Parents who need a single pretzel
If you only need a snack at short notice, a ready-to-eat pretzel saves you from having to stock up or bake one. Check the details for the specific product in store.
Which option suits you?
Families and nurseries with predictable needs
If you can prepare several pretzels at once, frozen ones may be a good option. The REWE Beste Wahl and EDEKA GUT&GÜNSTIG pretzels come with the salt separately, so you don’t have to sprinkle it on. You’ll need freezer space, time to bake them and time to let them cool.
Households with specific ingredient requirements
If you’re dealing with allergies or nursery requirements, check the labelling on the product you choose and speak to the nursery. Information about wheat, soya and possible traces varies between the pretzels covered here.
What to look for when buying
First, work out how many pretzels you need and whether you can bake them. Then check the information for the specific product and the nursery’s rules.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Single purchase or multipack | Would a single ready-to-eat pretzel or a pack of several dough pieces better suit how many you need? | If I only need one pretzel for the next nursery day, I don’t want to plan for either a stock of them or time to bake. Around 39% of consumers put the convenience of buying just one first. |
| Salt and the rest of the meal | Compare the salt information per 100 g and check what the figures are based on. For frozen pretzels, see if salt for sprinkling is included separately. | If I regularly pack a snack, I want to know how the salt is listed and what else will go with the pretzel. Around 38% of consumers prioritise looking at the whole nursery snack. |
| Allergens and preparation | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information on the specific product. For frozen pretzels, make sure you have the freezer space, oven and time you need. | If allergens or the nursery routine limit my choice, the pretzel needs to meet those requirements. Around 23% of consumers put these needs ahead of the other criteria. |
Common buying mistakes
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Forgetting the salt sprinkled on pretzels
Even without extra salt sprinkled on top, pretzels already contain salt. The German Nutrition Society includes reducing salt among the considerations when choosing food for nurseries.
If a separate sachet of salt is included, check what the nutritional information is based on, then decide whether to use the extra salt.
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Underestimating the effort involved in frozen pretzels
A pack of several dough pieces isn’t as ready to eat as a ready-to-eat pretzel.
If you need pretzels regularly, check that freezer space, oven capacity and preparation time fit around your nursery routine.
You’ll need extra time to preheat the oven, bake the pretzels and let them cool.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the product name alone
The products covered here have different allergen and ‘may contain’ information. Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen for its classic shop pretzel, while other pretzels covered here also list soya or possible traces of other allergens.
Check the current labelling on the pretzel you choose and, if you have allergies, discuss the requirements with the nursery.
Brands and ranges to consider
ALDI SÜD / MEINE BACKWELT
The pretzel covered here is a single bakery item from the MEINE BACKWELT range.
- A ready-to-eat single pretzel is a good fit if you don’t want to stock up or use the oven.
- ALDI SÜD notes that suppliers may vary and nutritional information may differ. Always check the details for the product in store.
REWE Beste Wahl
The frozen pack covered here contains eight pretzel dough pieces, weighing 770 g in total, with salt supplied separately.
- You can leave out the salt provided for sprinkling when preparing the pretzels.
- You’ll need freezer space and an oven. REWE lists wheat and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens. The published nutritional information is for unbaked pretzel dough without added salt.
Ditsch
The classic pretzel covered here is a ready-to-eat shop pretzel.
- Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen and provides nutritional information for this product.
- Ditsch states that its classic shop pretzel contains 2.05 g of salt per 100 g. Check the information on the specific product.
EDEKA / GUT&GÜNSTIG
The frozen pretzels covered here are baked at home, with salt supplied separately.
- You can adjust how much salt to sprinkle on before baking, or leave it out altogether.
- For the product covered here, EDEKA lists cereals containing gluten, wheat and soya as allergens. Check the current packaging.
Lidl / Unser Brot
Unser Brot is Lidl’s range of freshly baked goods.
- You can buy a suitable baked good without having to bake it at home.
- Check the ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for the specific pretzel in store.
Joybuy products
Suitable products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave off the coarse salt on frozen pretzels?
Yes, if it comes separately with the pretzels, as it does with REWE Beste Wahl, and the instructions say to sprinkle it on only if you want to. REWE’s published nutritional information is for unbaked pretzel dough without added salt, so it’s still important to check the labelling for the product itself.
Which allergens should I check for in pretzels?
First, check the labelling on the product you’ve chosen for wheat and/or cereals containing gluten. Then read the other allergen and ‘may contain’ information. Depending on the product, the pretzels covered here may also list soya or possible traces of milk, egg, sesame and nuts.
Is a pretzel enough for a nursery meal?
Don’t assume a pretzel is a complete nursery meal just because of its product description. The German Nutrition Society’s guide looks at the overall selection of food and meals on offer. Check with the nursery what should be included in the snack you bring in.