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Who doesn’t love a tray of freshly baked, chocolatey brownies on a cold winter’s day? Brownies are the perfect snack for any occasion, but sometimes they can be tricky to bake properly. I’ve had enough of my brownies coming out undercooked so I decided to create this full guide to know how to bake brownies perfectly until they are done!
As a general rule, undercooked brownies can be placed back in the oven for an additional 2 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the toothpick method to determine if the inside of the brownies is done. If the inside of the brownies are still gooey, repeat the process until they are done.
In this article, I will be answering the most commonly asked questions about preventing and fixing underbaked brownies. I will also discuss some helpful tips you can use when it comes to salvaging a tray of undercooked brownies. These helpful hacks can get your brownie game back on track!
How To Fix Undercooked Brownies?
There are 3 effective methods to use in order to fix undercooked brownies. These methods include using the oven, the microwave, or an air fryer to effectively fix a tray of undercooked brownies.
1. The Oven
If brownies are still gooey in the middle after baking time is complete, place the tray back into the oven for an additional two minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the brownies after the timer has gone off use a toothpick to determine if they are done.
Undercooked brownies can easily be fixed using the oven. Because the portion that is undercooked is likely going to be the center, it’s important to pay attention to the edges and sides in order to avoid overcooking the outer portion.
| How Undercooked Are The Brownies | How Much Longer To Bake In The Oven |
| Very Undercooked (Gooey) | 4 minutes longer |
| Slightly Undercooked (Moist) | 2 minutes longer |
| Somewhat Done (Firm but Moist) | 1-minute longer |
*By the way, I recently came across the perfect Brownie Pan that slices the brownies into pieces without the hustle! This Metallic Professional Slice Solutions Brownie Pan is 9 inches by 13 inches and will help get your brownies out of the pan much easier! You can check out this Brownie Pan on Amazon!
If I pull my brownies out a little too soon I usually just place them back inside the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an additional one or two minutes.
Try to resist the temptation to leave the room and stay close by in order to avoid overcooking them.
While it can be tempting to do something else while you’re waiting for your brownies to finish cooking they can actually burn pretty quickly if you aren’t careful.
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about How To Remove Brownies Out of The Pan Without Breaking. This article breaks down the step-by-step process of safely removing brownies from their pans. You can check out this article here!
2. The Microwave
Undercooked brownies can be fixed in a microwave by reheating each brownie separately for best results. Place the brownie in a microwave-safe container and set it for thirty seconds. Use a toothpick to check if it’s cooked on the inside. Repeat this process as necessary until they are done.
Using a microwave is a breeze when it comes to fixing undercooked brownies, especially if you’ve already left the house and don’t have an oven nearby. If you’re going to use the microwave it’s a good idea to fix them individually in order to ensure they cook evenly.
| How Undercooked Are The Brownies | How Long To Cook In The Microwave |
| Very Undercooked (Gooey) | Up to 3 minutes |
| Slightly Undercooked (Moist) | Up to 1 minute |
| Somewhat Done (Firm but Moist) | 30 seconds |
Because microwaves tend to cook food items really quickly, it’s important to only cook your brownies in thirty-second increments. Don’t leave them in the microwave any longer than thirty seconds or you risk overcooking them.
3. An Air Fryer
Undercooked brownies can be fixed in an air fryer by reheating them in small batches at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 minute. Place one or two brownie squares into the fryer basket and heat for one minute at a time, checking often to ensure they do not burn.
Air fryers have become one of the most popular ways to bake and fix undercooked brownies.
They’re small, sturdy, easy to use, and deliver great results. They’re also perfect for those occasions when you want to whip up a nice dessert but don’t want the hassle of using an oven or creating a hot kitchen.
| How Undercooked Are The Brownies | How Long To Cook In An Air Fryer |
| Very Undercooked (Gooey) | Up to 2 minutes |
| Slightly Undercooked (Moist) | Up to 1 minute |
| Somewhat Done (Firm but Moist) | 30 seconds* |
I suggest using a springform pan or even a cake barrel pan that will fit into your air fryer for fixing your brownies. Lightly grease your pan and only fit a few brownies at a time if you’re fixing the entire batch.
Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake them for about a minute before checking their consistency.
Repeat this process as necessary or until you’ve fixed the entire batch to your personal preference.
I recently wrote an article where I talk about the 4 Best Air Fryers on the market right now. Click on this article if you’re looking for a throughout breakdown of these 4 air fryers.
I personally use and recommend the COSORI Smart Wifi Air Fryer. This air fryer has served me for many years and works great for warming up your delicious cookies. This air fryer even has an app that alerts me every time my baked goods are ready while connecting to my Alexa or Google Assistant. Check out this Air Fryer on Amazon!
How To Tell When Brownies Are Done?
You can tell that brownies are completely done by inserting and withdrawing a toothpick into the middle of the brownie slab. Once the toothpick comes out clean without any batter sticking to it, then the brownies are done. The brownies will also begin to lift away from the sides of the pan once done.
A common mistake many home cooks make has to do with figuring out when the perfect time is to remove a tray of brownies from the oven. What you may not know is that it’s actually preferable to take your brownies out of the oven slightly underdone.
The reason you want to pull them out sooner rather than later is that they will continue baking for several minutes once removed!
You don’t want to get in the habit of waiting too long, otherwise, you’ll have dry edges around your brownies. A perfectly baked brownie should be slightly soft and decadent.
The best way to gauge whether or not your brownies are cooked is by using the toothpick trick. You’re probably already familiar with this method. Take your brownies out of the oven and insert the toothpick into the middle of the tray.
There are 3 options of how the toothpick might look after the cake:
- If the toothpick comes out brown and very wet, your brownies still need a little more time in the oven
- If the toothpick comes out somewhat brown with crumbs along the sides, your brownies are ready to come out
- If your toothpick comes out completely dry and without crumbs, you’ve likely left them in the oven for too long
While you can fix an undercooked brownie, it can be a little more tricky to fix an overcooked tray. Your best bet is to serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Or you could easily turn overcooked brownies into brownie shakes too!
*Side Note: You might also want to know Why Your Brownies Crack On Top after baked. I recently wrote an article that talks about How To Prevent and Fix Cracks On Top Of Brownies, you can check it out here!
Why Are My Brownies Raw In The Middle?
As a general rule, brownies are usually raw in the middle because they bake from the outside inwards, which means that the edges and portions along the sides will bake much more quickly than the middle. Taking them out of the oven before they are ready in the middle leads to undercooked brownies.
When you’re baking a tray of brownies, it’s important to remember that you’re going to have some natural inconsistencies in terms of which parts completely cook first and which parts may take a bit longer.
Because the external corners and sides are closest to the heating source, they will bake a bit quicker than the center bits in the middle.
A good way to determine whether your brownies need a little more time in the oven is to take them out and gently shake the tray a bit. If the middle seems to wobble or shake, the middle likely needs more time to cook.
*By the way, if you end up having failed brownies or leftover brownies, I recently wrote an article breaking down Creative Things To Do With Leftover & Broken Brownies. This article gives you many unique ways to use your leftover and broken brownies. You can check out this article here!
Should Brownies Be Gooey In The Middle?
On average, brownies should not be gooey in the middle. When brownies are gooey in the middle, it means that they are undercooked and need to be placed back into the oven. Brownies should be slightly soft in the middle in order for them to set properly.
Since brownies take some time to set once removed from the oven, special precautions should be taken in order to ensure they are not overcooked. Sometimes it can be tricky to gauge whether or not my brownies are ready, especially since I tend to like mine a bit softer.
Your best bet to figure out whether your brownies are done is by using a thermometer.
Gooey Batter Inside Undercooked Brownies!
While the toothpick method is useful, I always like to get a good temperature reading on my baked goods, especially if I’m sharing with friends and family.
A general rule of thumb is that if your brownies have reached a 160-degree temperature at the center, they should be safe to eat, even if they are slightly gooey.
If you’re not a fan of softer brownies you can always leave them in the oven for a minute or two longer. Or you can stick them in the refrigerator for thirty minutes to firm up.
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about How To Freeze Brownie Batter The Right Way. This article talks about How Long Brownie Batter Lasts. You can check out this article here!
FAQs:
Can I Put Brownies Back In The Oven?
As a general rule, you can put brownies back in the oven after you take them out. If brownies are underbaked they can be placed back into the oven in order to allow them additional time to bake. Place brownies back in the oven at 350° Fahrenheit and check them often to make sure they do not burn.
Are Undercooked Brownies Safe To Eat?
Slightly undercooked brownies are safe to eat as long as they are only slightly undercooked and created with pasteurized eggs. The inside of the brownies has to reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) or hotter when baking to be considered safe for consumption.
What Do Undercooked Brownies Look Like?
Undercooked brownies will be very wet, gooey, and not set properly. Use a toothpick or thermometer to determine if brownies are undercooked. If the toothpick is wet, brown, and there are no crumbs present on it, the brownies are undercooked.
Do Brownies Harden As They Cool?
As a general rule, brownies will become firmer as they cool but they won’t harden. Brownies will harden if they are chilled in the fridge or freezer. Once brownies are placed in the refrigerator to set they will take about an hour to harden.
While I like to do my mixing by hand, I much rather prefer using a Stand Mixer instead. I recently wrote an article that talks about the 3 Best Stand Mixers that bakers can buy in each stage of their baking journey. After reviewing a few stand mixers, the Best Overall Mixer was the KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. You can check out this stand mixer on Amazon!
