Same recipe from KAB’s Baking School. While both delicious, the lye (on the right) has the flavor and texture edge for me. The baking soda was logistically a bit easier, since I didn’t have to deal with the safety equipment.
by motherofsausagedogs
19 Comments
clonicle
Just curious, did you use *baked* baking soda or simply baking soda? They both look great though 🙂
I’ve noticed a better result on bagels with the baked kind and wondering if it applied to pretzels too. I was skeptical until I tried it.
thatdudefromthattime
I always opt for the lye. It’s the superior flavor and texture
Sirwired
I wonder if you could use Hydrated Lime (pickling lime) as a convenient middle ground between lye and baking soda.
Bubblehead616619
This is all I need to know
Maverick-Mav
White balance is off with the lye ones, but that would not change the results much. I’d have to taste them to see my preference. Is the lye one as soft?
Maverick-Mav
White balance is off on the lye one. They aren’t that dark, but look even better with the correct white balance. Are they as soft as the baking soda ones?
Sorry if this duplicates, my original post vanished.
Reputable_Sorcerer
My pretzels are always so wrinkly. How do you get your so smooth?
screwsledman
Friends dont let friends bake pretzels dipped in baking soda solution
OrcaFins
This requires a taste test. I hope you made enough for everyone. Or at least me.
Gridbear7
Was the baking soda using room temp water or boiling water?
LiefLayer
I used sodium carbonate since food grade lye in Italy is not really easy to find at all (even online, even on amazon… it’s there but not sold by amazon and super expensive. last time someone suggested me to try in a pharmacy and I will).
so much darker than your baking soda version… much closer to the original
I still have to try to make them with lye (if I ever find it) but I did try the lye pretzel in Germany and I think sodium carbonate is a really good alternative for those that cannot get lye or for people that do not feel confortable with lye.
Maybe next time try sodium carbonate (just put in a pan some baking soda to create it and remember to boil the pretzel in sodium carbonate) vs lye as they are much closer so the confrontation make a lot more sense (and sodium carbonate is still not that basic to burn like lye).
Interesting-Cow8131
While I’m familiar with lye safety as I make soap, cooking with it terrifies me. Your pretzels look delicious!
Specialist-Debate-64
Your baking soda onces can get darker, ive noticed if im generous with the baking soda and get it to a rolling boil before putting anything in they are much darker
MLiOne
I bake baking soda and then use it for the bath. Works a treat.
dismendie
I like using lye. The flavor is better the color so much richer compared side by side… only downside is handling the lye in stainless steel or plastic.
ildelw
I use baked baking soda. Bake for at least an hour at 325. I boil the pretzels one minute a side in water with 1 tsp baked baking soda per cup. The boil + convection bake will get you darker pretzels. Lye is not worth the risk to me.
bplipschitz
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) works kinda in between caustic and bicarb.
joaquinsolo
oh yes lye to me so sweetly baby
billynotrlyy
Howwww did you get your lye ones so smooth? Mine always have blisters.
19 Comments
Just curious, did you use *baked* baking soda or simply baking soda? They both look great though 🙂
I’ve noticed a better result on bagels with the baked kind and wondering if it applied to pretzels too. I was skeptical until I tried it.
I always opt for the lye. It’s the superior flavor and texture
I wonder if you could use Hydrated Lime (pickling lime) as a convenient middle ground between lye and baking soda.
This is all I need to know
White balance is off with the lye ones, but that would not change the results much. I’d have to taste them to see my preference. Is the lye one as soft?
White balance is off on the lye one. They aren’t that dark, but look even better with the correct white balance. Are they as soft as the baking soda ones?
Sorry if this duplicates, my original post vanished.
My pretzels are always so wrinkly. How do you get your so smooth?
Friends dont let friends bake pretzels dipped in baking soda solution
This requires a taste test. I hope you made enough for everyone. Or at least me.
Was the baking soda using room temp water or boiling water?
I used sodium carbonate since food grade lye in Italy is not really easy to find at all (even online, even on amazon… it’s there but not sold by amazon and super expensive. last time someone suggested me to try in a pharmacy and I will).
I got this result
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Breadit/comments/1ikwro7/what_do_you_think_about_my_pretzel/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Breadit/comments/1ikwro7/what_do_you_think_about_my_pretzel/)
so much darker than your baking soda version… much closer to the original
I still have to try to make them with lye (if I ever find it) but I did try the lye pretzel in Germany and I think sodium carbonate is a really good alternative for those that cannot get lye or for people that do not feel confortable with lye.
Maybe next time try sodium carbonate (just put in a pan some baking soda to create it and remember to boil the pretzel in sodium carbonate) vs lye as they are much closer so the confrontation make a lot more sense (and sodium carbonate is still not that basic to burn like lye).
While I’m familiar with lye safety as I make soap, cooking with it terrifies me. Your pretzels look delicious!
Your baking soda onces can get darker, ive noticed if im generous with the baking soda and get it to a rolling boil before putting anything in they are much darker
I bake baking soda and then use it for the bath. Works a treat.
I like using lye. The flavor is better the color so much richer compared side by side… only downside is handling the lye in stainless steel or plastic.
I use baked baking soda. Bake for at least an hour at 325. I boil the pretzels one minute a side in water with 1 tsp baked baking soda per cup. The boil + convection bake will get you darker pretzels. Lye is not worth the risk to me.
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) works kinda in between caustic and bicarb.
oh yes lye to me so sweetly baby
Howwww did you get your lye ones so smooth? Mine always have blisters.