Pretzels & lye bread

Making homemade pretzels is easier than many people think: pretzels, lye rolls and lye sticks owe their glossy brown crust and typical flavour to a quick dip in lye. Here you will find everything you need, from ready-to-use lye and pretzel salt to protective equipment.

What do we stock?

• Ready-to-use lye, 1 litre: the easiest way to start, with no weighing or mixing.
• Lye pearls, 500 g: for those who prepare their own lye. Follow the instructions on the pack exactly.
• Coarse pretzel salt, 250 g: the large grains stay visible and crunchy after baking.
• Lye cloths in green (44 x 32 cm, 59 x 40 cm, 78 x 57 cm) and orange (78 x 58 cm): as a base for the dipped dough pieces.
• Lye-resistant gloves in S, M and L and lye-resistant safety goggles.

Working safely with lye

Lye is corrosive and must be handled with care. That is why we stock gloves and goggles in the same category.

• Always protected: wear gloves and goggles from opening the bottle until you have cleaned up. Splashes in the eyes are the biggest risk.
• Read the pack: directions for use, storage and safety are on the pack. Read them before you begin.
• No aluminium: lye attacks aluminium. Do not use aluminium bowls or baking trays.
• Calm and focused: keep children and pets out of the kitchen while you work. Store the lye tightly closed and clearly labelled.

How pretzels and lye rolls are made

Dip the shaped dough pieces briefly in the lye, let them drain, score them if you like and sprinkle with pretzel salt before baking. For your next apéro, try our recipes for lye grissini and savoury lye stars. The right flour is in Flours & Ingredients.

Frequently asked questions

Ready-to-use lye or lye pearls?

For beginners we recommend the ready-to-use lye: open the bottle and off you go. Lye pearls are worthwhile if you bake pretzels often. Either way, follow the instructions on the pack exactly.

Do I really need gloves and goggles?

Yes. Lye can injure skin and eyes. With lye-resistant gloves and goggles you can work calmly and safely.

Where can I learn to twist pretzels?

On our pretzel and lye bread course in Adliswil we shape, dip and bake together. More ideas await in our bread courses, such as the Swiss Zopf course.