Pretzels

Generality

Pretzels are small foods with a savory taste, variable aroma (some are spicy), crunchy or crumbly texture, and color typical of cooked bread crust (golden or hazelnut).

They could be defined as salty biscuits and belong to the food group of baked products (III fundamental group of foods)
The gastronomic function of pretzels is mainly as a salty snack or aperitif; represent the finger food par excellence.
There are various types of pretzels. The most famous ones are commercial and packaged. On the other hand, they can be prepared at home, by reproducing those “comperi” or by using a totally different recipe (almost always based on puff pastry).
Regarding the nutritional aspect, pretzels are considered junk food or junk-food.
They bring a lot of calories from fat and carbohydrates; they also contain an excessive amount of sodium. They do not lend themselves to a "healthy diet, much less to clinical food therapies.

Commercial Pretzels

Commercial pretzels, fries in bags, peanuts and pumpkin seeds (the latter two, roasted and salted), tortillas, cheetos (extruded, potato or peanut) and crackers, are the most popular snacks in Italy and in many other Western countries.
In the East, habits are very different; just think that in Thai cuisine the most common appetizers are fried insects (grasshoppers, larvae, cockroaches, etc.) and arachnids (scorpions, spiders, etc.).
Many wine experts use pretzels to neutralize the taste of the previous wine between tastings.
The most famous commercial pretzels are of German-Austrian origin; in their native language they are called "Salzgebäck" or "Knabbergebäck".
There are various shapes and recipes. They can be sold in packages containing only one type or mixed. They have a moderate cost. One of the most important companies in the pretzel trade is Kelly Ges.m.b.H.
The most well-known types of commercial pretzels are the "Salzbrezelchen" (which are very reminiscent of pretzel or pretzel or pretzel bread) and the "Salzstangen" (cylindrical stick shape).
The dough of commercial pretzels is mainly composed of wheat flour mixed with water, salt and sugar; most of the pretzels are fried or baked in the oven.
Outside they are further salted.

Ingredients and Storage

ATTENTION! The following refers to the pretzels distributed by "Conad" and produced by "Kelly Ges.m.b.H.".
Pretzels are very long-life foods. Once the package has been opened, they must be closed (possibly hermetically, to ensure that they do not lose friability) and kept in a dry, dark and possibly not hot environment.
The ingredients of the pretzels are mainly: wheat flour, salt, sugar, palm oil, malted wheat flour, raising agents (ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate), sesame seeds, fructose, whey in powder, poppy seeds, buttermilk powder, yeast, rye flour, cheese (milk, rennet, salt), maize malt dextrin, acidity regulator (sodium hydroxide), cumin, flavorings, acidifier (acetic acid).

Nutritional Characteristics

ATTENTION! The following refers to the pretzels distributed by "Conad" and produced by "Kelly Ges.m.b.H.".

NUTRITIONAL VALUES Average values For 100 g of Product Energy value 417.0 kcal Fat 14.0 g   of which saturated 5.4 g Carbohydrates 61.0 g   of which Simple 3.9 g Fibers 3.6 g Proteins 10.0 g salt 3.0 g

Pretzels have a poor nutritional value.
As anticipated, they mainly contain cereal flour and seasoning and / or frying fats.
Being baked products, they also fall into the III group of foods, but they have little to do with other exponents of this category, such as fresh insipid bread (like the Marche row).
They bring a lot of calories and very little water.
Energy comes mainly from carbohydrates, followed by lipids and finally proteins.
Carbohydrates are mainly complex (starch), unsaturated fatty acids and peptides of medium biological value.
The quantity of fiber is abundant, but this is attributable to the lack of water which emphasizes the chemical concentration of all the other compounds; the pretzels are not produced with “objectively” high-residue flours.
Cholesterol should be absent or not relevant.
There is not sufficiently reliable information on the content of mineral salts and vitamins. It is conceivable that the concentration of thiamine (vitamin B1) is satisfactory. The only certainty is an excess of sodium from the table salt (sodium chloride).
They contain gluten and lactose.
Pretzels are not recommended in the diet for:

1. Overweight
2. Metabolic syndrome or metabolic disorders such as:
1. Hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes mellitus
2. Hypertriglyceridemia
3. Arterial hypertension, especially in the presence of sodium-sensitivity
3. Celiac disease
4. Lactose intolerance.
5. Vegan philosophy.

The average portion is very few grams. In the case of a snack, 20-30 g (85-125 kcal) is sufficient.

Also try isalatini with olives and cherry tomatoes