How to Cut Brownies Cleanly

One of the most common questions that readers ask me is "how do you get such neat slices on your brownies?". Here is a step-by-step guide for how to cut brownies neatly and cleanly so you get perfect squares with sleek, clean edges. The first step is to make a batch of my easy Perfect Shiny Crust Fudge Brownies which are perfectly fudgy and set and have that shiny crinkle crust on top every single time. Let them cool and follow the instructions below. If you like making brownies, check out my Better Than Box Mix Brownies Recipe. For extra thick fudgy homestyle brownies, check out my Best Homemade Brownie recipe.

WHY THIS METHOD WORKS

• Easy to do - this is a simple and easy method to cut brownies.
• No special tools - you can slice brownies perfectly without any special tools. You just need a large sharp knife and a kitchen towel or paper towels, and access to hot water.
• Works every time - it doesn't matter which brownie recipe you use, this method for slicing brownies always works.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO CUT BROWNIES CLEANLY

• STEP 1). Line your baking pan with parchment paper so that you can remove them easily and neatly from the pan. To do this, cut two sheets of parchment paper just the same width as the inner length of your pan, then place them crossways so the sides of the pan have about 2 inches of overhang. I also use metal binder clips (they're oven-safe) to clip the paper down to the sides of the pan so it doesn't move around when I spread out the batter.
  STEP 2). Let the brownies cool completely. It is important to wait until your brownies have completely cooled to room temperature. As brownies cool, the chocolate and the butter will set and solidify so that they won't fall apart, stick or crumble as you slice them.
  STEP 3). Remove brownies from pan. Use the overhanging parchment to lift the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board so that you can slice them right across with a large knife.
  STEP 4). Use a sharp, straight, thin-bladed knife. To cut brownies cleanly, use a large knife with a long straight-edge blade. Do not use a serrated knife, and do not use a small paring knife. My knife of choice is a thin-bladed santoku knife or chef's knife with a long blade that covers most of the length of the brownie so that you don't need to slice up and down too much which will bring up sticky crumbs and cause drag.
  STEP 5). Use a hot dry knife. Run the blade under very hot water and carefully wipe it dry with a paper towel or cloth between each slice. The heat will help the blade glide through the brownie as it melts the butter and chocolate to avoid sticking. It is important to clean the blade between each slice as the residue will cause drag and smudge the brownies and smear the edges.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS (watch the video above for a full tutorial)

EXPERT TIPS FOR CUTTING BROWNIES

• Do not saw - avoid using a back-and-forth sawing motion which would drag the brownie and leave gashes in the edges.
• Fill a tall thermos or travel coffee mug with hot water to dip the blade in between slices.
• Wipe the blade from the dull edge so that you don't accidentally cut your hand.
• Cool brownies completely. Although it might be tempting to eat them warm from the oven, brownies reach their maximum fudginess when completely cooled after the cocoa butter in the melted chocolate has recrystallized. This is another factor in getting sharp edges.
• Use a brownie pan with straight sides and 90 degree angle corners instead of pans with rounded corners for perfect squares. I love this 8x8-inch square metal baking for brownies.

Brownie Recipes To Love:

Perfect Shiny Crust Fudge Brownies Best Thick Homemade Brownies Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies Sheet Pan Brownies Cheesecake Brownies White Chocolate Raspberry Brownies Olive Oil Brownies with Date Fudge Frosting Fudgy Buckeye Brownies Outrageous Fudgy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies The BEST Small Batch Fudge Brownies Oreo Cheesecake Brownies

More brownie recipes please!