Hosts who prioritise sourdough
You want to be able to tell whether a pretzel really contains sourdough when catering for a small group. The ingredients list for the specific product is what matters, not just its name or appearance.
Who needs to make this choice?
Hosts working to a tight schedule
You’re serving pretzels to several guests and need to coordinate defrosting, baking and adding toppings with the rest of the food.
Hosts keeping allergens in mind
You need to check the ingredients in the pretzels and planned toppings separately for individual guests before you buy and serve them.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether listed sourdough or being able to plan when the pretzels will be baked matters most. In either case, the ingredients and toppings need to be suitable for your guests.
Sourdough pretzels with sourdough listed
A good choice if: you want sourdough to be explicitly listed in the ingredients. KEIT lists spelt sourdough starter in its sourdough pretzel.
Consider: The KEIT product also contains wheat and butter; details about this particular product don’t confirm that it’s available everywhere.
Ready-to-bake lye pretzels
A good choice if: you want to serve a set number of pretzels warm at a planned time. For example, REWE Beste Wahl offers a pack of eight frozen dough pieces.
Consider: Defrosting and baking take time and oven space. The REWE Beste Wahl and Ditsch products reviewed list yeast, but not sourdough, in their ingredients.
| What matters to you | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough and ingredients | Is a specific sourdough ingredient listed? Which grains and other ingredients are included? | If sourdough is the deciding factor for me, I want to be able to identify it in the ingredients of the specific product. This would be a priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Baking and serving | Do the number of pretzels and the defrosting and baking times fit your planned serving time and available oven space? | If other dishes need to go in the oven at the same time, I need a plan that gets the pretzels ready on time. Around 33% of consumers would put planning the time and quantity first. |
| Allergens and toppings | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the pretzels and for cream cheese, cheese, sesame or any other planned toppings separately. | If I’m catering for guests with allergies or specific dietary requirements, I want to know what’s in both the pretzel and the topping. This would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
What’s easy to overlook?
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Assuming lye pretzels are sourdough pretzels
According to their product information, the REWE Beste Wahl and Ditsch lye pretzels reviewed contain yeast but do not list sourdough. The fact that a product is a lye pretzel doesn’t confirm that it contains sourdough.
If sourdough is essential, check the ingredients list for the exact pretzel you plan to buy.
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Leaving oven time until just before serving
Depending on the product, ready-to-bake pretzels need time to defrost and bake. If you’re preparing other food at the same time, you’ll need to make sure there’s room in the oven.
Work backwards from your serving time and follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought, rather than the timings for a different pretzel.
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Checking only the pretzel for allergens
The KEIT sourdough pretzel lists wheat, spelt and butter. Toppings may contain other allergenic ingredients that won’t be shown in the pretzel’s ingredients list.
Check the pretzel and each planned topping separately. If you’re buying loose products, ask for allergen information before choosing them for guests with allergies.
Brands and product ranges to consider
KEIT
KEIT describes a 125 g sourdough pretzel and lists organic wheat, organic butter and spelt sourdough starter as ingredients.
- The sourdough ingredient is clearly identified for this product.
- As it contains wheat, spelt and butter, this pretzel isn’t suitable for guests who need to eat gluten-free or vegan.
Ditsch
Ditsch offers ready-to-bake lye pretzels and also features a topped version with tomato and herb cream cheese.
- For the 50 g party lye pretzel reviewed, Ditsch lists a pre-baked dough piece with salt included.
- The ingredients list for this party lye pretzel includes yeast but not sourdough.
REWE Beste Wahl
The REWE Beste Wahl pack of lye pretzels reviewed contains eight frozen dough pieces to bake at home, with pretzel salt included separately.
- The stated number of pretzels makes it easier to plan for several guests.
- The ingredients list includes yeast, wheat and soya lecithin, but not sourdough. Check the pack’s may-contain information too, if needed.
Suitable products at Joybuy
Suitable products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sourdough pretzel automatically gluten-free or vegan?
No. The fact that it contains sourdough doesn’t tell you whether it’s gluten-free or vegan. According to KEIT, its sourdough pretzel contains wheat, spelt and butter; check the ingredients of the pretzel you actually plan to serve.
Is allergen information available for loose bakery products too?
Yes. According to the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, allergenic ingredients must also be disclosed for unpackaged food sold in Germany. Ask for this information before buying if it isn’t displayed at the counter.
How long do frozen lye pretzels take to prepare?
Times depend on the specific product. REWE Beste Wahl lye pretzels are listed as needing around 10 minutes to thaw slightly and 15 to 16 minutes to bake. For its 100 g “Swabian-style” lye pretzel, Ditsch gives a thawing time of around 20 minutes, followed by about 14 minutes at 190 °C in a preheated fan oven. Always follow the instructions on your pack.
Is the name ‘sourdough pretzel’ enough to guide your choice?
If sourdough is your deciding factor, check the ingredients list for the specific product. KEIT explicitly lists spelt sourdough starter in its sourdough pretzel; don’t assume that lye pretzels are sourdough pretzels without checking their ingredients.