The Ultimate Brownie Pan

     When baking brownies in a rectangular pan, heat is concentrated at the edges and corners of the pan. This leads to uneven baking which can result in brownies with burnt edges and gooey centers. If round pans are... [ view full abstract ]

     When baking brownies in a rectangular pan, heat is concentrated at the edges and corners of the pan. This leads to uneven baking which can result in brownies with burnt edges and gooey centers. If round pans are used, then the heat is more evenly distributed, however round pans are less efficient for space. Our project addresses this distressing problem by creating mathematical models to predict brownie baking temperatures and also considers the effects of pan shape on oven space efficiency. We took data on different variables related to brownie baking, such as brownie thickness, pan type and material, as well as baking times and temperatures. We then analyzed this data in order to draw conclusions and draft suggestions for the optimal brownie pan.