Background information
Can you use baking powder instead of yeast?
by Judith Erdin
The perils of preparing pretzels
23.9.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Video: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Camera: Davide Arizzoli, Aline Piazza
Support: Eva Lipecki, Mia Kuchen
Co-author: Simon Balissat
Is it safe for an amateur to make pretzel rolls or is the chemistry involved too complicated or downright dangerous? We faced the challenge and tested two preparation methods for you in the video. For English, click the gear icon, «Subtitles/CC» and «Auto-translate».
Do you love lye pastries more than anything and would give your right arm for a warm pretzel with a thick slathering of cold butter? Maybe you haven’t had the guts to make them yourself because Linda from accounting once told you her brother-in-law’s friend lost an eye trying to bake pretzel rolls?
Well, I’m telling you, forget her ramblings and watch this video instead. Lye novice Simon and I tested two different ways of preparing pretzels and other delicious lye pastries and have put together the most important tips and tricks for a safe baking experience. If you want to know more about the science behind baking with lye dough, keep reading.
Baking soda, sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium carbonate: what’s the difference?
For my simple pretzel recipe, I use harmless sodium bicarbonate. It’s a chemical leavening agent that’s marketed as «baking soda» and available from the baking section of most supermarkets.
My easy recipe for pretzel rolls is available here (in German).
If you want bakery-style pretzels, there’s no way around using poisonous, highly corrosive sodium hydroxide. When it comes into contact with the acidity of the dough and the heat of the oven, a chemical process gets rid of its causticity and makes the rolls edible and tasty.
Do I need to wear protective gear?
The smock I’m wearing in the video was just for effect and not needed for the two methods suggested here. In fact, if you’re making the pretzel rolls following the simple method, i.e. using standard baking soda, you can do without the protective equipment altogether.
If you follow all these tips and keep your children, the cat and your hyperactive guinea pig out of the kitchen while you’re baking, there’s nothing standing in the way of your home-baked, oven-hot pretzels and Oktoberfest vibe at your home.
The recipe for the best pretzels (regular and vegan) is available here (in German).
Judith Erdin
Bloggerin und Backbuch-Autorin von Streusel.ch
simon.balissat@digitecgalaxus.chBaking book author, food blogger and content creator by day. Other people's cat lover, peanut butter junkie and houseplant hospice nurse by night.
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