Only choose a pretzel specifically as a sourdough pretzel if the details for that particular product list sourdough as an ingredient, or the recipe is confirmed at the counter. Sourdough is not listed in the published ingredients for the EDEKA and Ditsch pretzels considered here. For warm pretzels with salt you can adjust yourself, bake-at-home pretzels with salt supplied separately are an option; you’ll need time and oven space.
If sourdough is a deciding factor for you, the name ‘lye pretzel’ isn’t enough. Sourdough is not listed in the published ingredients for the EDEKA and Ditsch products considered here. Check the details on the actual pack or ask at the counter about the recipe.
If you want to serve warm pretzels or fill them, you could choose a bake-at-home option. EDEKA and Ditsch provide cooking instructions for the products considered here, so allow time for thawing and baking before serving.
If your guests need to avoid allergens or you’re looking for a pretzel labelled vegan, make your choice based on the product you’re actually buying. The products considered here differ in their allergen information, salt content and vegan labelling.
For Asian Night, first decide whether the pretzel must explicitly contain sourdough. Then choose between a bake-at-home option, a ready-to-serve pretzel from the bakery counter and dry salted pretzels. Check the ingredients and seasoning on the product you choose.
| Criteria | What to check | For shoppers who... |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough | Check the ingredients of the specific pretzel for sourdough, or ask explicitly about the recipe at the counter. The name ‘lye pretzel’ alone isn’t enough. | Want to serve a pretzel that specifically contains sourdough, rather than assuming it does based on its shape or appearance. For around 42% of shoppers, this is the top priority when choosing a pretzel for the occasion. |
| Serving and salting | Check whether the pretzel needs baking, how much preparation time it requires and whether salt is supplied separately. | Want to serve warm pretzels and adjust the salt to go with the dips. This matters most to around 33% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen and ‘may contain’ information, as well as any vegan labelling you need, on the specific product. | Need to choose pretzels based on their labelling before serving because guests avoid certain ingredients. Around 25% of shoppers give this check top priority. |
A pretzel isn’t made with sourdough simply because it’s a lye pretzel. Sourdough is not listed in the published ingredients for the EDEKA and Ditsch products considered here. Lidl’s information about sourdough bread doesn’t prove that its pretzels contain sourdough either.
Check the specific pack for sourdough as an ingredient, or ask about the recipe if you’re buying from a counter, before choosing the pretzel for this purpose.
Extra-salty snacks can have a stronger flavour alongside spicy dips. According to the product information, the Saltletts pretzels listed by REWE contain 3,5 g of salt per 100 g.
If you want to control the salt yourself, look for bake-at-home pretzels with salt supplied separately and add an amount that works with the rest of your food.
ALDI SÜD notes that nutritional information for the counter pretzel considered here may vary between suppliers. Allergen and ‘may contain’ information can also be important for guests when choosing bake-at-home pretzels.
Check the details for the product actually on sale. If you need information about allergens or the recipe, ask at the counter.
Depending on the product, bake-at-home pretzels need time to thaw and bake. Filled pretzels also need extra preparation.
Read the cooking instructions before you shop, then plan your oven space and baking time around when you want to serve them.
Ditsch sells lye pretzels in several formats, including a 100-g part-baked dough piece with salt supplied separately and a ready-baked 83-g option.
The pack considered here contains ten bake-at-home lye pretzels and a separate salt sachet.
ALDI SÜD describes the counter lye pretzel considered here as vegan and freshly baked several times a day.
Lidl describes its in-store bakery range and shares a recipe for filled pretzels made with bake-at-home products.
REWE lists Saltletts pretzels as dry, salted snacks that are ready to serve.
No. You can’t tell whether a pretzel contains sourdough from the name ‘lye pretzel’. It isn’t listed in the published ingredients for the EDEKA and Ditsch products considered here; to choose a sourdough pretzel, you’ll need to check the details for the specific product.
Follow the instructions on the pack you choose and work back from when you want to serve the pretzels. For the 100-g dough piece considered here, Ditsch recommends thawing it for about ten minutes, then baking it for around 13 minutes at about 220 °C. Other pretzels may have different instructions.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any vegan labelling you need on the specific product. The EDEKA bake-at-home pretzel considered here contains wheat and soya, and carries warnings about possible traces of other allergens. ALDI SÜD describes its counter pretzel as vegan, but notes that products may vary between suppliers.
Snack pretzels are a good choice if you want dry, salted snacks that are ready to serve, but they aren’t a substitute for warm pretzels or ones specifically labelled as containing sourdough. According to the product information, the Saltletts pretzels listed by REWE contain 3,5 g of salt per 100 g.