If you want to eat your pretzel straight away, choose one that’s ready to eat from the bakery counter. If you’d like to keep a few snacks at home, a frozen pretzel for baking could be a good option, as long as you have time and a suitable appliance. For both, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. If you’re looking for a mix of white and wholemeal flour, check the flour types in the ingredients list: seeds on a pretzel don’t mean it contains wholemeal flour.
If you haven’t got time to defrost and bake a pretzel, one that’s ready to eat from the bakery counter is the obvious choice. ALDI SÜD describes its MEINE BACKWELT pretzel as freshly baked several times a day; availability depends on the individual store.
If you’d like to prepare several pretzels as and when you need them, and have an oven or air fryer, you could choose a frozen pack. EDEKA’s GUT&GÜNSTIG pretzels come in packs of ten, with instructions for both appliances.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients or compare nutritional values, check the information for the specific product. Product information from REWE, EDEKA and Ditsch shows that ingredients and declared allergens vary between pretzels.
First, decide whether your pretzel needs to be ready to eat or whether you can bake it at home. Then check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions for the specific product.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat | Is the pretzel ready to eat, or does it need to be defrosted and baked first? | If my afternoon break is short, I want to eat my pretzel without having to prepare it. Around 34% of consumers prioritise a snack that’s ready to eat. |
| Keeping at home and baking | Do the number of pretzels, appliance required and preparation instructions suit my needs? Cook frozen products thoroughly, following the instructions on the pack. | I want to keep several pretzels at home and can set aside time to bake them. For around 25% of consumers, having a supply at home is the priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; compare the nutritional values of different varieties on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | Before I decide, I need to know what ingredients are in the specific pretzel. Around 33% of consumers put this check first. |
| Flavour and variety | Choose between a classic pretzel, one with seeds or a butter-filled variety; if you want wholemeal flour, check the flour types. | If I’m buying for a fussy eater, I want to find a flavour they’ll actually enjoy rather than choosing by shape alone. For around 8% of consumers, the variety is the main consideration. |
The name ‘pretzel’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients a specific variety contains. REWE lists wheat flour and possible traces of other allergens in its Swabian pretzel; according to Ditsch, its Ditsch XL butter pretzel contains wheat and milk.
For packaged products, read the current labelling. For loose bakery-counter products, check the information provided for the specific item before you buy.
A frozen pretzel isn’t ready to eat straight away. EDEKA says its GUT&GÜNSTIG pretzels must be cooked thoroughly.
For a short break, choose a ready-to-eat pretzel from the bakery counter. If you buy one for baking, allow time for the preparation and baking stated on the pack.
Sunflower or pumpkin seeds are toppings, not an indication of the flour used. Butter varieties also contain different ingredients from a plain pretzel.
If you want a mix of white and wholemeal flour, check the ingredients list carefully. When comparing varieties, also compare their nutritional information on the same basis.
ALDI SÜD notes that the nutritional information for its pretzel may vary depending on the supplier. EDEKA also warns that online information may differ from the details on the packaging.
Use product pages to help you narrow down your choices, then check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the current pack or in the information provided at the bakery counter.
Ditsch offers classic pretzels, varieties with sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and an XL butter pretzel.
EDEKA’s own brand offers frozen pretzels for baking, with pretzel salt included.
This ALDI SÜD own-brand range includes a Swabian-style pretzel, ready to eat from the bakery counter.
Yes. The classic products described by REWE, EDEKA and Ditsch list wheat or wheat flour. That doesn’t tell you whether another pretzel is suitable for you; check the current ingredients and allergen information for each specific product.
Check the information provided at the bakery counter for the specific pretzel, and ask before buying if anything is unclear. For non-prepacked foods, Section 4 of the German Food Information Implementation Ordinance sets out information requirements for certain ingredients and processing aids.
EDEKA gives these instructions for its GUT&GÜNSTIG pretzels: after defrosting for about ten minutes, cook for 9–12 minutes at 180 °C. These instructions apply to the product mentioned; for other pretzels, follow the instructions on the relevant pack and make sure they’re cooked thoroughly.
According to Ditsch, its XL butter pretzel contains milk as well as wheat. Ditsch lists 15.2 g of fat and 327.8 kcal per 100 g. To compare its nutritional values with those of a plain pretzel, check the figures for the latter per 100 g too.