If you want pretzels ready to serve as a snack at curry night without any preparation, long-lasting salted pretzels in a pack size that suits your group could be a good choice. Warm soft pretzels, on the other hand, need time and oven space. If anyone has specific dietary requirements, check the labelling, ingredients and allergy advice on the pack you’re buying.
If several people will be snacking, make sure the pack size matches the amount you expect to need and any leftovers you can use. A value pack is particularly handy if you can store any unused pretzels somewhere dry afterwards.
If soft pretzels are part of the meal, consider how many you need, the cooking instructions and how much room you have in the oven. This takes more planning than putting out a bowl of ready-to-serve salted pretzels.
If your guests need to avoid gluten, wheat or other ingredients, the word ‘pretzels’ alone won’t tell you which product to choose. Check the labelling for the specific variety, along with the ingredients and allergy advice.
First decide whether you want to serve the pretzels straight away as a snack or warm alongside the meal. You can then choose a pack size and check the labelling to suit your group.
| What matters | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and leftovers | Net weight and, for multipacks, the number and size of the individual bags. | If several guests will be snacking, I want to put out enough without being left with an awkward amount to store. The right pack size is likely to be the main concern for around 37% of consumers. |
| Serve straight away or warm | Instructions for eating straight from the pack or preparing the product; for soft pretzels, also check the number of pieces and oven space needed. | If I’m serving warm pretzels with the curry, I need to allow time to prepare them during the evening. Around 27% of consumers are likely to focus mainly on how the pretzels are served. |
| Gluten and allergens | Claims on the specific variety, the ingredients list and allergy advice. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I won’t choose on pack size or type of pretzel alone. The right labelling is likely to be the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Salt content per 100 g and the ingredients list for the pack you’ve chosen. | If you want to keep an eye on what’s in your snack, you’ll need information about the specific variety and the amount you plan to serve. For around 18% of consumers, this is likely to be their main concern. |
Extra pretzels are only useful for curry night if the quantity suits your group or you can use the leftovers later. According to Verbraucherzentrale, the best-before date applies to an unopened pack stored correctly.
Check the net weight and, for multipacks, the individual bags. If you’re planning to keep leftovers, follow the storage instructions on the pack.
A variety labelled gluten-free may still contain other ingredients or carry allergy advice. For example, the product information listed by REWE for Schär Salinis mentions soya lecithin and possible traces of sesame.
Check the ingredients list and allergy advice on each specific pack against your guests’ requirements.
Salt levels can vary between individual salted pretzel products. ALDI SÜD lists 4,51 g of salt per 100 g for SUNSNACKS salted pretzels; this figure doesn’t apply to other brands or varieties.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g when choosing, and consider how much of the pack you plan to serve.
For one soft pretzel in its retail range, Ditsch recommends thawing for around 60 minutes or heating for 3–4 minutes at 180 °C in a fan oven. You’ll need to do this before serving.
Check the preparation instructions for the product you’ve chosen, and make sure the number of pretzels and your oven capacity suit your group.
Long-lasting salted pretzels for a ready-to-serve snack.
Classic salted pretzels in a handy pack.
A range of salted pretzels, including varieties with specific dietary labelling.
Soft pretzels for serving warm, rather than a bowl of long-lasting salted pretzels.
These two packs of salted pretzels are suitable as ready-to-serve snacks. Compare the stated net weights to find the right amount for your group. Check the contents of each individual listing to see whether it includes more than one pack.
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Ideal for serving in a bowl without baking. Plan how much you need based on the stated 200 g weight. Before serving, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack.
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The mini version is easy to serve as a snack. Take the stated 150 g into account when planning quantities. To compare the ingredients, check the nutrition information and allergen details on the specific pack.
A value pack makes sense if you need the full amount for your group or can use any leftovers later. Compare the total quantity and the size of any individual bags, rather than assuming that a pack labelled ‘value pack’ will be the right size.
Salted pretzels made with wheat aren’t suitable. Choose a variety explicitly labelled gluten-free instead. Also check the ingredients and allergy advice on the specific pack, as ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean it’s free from all other allergens.
Not if the soft pretzels need thawing or heating first. For one retail product, Ditsch recommends thawing for around 60 minutes or heating for 3–4 minutes at 180 °C in a fan oven. Check the preparation instructions and how many pieces you’ll need for the product you choose.
Follow the storage instructions on the specific pack and keep salted snacks somewhere dry. According to Verbraucherzentrale, the best-before date refers to the quality of food that’s unopened and stored correctly; it doesn’t guarantee the same quality once the pack has been opened.