If you go to a traditional or modern bakery, there’s a chance they have used some animal fats at the later stages of the process to add some softness and taste.īut ask for information because that may not be the case for every bakery. In conclusion, soft pretzels have a soft, chewy texture much like bread, while hard pretzels feel more like crackers. That’s because hard pretzels contain less water, and the cooking time is usually longer. Although they have the same ingredients, they have a different texture. Soft pretzels, also known as traditional pretzels, follow the traditional German recipe and is composed of three ingredients: yeast, water, and flour, which make up the dough.Īnd hard pretzels are the ones that more popular in American culture. There are two types of pretzels: soft pretzels and hard pretzels. This being said, keep in mind that not every company follows the same process. Throughout this entire process, not a single animal-based ingredient is used. But before getting packaged, they still go through a moving freezer for 30 minutes to cool down. Right after, the raw pretzel moves through showers of liquid sodium hydroxide heated to 180º F, which seals in the moisture, making the pretzel chewy when you eat it.įinally, they go into an oven that’s about the length of a city bus, spending about three and a half minutes at 560✯, the pretzels are hot and brown. They then carry the raw pretzel through the conveyor belt for a couple of minutes, allowing the dough to rise. Next, they squeeze the pretzels in conveyor belts that shape the dough into noodles, which are then carried into a robot-like machine that twists the ends of the dough to give the pretzel its signature shape.
They then put the dough that comes out of the mixer through a hopper, that feeds each chunk of dough to a guillotine that chops the chunks into different sized balls to make small and large pretzels. In factories, the process starts with shortening, sugar, and salt that go in a huge mixer machine that automatically adds yeast, corn syrup, cold water, and flour to the mix. However, for mass-produced pretzels, those ingredients are not part of the recipe. They also use this approach in traditional and modern bakeries, where the addition of fats like lard (traditional method) and/or butter or margarine (modern method) add an unique touch to the dough. Those animal ingredients, in most recipes, are used to brush the dough, so it has a thin, greasy layer that encourages browning as it sets in the oven, and also gives the pretzel a richer taste. However, what I’ve noticed in some DIY recipes is that they call for eggs and butter, immediately disqualifying them from being vegan. Pretzels are made with refined flour, sugar, oil, and salt, all of which are plant-based ingredients. To fully understand whether a pretzel is vegan, we must know how it’s made. So, are Pretzels actually vegan? Let’s find out. Thank the German and the Swiss for that, as they were the ones to introduce the pretzels in North America.įunnily, one of the most asked questions on Google about Pretzels in North America is if they’re suitable for vegans. You’re able to find them anywhere - in stadiums, theaters, plazas, and supermarkets. Pretzels are one of the most popular comfort foods in America. There are still certain dirty foods that remain plant-based, and now, more than ever, establishments must adapt and create alternatives for the non-vegan treats.įor example, I’ve always loved croissants, and 4-5 years ago you couldn’t find a vegan croissant.īut because of their immense popularity and the magical boom of the vegan community, you can now find several pastry shops selling vegan croissants. However, that doesn’t mean you have to drop everything and commit to a strict whole-food, plant-based diet. Trust me, I understand how difficult it is to go vegan and give up all the snacks, pastries, and desserts to live a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle.
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