DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

I tried making boxed brownies in 3 different appliances to find the best method — my air fryer has potential

August 4, 2025
in News
I tried making boxed brownies in 3 different appliances to find the best method — my air fryer has potential
494
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
thre trays of baked brownies on a counter
I love brownies, but I wanted to see if I could make them quicker or better.

Meredith Schneider

I’m always looking for sneaky baking hacks, especially in the summer when my utility bills spike and my kitchen is too hot. If I’m going to spend precious gas or electricity on baking, I want to ensure amazing results.

In the hopes of finding the best method for making brownies, I baked batches in my oven, air fryer, and microwave — reviewing the appliances based on timing, taste, and consistency.

Here’s how it went.

I started by making the batter I’d use for all three methods.

three boxes of brownie mix, a bottle of oil, and six eggs ina. pan

Meredith Schneider

To keep the variables consistent, I used the same brownie batter for all three batches. Since I’m not as precise a baker as I’d like to be, I turned to a boxed brownie mix for this experiment.

The basic brownie recipe ended up being a box of Betty Crocker mix, two eggs, ½ cup of vegetable oil, and 2 tablespoons of water.

In the spirit of keeping things as similar as possible, I prepared each batch exactly the same (using the instructions on the box).

Then I found baking vessels that made sense for each appliance.

can of crisco next to an 8x8 square metal pan

Meredith Schneider

I stuck with a basic square 8-by-8 pan for the oven since that’s what I normally use. My air fryer was just big enough to fit an 8-by-8 circular pan, so I ended up going with that.

Finding the right dish for the microwave was a little trickier since I couldn’t use anything made of metal. In the end, I opted for an 8-by-8 glass pie pan.

I smeared some shortening in each container to prevent the brownies from sticking and poured in the prepared batter.

I started with my trusty oven method.

pan of brownies in an oven

Meredith Schneider

I set the oven to 325 degrees, as directed on the box. Once preheated, I put the pan in and hoped for the best.

After 49 minutes, I checked the brownies with a toothpick. They looked cooked to me, so I removed the pan from the oven and set it on the counter to cool.

The brownies were evenly baked and nice and soft.

square pan of baked brownies

Meredith Schneider

I’ve pretty much perfected basic oven brownies over the years, and this batch was no different.

The square pan of brownies came out evenly baked, soft, and delicious.

For my second attempt, I turned to my air fryer.

round metal pan of brownie batter in an air fryer

Meredith Schneider

The consensus on the internet seemed to be to air fry the batter at 330 degrees for 36 minutes.

I placed the circular pan into the air-fryer basket, set the heat and time, and walked away.

The top was a little hard, but the insides were gooey.

round tin of brownies

Meredith Schneider

The center of these brownies was almost underbaked, and I happen to like a gooier brownie.

This method may not be the best if you prefer things more well done, but I appreciated that the brownies were delicious and evenly gooey throughout the middle.

Once they cooled, a shell-like top also set in, giving the treat a bit of contrasting texture.

I think I’d prefer these brownies if they were cooked differently (either at a different temperature or for a longer time). But then the method creeps toward the oven timing, so it’s not much of a hack.

The microwave recipe was the shortest of the three.

pie pan of brownies inside a microwave

Meredith Schneider

After doing some internet research, I decided to microwave the brownies on high for about five minutes and add one- to two-minute intervals until they were fully baked.

I noticed some air bubbles forming while the pie pan was in the microwave, and they never smoothed out. They also made it a little more difficult to tell when the brownies were done.

I left mine in the microwave until a toothpick came out clean, which took almost 10 minutes.

I don’t think I can depend on a microwave for baking.

close up of a pie pan of microwaved brownies

Meredith Schneider

The brownies were good straight out of the microwave. Some bites had a nice chew, and the center stayed fudgy for hours

But most of the pan got hard very quickly, making them almost completely inedible.

Also, since microwaves vary based on age, brand, and settings, I don’t think it’s possible to ensure consistent results.

Even though this was the fastest method by far, I don’t think it’s really worth it.

The oven is still my tried and true method for an even bake.

three pans of brownies arranged next to each other

Meredith Schneider

After attempting all three methods, the oven brownies were still my favorite.

Consistent texture is, as it turns out, pretty paramount to me. I liked that the traditionally baked pan had a soft texture from edge to center.

I’ll continue to play with the time and temperature on the air fryer to see if I can come up with a shorter hack. But I’m not planning on making microwave brownies again anytime soon.

Click to check out the other appliances we’ve put head-to-head so far.

This story was originally published in 2024, and most recently updated on August 4, 2025.

The post I tried making boxed brownies in 3 different appliances to find the best method — my air fryer has potential appeared first on Business Insider.

Tags: air fryerbakingbatchboxed brownieBusiness Insiderclear winnerdifferent applianceElectricitygood methodmicrowaveovenprecious gastastetimingutility bill
Share198Tweet124Share
Bill Maher confronts Dr. Phil on joining Trump admin’s ‘unpopular’ ICE raids
News

Bill Maher confronts Dr. Phil on joining Trump admin’s ‘unpopular’ ICE raids

by Fox News
August 9, 2025

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! “Real Time” host Bill Maher abruptly put his guest Dr. Phil in ...

Read more
News

Cincinnati viral beating bodycam shows cops at scene of brutal fight as six arrested face new charges

August 9, 2025
News

ICE Deported Him. His Father Heard Nothing for Months. Then, a Call.

August 9, 2025
News

How Ali Sethi Spends His Day Getting Ready for a Music Tour

August 9, 2025
News

LAX travelers potentially exposed to positive measles case

August 9, 2025
Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Swap Territory With Russia

Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Swap Territory With Russia

August 9, 2025
Arizona adds $5M to program that helps 1st-time homebuyers

Arizona adds $5M to program that helps 1st-time homebuyers

August 9, 2025
MMA star’s miracle faith awakening: Ben Askren finds Christ after defying death by surviving double lung transplant

MMA star’s miracle faith awakening: Ben Askren finds Christ after defying death by surviving double lung transplant

August 9, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.