We know it's oh-so tempting to dive into a pan of just-cooked brownies. But if you're looking to cleanly slice your brownies, let them cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into them.

Do you cut brownies before or after they cool?

No matter which method of cutting brownies you choose to use, you should always allow your brownies to cool completely before cutting them. When the brownies are warm, they are even more likely to be gooey and messy, making for sloppy edges and misshapen brownies. Let the brownies cool in the pan, untouched.

What happens if you cut brownies too soon?

Don't cut into the brownies until 30 minutes after you've taken them out of the oven. If you cut them too soon, you might think they're underdone when they just haven't set yet. They'll continue to cook and firm up while they cool, which is why you should take them out a little before they're totally cooked.