I tried making boxed brownies in 3 different appliances, and my air fryer has potential

Meredith SchneiderJun 11, 2024, 01:42 IST

I love brownies, but I wanted to see if I could make them quicker or better. Meredith Schneider

Being able to bake a good brownie in record time when a craving hits is important to me.
I made the same batter in my oven, microwave, and air fryer to see which method worked best.

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.

I went with a simple Betty Crocker brownie mix.Meredith Schneider

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

I didn't want the batter to stick, so I lined the pans with vegetable shortening. Meredith Schneider

I started with my trusty oven method.

I typically bake my brownies in the oven.Meredith Schneider

The brownies were evenly baked and nice and soft.

I was very pleased with the results. Meredith Schneider

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

My air fryer was just big enough to fit a round pan. Meredith Schneider

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

The middle of the air-fried brownies was totally gooey.Meredith Schneider

The microwave recipe was the shortest of the three.

I ended up microwaving the batter for almost 10 minutes. Meredith Schneider

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

The air bubbles didn't make the brownies look super appetizing. Meredith Schneider

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

I'm probably just going to stick with my trusty oven. Meredith Schneider

I tried store-brand Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Wegmans. The winner has a permanent spot in my fridge.

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