Campers on a short trip without an oven
A ready-to-eat pretzel is a good choice for the journey, a day out or a campsite without an oven. Plan to eat freshly bought pretzels soon rather than relying on them as supplies for several days.
Which pretzels are right for you?
Campers with a freezer and an oven
If you’re catering for several people and can keep the pretzels frozen until you’re ready to bake them, a pack of bake-at-home pretzels could work well. Choose a pack size that suits your planned meals.
Shoppers who need ingredient and allergen information
If you need to avoid wheat or other allergens, check the labelling for each specific pretzel. For loose bakery items, ask what allergen information is available; the product name alone isn’t enough to make an informed choice.
What should you look for when buying?
Before you shop, decide whether you’ll eat the pretzels straight away or can keep them frozen and bake them at the campsite. Then consider how much you can use and check the information for the specific product.
| What to look for | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size you can use | Check the number of items and the weight against your planned meals and storage options. The REWE Beste Wahl frozen pack contains eight dough pieces. | If you’re only away for a short time, you won’t want to be left with a large pack you can’t store properly. For around 42% of shoppers, the amount they can actually use comes first. |
| Eating without an oven or freezer | Check whether you’ll have a freezer and an oven available before you plan to eat the pretzels; if not, plan to buy fresh ones to eat soon. | Without an oven or freezer, I want to eat my pretzel straight away while I’m out, rather than having to organise how to prepare it. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise this need. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For packaged items, read the ingredients, allergen information and ‘may contain’ warnings; for loose items, ask for allergen information. | If I need to avoid allergens, I need information about the specific pretzel, even when it’s sold loose. Around 25% of shoppers put checking ingredients and allergens first. |
Avoid common buying mistakes
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Planning to eat frozen dough pieces straight away
REWE Beste Wahl pretzels are frozen dough pieces that need to be baked. Without suitable freezer storage and an oven, you can’t plan to eat them straight away like a freshly bought pretzel.
Only buy bake-at-home pretzels if you can store and bake them as needed before mealtime. Otherwise, a small amount of fresh stock is a better fit for your plans.
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Choosing a multipack based on the number of items alone
A large pack isn’t much use if you have dough pieces left over or can’t store them as required at the campsite. Fresh pretzels and frozen dough pieces also need different kinds of planning.
Choose an amount that suits the number of people, your meals and the storage options available.
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Relying on the name ‘pretzel’ when you have an allergy
The products described from Ditsch, REWE and EDEKA contain wheat; depending on the product, other ingredients or ‘may contain’ warnings may also be relevant.
Check the labelling for the specific product. For unwrapped pretzels, check or ask for the allergen information provided.
Useful brands to know
Ditsch
The freshly baked pretzel described by Ditsch is a good choice to eat soon, either on your journey or during a day at the campsite.
- Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen and gives the nutritional values for this pretzel as 303 kcal and 2,05 g of salt per 100 g.
- Fresh pretzels shouldn’t be treated as supplies for several days of camping without a suitable plan for storage and when to eat them.
REWE Beste Wahl
The pretzels described are frozen dough pieces to bake at home, making them an option for a campsite with a freezer and an oven.
- According to REWE, the 770-g pack contains eight dough pieces and separately packed pretzel salt.
- You’ll need to be able to store and prepare them as instructed on the pack; they aren’t intended for eating straight away without an oven.
GUT&GÜNSTIG / EDEKA
The bake-off pretzel described is an option if you can use an oven at the campsite.
- EDEKA provides the ingredients, allergen information and baking instructions for this specific product.
- EDEKA notes that the product may not be available in every store and that the information on the pack may differ.
MEINE BACKWELT / ALDI SÜD
The pretzel listed in ALDI SÜD’s bakery range is an option to pick up before a journey or day out.
- A freshly bought pretzel doesn’t need to be baked while you’re out.
- ALDI SÜD notes that some items may only be available in limited quantities.
LIDL – Unser Brot
Lidl Deutschland describes ‘Unser Brot’ as its own brand of bread and baked goods from its in-store bakery.
- You can check the bakery range at your local store before setting off.
- Check the specific product to see whether a suitable pretzel is available and what ingredients it contains.
Products at Joybuy
Suitable products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are frozen bake-at-home pretzels suitable for every camping trip?
No. The REWE Beste Wahl dough pieces described need to be kept frozen and baked in an oven. If you don’t have this equipment, a freshly bought pretzel is easier to plan for if you want to eat it soon.
How should I store freshly bought pretzels while I’m away?
Plan to eat fresh pretzels soon, and keep them at room temperature in a dry place away from light until then. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends these conditions for bread and bread rolls; if baked goods show visible mould, you should throw them away completely.
How can I check allergens in an unwrapped pretzel?
Check the allergen information provided or ask for it before you buy. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs explains the requirement to label the 14 most common allergens and substances that cause intolerances; check the information for the specific pretzel to see what’s relevant to you.
Is a packaged pretzel automatically unsafe to eat after its best-before date?
No. The Verbraucherzentrale explains that food in unopened packaging and stored correctly is often still safe to eat after its best-before date. Follow the storage instructions and check the specific product; a best-before date is not the same as a use-by date.