If you want an effortless evening meal, a ready-baked pretzel is a good choice. If you’d like to serve several pretzels warm, just out of the oven, choose a ready-to-bake option and allow time for defrosting and baking. If you plan to add toppings, look for a wide, sturdy surface. Always check the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the specific product.
If specific ingredients or salt content matter to you, compare the information for the pretzel you’re considering. For loose products, ask for allergen information rather than assuming the ingredients from the pretzel’s appearance.
You want to enjoy your pretzel straight away, without having to allow time for defrosting or baking. A ready-baked pretzel from the bakery counter or in-store bakery could be just what you’re looking for.
You’d like to bake several pretzels just before your meal and can allow time for defrosting and baking as instructed on the pack.
First, decide whether you want a pretzel that’s ready to eat or one to bake at home. If you’re adding toppings, you’ll also need a wide, sturdy surface. Don’t rely on whether the pack says it can be cut: check the shape too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients, allergens and salt | Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens. Compare the salt content per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I want to avoid certain ingredients or compare salt levels, I need information about the specific pretzel. For around 31% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Ready to eat | Check whether the pretzel is already baked and can be eaten without further preparation. | If I want my evening meal on the table without waiting for something to bake, I need a ready-to-eat pretzel. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Baking and planning ahead | Read the pack for storage instructions, defrosting and baking times, and suitable appliances. | If I want to serve several pretzels warm with my meal, I’m happy to allow time for preparation. Around 25% of consumers value this predictability above all. |
| Suitable for toppings | Look for a wide, sturdy surface. Check the ingredients of varieties with seeds or a filling. | If I want to add savoury toppings, I need a suitable shape—not just information about whether the pretzel can be cut. This is the priority for around 19% of consumers. |
Defrosting, temperature and baking time vary by product. So the timings for a different type of dough won’t necessarily work for the pack you’ve bought.
Follow the instructions for your product and check on the pretzel towards the end of the stated baking time.
Even pretzels that look similar can have different ingredients and allergen information. This is especially true of varieties with seeds or a filling.
Check the label for the specific product. If you’re buying loose pretzels, ask what allergen information is available.
EDEKA lists salt contents of 3,1 g, 3,3 g and 4,2 g per 100 g for different pretzel products. The amount of salt you can see on a pretzel doesn’t tell you the nutritional content of the finished product.
For packaged products, compare the salt content per 100 g and check whether a separate sachet of salt is included for preparation.
Ditsch offers pretzels that are ready to eat, as well as varieties to bake at home. For an evening meal, the key difference is whether you’re buying a ready-baked pretzel or a dough piece.
REWE sells individual pretzels as well as a 770-g pack of REWE Beste Wahl pretzels to bake at home.
EDEKA lists pretzels in various formats, including varieties to bake at home.
ALDI SÜD sells pretzels and describes MEINE BACKWELT as a range of products baked in store several times a day.
Lidl describes Unser Brot as a range of freshly baked goods. Pretzels also feature in the retailer’s recipe ideas.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific pretzel. Several of the products described contain wheat or cereals containing gluten. Don’t assume that a differently shaped pretzel is a suitable alternative unless the label confirms it.
Verbraucherzentrale recommends storing bread and rolls at room temperature, as they dry out more quickly in the fridge. For frozen pretzels to bake at home, follow the storage instructions on the pack instead.
Allow for the defrosting and baking time of the variety you’ve bought. EDEKA says one product takes about 10 minutes to defrost slightly; Ditsch gives a baking time of about 13 minutes at around 220 °C for its “Bavarian style” pretzel. These instructions apply only to the products in question.
Ask at the counter for allergen information about the specific pretzel. Lebensmittelklarheit explains that this information is also relevant for unpackaged products. Appearance alone can’t reliably tell you what’s in it.