cause the batter to take longer to bake in the middle, leading to an underbaked and sticky brownie cake.

Next, even though your pan is non-stick, it is a good idea to grease the bottom and sides lightly with butter, oil, or cooking spray. This extra step ensures that your brownies will release easily and gives a nice texture to the finished product. For example, if you're using a non-stick metal pan, greasing it can result in brownies that are soft in the centre and crisp and chewy on the outside.

Additionally, consider lining your non-stick pan with parchment paper or aluminium foil. This creates an extra barrier between the batter and the pan, making it even less likely for your brownies to stick. Cut the parchment paper or foil to fit the pan, allowing some overhang on two sides so that you can easily lift the brownies out after baking.

Finally, allow your brownies to cool before removing them from the pan. This step is important because it gives the brownies time to set, reducing the likelihood of them breaking or sticking to the pan. Once they are cool, simply lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper or foil sling, or invert the pan to release the brownies onto a plate or wire rack.

By following these tips and using a non-stick pan, you can confidently bake brownies that will release easily and have a delicious texture.

Dust the pan with cocoa powder

Dusting the pan with cocoa powder is a great way to ensure your brownies don't stick. This method is especially useful for those who want to avoid using butter, oil, or other fats to grease the pan.

To do this, simply take some unsweetened cocoa powder and dust it over the pan before pouring in the brownie batter. You can use any type of cocoa powder, such as natural, Dutch-processed, or even raw cacao. This method is also useful if you want to avoid creating streaks in your brownies, which can occur when using flour or another dry ingredient to dust the pan.

In addition to preventing sticking, dusting the pan with cocoa powder can also enhance the chocolate flavor of your brownies. This is especially true if you use a Dutch-processed cocoa powder, which has a richer and less sharp flavor similar to that of a box brownie mix.

However, keep in mind that using cocoa powder may not be as effective as using parchment paper or a silicone pan to prevent sticking. These options create a barrier between the batter and the pan, making it even less likely for your brownies to stick.

So, if you're looking for a surefire way to prevent sticking, combining multiple methods—such as using parchment paper and dusting it with cocoa powder—may be your best bet.

Use a plastic knife to cut brownies

Plastic knives are naturally non-stick and won't tear brownies as you slice them. They are also disposable, so you can easily keep a few in your silverware drawer for future use. If you don't have a plastic knife, you can dip a metal knife in cold water or coat it with non-stick cooking spray before slicing, although this won't work quite as well as plastic.

How to Cut Brownies with a Plastic Knife

First, let your brownies cool for 1-2 hours. Then, trim about 1/6-1/4 inch off the edges of your brownies on all four sides using a plastic knife. This ensures that each brownie has a smoothly sliced outer edge. Next, make notches around the edges of the brownies at 2-inch intervals. Using a ruler, measure 2 inches from the edge and make a small notch with the blade. Repeat this process all the way around the perimeter of the brownies.

You can adjust the size of your brownies by changing the distance between notches. For smaller brownies, try making squares of about 1 inch. For larger brownies, opt for 3-4 inch squares. If you have a larger piece left over at the end, trim off the excess so that the end row is about 2 inches as well.

Before making each cut, dip your plastic knife into hot water to help smoothly slice between the brownies. Then, cut your brownies vertically and horizontally at each of the marks you made. Press the knife all the way into the brownies with steady pressure and repeat until you have cut them into strips. Finally, cut your brownies horizontally at each of the notches. You should now have even 2-inch by 2-inch square brownies.

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