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Just found out you can make actual soft pretzels in an air fryer
I was scrolling through a food blog from a baker in Milwaukee and saw a recipe for air fryer soft pretzels. I always thought you needed that boiling water dip to get the right crust. The recipe said to brush them with a baking soda wash before air frying at 375 for about 8 minutes. Tried it last night and they came out with a perfect chewy inside and a nice golden brown color. I was honestly shocked it worked so well. Has anyone else tried making dough-based stuff like this, or is it just me who thought it was impossible?
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nancyjones3mo ago
Wait, that's a game changer. I've been too scared to try dough in mine, but this actually sounds legit. Might have to give it a shot now.
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davidkim3mo ago
Hold on, you're skipping the whole point of a pretzel. That baking soda wash is a cheap trick compared to a real lye or even a serious baking soda boil. The air fryer is just blasting it with dry heat... you won't get that deep brown, shiny crust or the complex flavor. It's a baked good shaped like a pretzel now. @graceowens might be happy with cinnamon rolls from one, but some things need the real method.
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kai_webb912mo ago
My uncle in Philly runs a bakery and he swears by the lye dip for pretzels. He told me once that baking soda needs to be boiled way longer than most recipes say to even come close. Honestly, seeing his pretzels side by side with a quick bake kind proves David's point. The lye ones have that dark crust and a slight chew you just don't get otherwise. An air fryer seems like it would dry the surface out too fast before that good color can set.
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